There’s nothing more embarrassing then going to a gig saying “I’m on the guest list” and them not finding your name. Let alone at a big venue like the Entertainment centre and the gig in question is the Stevie Nick’s concert. I never like to get my hopes up especially when someone like Dave Stewart says casually during an interview that he’ll put my name on the guest list you kind-of take it with a pinch of salt but with two follow-up phone calls from his PR people double checking how to spell my name I guessed it was a sure thing. Then comes the night in question and I’ve invited my mum along because she deserves a night out and because she’ll appreciate it the most (plus I’ve given her hell for most of my teenage years and god knows I owe her). So there we are “sorry you’ll have to come back later maybe they’ll be here in half an hour”.. cue concerned look on my face and the walk of shame back to the pub for half an hour. But his PR team just have poor time management because on my return a white envelope with my name written on the front was handed to me.. I slipped my finger into the little crevice and sliced it open revealing my golden ticket!! Actually it was two yellow venue tickets and two purple GUEST PASSES BACKSTAGE! Yes it was amazing.. like Charlie Bucket on his way to see Willy Wonka but I wasn’t as humble, grinning like a Cheshire cat and telling myself to calm down wondering if I was going to have a groupie moment when the time came…
She was amazing all blood-red suede and sequined scarves, platform boots, voice breathtakingly incredible I was completely blown away.. fantastic, inspiring, strong, ethereal, wicked, humble, story-teller.. ..
.. .. the last song (before the encore) was my personal favourite ‘Edge of Seventeen’ Stevie disappeared out the back for a while and guitarist Waddy Wachtel had an extended guitar solo and intro that was spine-tingling. AMAZING and boy was I excited to meet her and Dave.. I had everything planned out all I wanted was a handshake and to take a photo with them both mimicking the hear the evil, see no evil, speak no evil pose.. .. because how cool would that be and a lot more fun for them than your average fan photo..
So waited around with a few other people who were chatting to Dave’s main back-up singer Amy (lady in the fro who has an amazing voice filling in for Annie Lennox’s parts) and by the way she is really nice.. and then I hear “Is anybody here to see Dave Stewart?” and I spin around and see the PR girl and some guy and I come over to them all excited with saved battery life on my camera awaiting this amazing moment to have her say.. .. “oh I’m sorry they’ve packed up, they didn’t set up a green room here so there was no space, I’m so sorry” with this pitying smile on her face and the tone of someone who obviously doesn’t realise how much this opportunity meant to me, who see’s these people everyday and doesn’t realise the impact this has on normal people like me. Then comes the final blow… “You should’ve come before the show“.. you know that information would have been a lot more useful to me yesterday when she called me personally to double-check the spelling of my name.. just thrown in a “by the way come before the gig Dave will be able to spare you a few minutes before the show”.. =( Just a HEADS UP! I didn’t need red carpet treatment and I’ve never heard of people seeing stars before their show, never had this happen before with a big star so I’m not at all down with the protocol so SHE SHOULD”VE TOLD ME.. least to say I was pretty upset during that cold walk to the car. Not everyday that you get backstage passes to see Stevie & Dave.. .. would’ve like a photo with Dave it was such a good interview I imagine it would of looked something like this..
Hey not bad for fifteen minutes with Photoshop.. but anyway I was happy enough after the initial shock I got a great interview and a free gig that was amazing BUT BUT BUT.. got a message from my editor telling me to look on Dave’s twitter.. ..
A shout out to moi.. that’s consolation prize enough =D
P.S. Miss PR lady I’m still waiting for the new Stevie Nicks album you promised me if you want to throw in a signed picture of Stevie with Dave.. you’d make my year =P
