Saw them at a frat party when they started out. Stipe was high as a kite.
One thing I liked about Letterman was he would actually talk to the people in the band. And shake their hand.
Watch a few Letterman videos. People don't even know how to shake hands anymore.
I love stories like this.
My older sister saw the band U2 in Buffalo NY the night John Lennon was killed (Dec 8, 1980). At the time, U2 was unknown, and doing their first US tour for the "Boy" album. They were opening act for some local heavy-rock bank at a now defunct converted garage/warehouse-nightclub. after their gig, Bono and the band were standing around in the parking lot having a cigarette and beer, talking about the Beetles with the handful of fans who came to see them.
My sister noticed they were touring out of a small modified van-camper and wondered how they fit themselves and their equipment in the thing. She said they smelled like they hadn't showered or changed clothes in many weeks.