DECEMBER 20TH, 1998
WOW!! What a f*cking show!! I just got home from a concert that would be any rock and roll fan's dream.. front row for MÖTLEY CRÜE!! The show was general admission and it was the best concert I have ever been to by far! I'll start from the very beginning! (as I always do! )
Well, it was the 19th, and I was excited as you can probably imagine! My friend Dawn and her best friend Barbara were flying in from Las Vegas for the show. I had to work that day but got off at 9pm. My friend's flight came in at 1am. So I waited around until it was time to go, then I picked them up from the airport. We were all pretty excited and psyched for the show. We got in the car and drove to a few different places, then we were on our way to the venue. Of course we got lost a few hundred times! When you get three Crüe fans in a car who are on their way to wait in line for the show of all shows, it's hard to have a good sense of direction!
So when we finally found the venue, it was about 3:30am. We wanted to be the first ones in line, and the first ones at the door. NOTHING was going to stop us from being front row!!
We were the first ones there. It was dark, and it was cold! It was a Sunday, and mostly any idiot knows that you don't have to pay parking meters on a Sunday. (But we didn't!) It said that the max time was 2 hours, so we just kept moving the car every two hours to the next spot.
In between moving the car, a few trips to Circle K to get change for the meter and walking around the venue, stealing posters for the show... we told our "rock and roll" stories of concerts we'd been to, rockers we've met, and lots of stories about the infamous Crüe show that took place in Phoenix last year. (all stories that we 3 friends have told a million times before- but just had to tell again because it sounds better each time! If you are a rock fan, you understand!! ;)
After hearing that particular story, it was day light, and I went to go move the car again. I didn't see anymore parking spaces available. So I drove around the venue about 5 times, still not able to find a place, so I stopped the car and asked these security guys where I should park.. they told me that it was free parking for all the meters, (I felt like an idiot) then as I was driving off, he mentioned that Nikki and Tommy has just gotten off the tour bus, I put the car in gear and sped to my last spot, jumped out and RAN for my friends! (FYI- I DON'T RUN!!.. lol.) I ran up tons of steps and then another 700 feet to where they were, I shouted, "THEY'RE HERE!!! THEY'RE HERE!!" Then started running for the buses! My friends were close behind me.
We waited around the corner and watched for almost two hours, no sign of the guys. Another guy came around and said that sound check would be at 1pm, so we waited and waited and still didn't see them. I guess they had gotten into the bus and stayed there, or otherwise they had taken a car to their motel.. (or maybe just possibly.. the security guard had f*cked with us!)
I went and looked at the line and there was one guy there, it was 1:30pm.. so we gave up our watch spot and went back to the line. It was a large entrance with 4 lines seperated by tables, we were in the one closest to the stage.
We watched the roadies set up for about 30 minutes. Then they closed the doors on us and we couldn't see anything! So we just sat and waited for what seemed like eternity. I hadn't slept since Friday night! And it was Sunday, needless to say I was very tired.
Around 3:30- we were still the only people in line, (except for that one other guy who had come by himself) We asked him to save our spot while we went to my house, took showers and got all refreshed for the show. We also jokingly threatnend his life.. saying, "If you don't save our spot, we'll kill ya."
We got to the car and drove home. We got ready for the show in less then an hour. I grabbed my camera and 4 rolls of film, my wallet and car keys and then we left for the show. It was 5pm.
When we got to the venue, we were so psyched up for the show!! (Me especially since I'd never seen Mötley Crüe before..) There were hundreds of people in line, we walked fast to the front, all the while hearing people yelling out, "GET BACK HERE!, Where do you think YOUR going?!, You'll never make it up there!, Why not wait in line like the rest of us!" We just laughed, we'd been there since 3:30 am! Where had all these a**holes been?! Probably sleeping!
We got to the front and found the guy who had held our place.. we got in front of him and a security guard came up to me, I quickly said, "WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 3:30 AM! WE'RE NOT GOING TO THE BACK!" And he kinda laughed and goes, "I believe you, but you have to get in the girls line.." Feeling just a tad stupid, I went to the right line. The girls weren't too happy, but who the hell cares, right?
So anyway, we waited and waited!! For what seemed like HOURS!! Then finally it was 7pm. The doors were supposed to open, but they didn't. Everyone was getting edgy. Finally the guards came to each line, getting ready to frisk everyone, my friend Dawn said to me, "Get behind me or I'll run you over when we get inside." So I got behind her. When they started frisking she ran full speed but was caught back and they frisked her, then me.. after that, I don't know what happened, I just RAN! I was the 5th person in the door and ran so fast to the stage, I passed my friend and a bunch of others, I was about the second or third to reach the stage! We were front row, dead center! I couldn't believe it!!
Once we got there they made us sit until half the venue was full, then we stood and took our places, I braced my arms on the barricade and was determined to never let go!
Finally the first band took the stage. I don't even remember their name but they sucked! They played for about 20 minutes and got booed off the stage, people threw ice and water bottles at em'... anything to get them off!
Then Laidlaw came on. They were pretty good! I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't known Mötley Crüe was coming up next. It seemed like forever until they left.
FINALLY!! THE LIGHTS WENT DOWN AND EVERYONE PUSHED TO THE FRONT!! I held on for dear life!! I wasn't going to let anyone, no matter how big or strong, come between me and the center stage!!!
The smoke machines started going. I was thinking, "any second and they'll be on stage.." I was wrong. More like 10 minutes. 10 MINUTES OF SMOKE BLASTING IN MY FACE! It made me want to puke! And I couldn't breath in it. But it was all good! It was only a small price to pay for being front row. Eventually the smoke was so thick you couldn't see the stage. You couldn't see anything. Then the drums started going and I saw Vince's outline! I freaked out!! The smoke seemed to disappear and then out they all came!
They raged into Dr. Feelgood and my friend's words rang in my mind as I saw the first person get pulled out of the front row, "This is the no P*SSY show!!" She was right! The crowd was fierce! The little girl next to me, who was about 10 years old got pulled out along with her mother. I knew she wouldn't last but maybe 1 song, she lasted about 15 seconds! I felt bad for her but then there was Mick! Right in front of me. I started aiming my camera at the stage and at him. All the while hanging on to the barrier, trying my hardest not to let go.
Suddenly a crowd surfer came over my head and two big security guards stood over me and were grabbing him, I could see nothing but cr*tch and it wasn't the greatest sight! There was no air for about 20 seconds, along with no view of the stage... I started pushing and shoving them away from me so I could get some air and a few quick shots! Finally they moved and the show went on for about 10 more seconds, then this guy who looked about 500lbs pushed his way to the front of the stage, taking the spot of the 10 year old girl and her mother.. He shoved me and I shoved him right back, I kept punching his arms.. trying to get him away from me. I was about to bite him until he finally let up and started pushing the person to his left.. (he had more luck shoving them because I obviously wasn't moving!)
The guy on my right had his arm on my shoulder almost the entire show.. and at one point during the second song, he shoved it against my neck and the HUGE dude to my left picked the same time to do the same thing.. I was almost choked and for a second thought, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!" But I couldn't leave.. right then, standing above me was Nikki, I looked up and opened my mouth to scream and got a mouth full of water that he had spit from his cup! IT WAS GREAT!! The songs went on and the shoving and pushing increased, so I just shoved right back until they picked someone else to hassle. I may be short but I'm not a weakling!
I was able to enjoy the show once the crowd around me let up a bit.. I headbanged more than I ever have, I sang and screamed my guts out more than I ever have. It was fantastic.. When it came time for the guys to take a short break, Tommy came out from around his drum kit and talked to the crowd. He thanked us for all of our support, for being there for the Crue and always staying loyal.. then he brought out the fire exstinguisher, shouting, "I WANNA SEE SOME T*TTIES!!" He walked around the stage shouting this and then stopped right in front of me.. He was looking over my head, into the crowd for a topless woman, not finding one, he looked down at me still shouting and then sprayed me with it, then continued on down the row. The girls started showing there stuff and they all got sprayed as well.. It was hilarious!
The guys came back on and launched into another song... soon after, Mick did his solo. It was Terror N Tinsletown. He just went with it. Looking at Mick in the past, I didn't think much of him, I just thought, "Oh, that's the guitarist.." But I looked up at him and I just kept thinking.. "HE'S A GOD!!" Mick is the best guitar player I have ever heard!! Then it finally registered... HE'S LOOKING STRAIGHT INTO MY EYES!! I think the shock showed on my face and that's when Mick's eyes got really wide and he smiled a sinister looking smile and shook his head! IT WAS UNBELIEVEABLE!! I tried so hard to reach him, I just wanted to touch his hand.. but I failed.. everyone around me seemed to grow 7 feet when someone would come to the edge of the stage.. I however, stayed 5 feet 3 inches tall!
The show went on and it was just fantastic!! Streamers fell from the sky, all different colors.. I tried to grab some but they slipped through my fingers.. I know I could have gotten some from the floor after the show but those weren't good enough. So I got the security guard to grab a few hand fulls for me off the stage! I stuffed em in my camera case and just kept rockin!
Later at the end of the show, Nikki swung his Bass into a Christmas tree that was set up next to Tommy's drums, it landed in between the barrier and the stage, I reached for it! I had it in my hands and grabbed a few bulbs from the tree, a few slipped from my hands but I managed to catch only one. A plain blue bulb but still, it was SOMETHING! I also got a few tree branches and stuffed them in my shirt. I kept taking pictures, then, before I knew it, the show was over.. the encore was over.. IT HAD ENDED TOO FAST!! THEY STILL HADN'T PLAYED GLITTER!! OR TOO FAST FOR LOVE!! It bummed me out! But I didn't have much time to be bummed because when I looked around me, my friends were gone.. So I ran to the merchandise stand and bought a few shirts.. I found my friends there and we were all freaking out about the great show!! We left the venue and headed down the street to Cooper Town! There was supposed to be an after party there and the guys might "possibly" show up! Just my luck, it was 21 and over! So Barbara stayed outside with me, while Dawn checked it out for about 10 minutes, we pretty much knew by the look on her face that Motley Crue would not be going to Cooper Town! The place was packed! (Now 6 months later I find out that they did show up!! *crying tears of frustration* GOD DAMN AGE LIMITS!!)
So we headed downtown to The Mason Jar and drank a few, reflected on the entire last couple of days, then headed home.
IT WAS ONE AWESOME WEEKEND THAT I WILL NEVER IN ALL MY LIFE FORGET!
