C.J.: Tardy Bieber didn't make photo cut; too bad for him

Justin Bieber was reportedly late, extremely tardy, which is not exactly an innovation in the annals of rudeness.

Bieber had an appointment to be backstage at the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, where rock photographer Rob Shanahan, a native of Norwood Young America, was waiting. "He made me wait three hours," Shanahan told me last week when we met at a Starbucks in Chanhassen.

In Shanahan's 25-year career, "Nobody's ever made me wait more than 10, 15, 20 minutes. I'll give people that for traffic and whatnot. Plus, it wasn't that great a photo shoot."

That made the decision to exclude Bieber from his book, "Volume 1: Through the Lens of Music Photographer Rob Shanahan," really easy.

Neither Bieber nor his people responded to my Friday or Monday messages via Twitter to find out why he was late. The Biebs is probably already busy making his way to NBC's "Today" so he's not late for that Thanksgiving Day performance.

Bieber's heart-throbbing time on the planet has been amply documented in photographs and screams, so he probably didn't see the need to have his picture taken by the favorite photographer of Ringo Starr, who penned the foreword for Shanahan's book.

"I didn't feel any connection whatsoever," Shanahan said of his time with Bieber, "and he probably thought, Who is this old rock photographer shooting me? I'm Justin Bieber! In the end, I ended up editing him out of the book. No offense, Justin, but you didn't make it."

Had Bieber even faintly engaged Shanahan, the youngster would have learned that they both share a passion for charity.

While Bieber showed no appreciation for Shanahan's time, the youngster might have gotten a kick out of stories Rob tells about his close friendship with Ringo, a music legend. Shanahan met Starr while the former Beatle was on tour with somebody else with Minnesota ties.

"The first time I met Ringo was nine years ago in Sheila E's dressing room," said Shanahan. "I have known Sheila a long time; she happened to be working on a record at that time called 'Heaven.' That was my first big record cover shoot with her.

"She introduced me and Ringo says" -- Shanahan then impersonated Starr's accent -- "'So you're Sheila's photographer?'"

A friendship was born that includes the wives of the rock star and the rock photographer, who's been Starr's main photographer on projects ever since the two met.

Starr and Barbara Bach, the former Bond Girl, will be on hand for Shanahan's booking-signing gala being emceed by Wayne Brady and featuring singer Sarah McLachlan, who is among those photographed in the book.

The LA gala is a benie for Autism Speaks. Shanahan and his graphic designer wife, Hillary, have "a daughter with special needs -- she's not autistic," he said.

There's even talk of Kardashians making a red carpet arrival at Shanahan's event. After the way they've trashed certain Minnesotans on a national stage, I told Shanahan, it's just as well that I can't make his gala.

Lost his biggest fan

Unfortunately, the woman who was Rob Shanahan's biggest fan won't be at his gala.

Shanahan left me a message and when I returned his call the next day, he informed me that he had flown to Minnesota because of the sudden death of his mom, Rachel Frantsen, 65, at Fairview Southdale Hospital. She had recently been diagnosed with "Stage 2 cancer, totally treatable," said Shanahan, who took one last photo with his mom before her body was cremated. It's a sweet picture of him resting his head on his mom's chest.

He's planning another remembrance for his mom when his siblings and other family members and friends fly out to Los Angeles for the book signing.

Love for Prince

Liner note from Original 7ven's "Condensate" CD: "Love to Prince for the lessons & the beginning. To be continued ..."

The Original 7ven was "the Time," but it's playing under the new name because Prince owns the rights to "the Time." Wonder if Prince also won't let them be called "The Band Formerly Known As The Time"?

While Symbolina continues to languish in his capriciousness, his former band mates keep it classy.

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count. Attachments are not opened, so don't even try. More of her attitude can be heard on FOX 9 on Thursday mornings.