You know I'd like to get to know you, but I ain't got the time
For a fan of music such as myself, few thrills can match that of meeting your favorite band. By 2003 I had met a bunch of bands that I loved. Happily I had met number one Def Leppard once. That meeting was less than stellar though, by no fault of the Leps.
They were promoting their newest release "X" and were doing so by playing the largest Wal-Mart in the country on August 1 2002. Yep, you can't make his stuff up. A stage was erected outside in the parking lot. The fans were told we could not approach the stage until a certain time. So we all sat in a line about 100 yards from the stage. Then, the go ahead was given. And we all started to run. Though I am not the most athletic person in the world, I am a fast runner. So like the wind I ran and managed to be right up against the guard rail in front of where guitarist Vivian Campbell would soon be standing. The show was fun and the band sounded great. But the highlight for me was the meet and greet following the show.
For 14 years I had wanted to meet this band that had so shaped my life. What would I say? What would I do? Were they going to be cool? So many questions. We waited in line for hours through the store. We approached the table where they were seated. We were told we could only have them sign the new cd. I had brought a copy of the cd by Girl called "Sheer Greed". Girl was a band that guitarist Phil Collen was in previous to joining Leppard. I wanted him to sign it as it was very rare. I hoped that i may be able to sneak it in.
Finally we were at the table. Lead singer Joe Elliott was first up. What to say? How could I sum up how much this band had influenced the direction of my life. I squeaked out "I just want you to know that you have been my favorite band for 14 years and I am only 21." Joe responded "Thank you. That means a lot" I could not have asked for anything more. Down the line we went and the members were all gracious. Mr Collen did indeed sign my Girl cd. He joked and said "These things just keep popping up from time to time." And soon the experience was over. But I had met my band. I figured that would be it. Oddly, the opportunity would come back around just one year later.
It was August of 2003. Def leppard were to play the Oakdale theater(Now the Chevrolet Theatre) in Wallingford Connecticut. Of course I had tickets and could not wait for the show. In the year since that fateful meeting, I had seen the band 10 more times but was always ready for more. On the day of the show, my then girlfriend alerted me to the fact that local radio station WCCC was giving meet and greet passes to people who showed up by 6pm and were wearing Lep swag. Well I got in touch with my buddy Jay and he got there early and I made him wear my union jack T shirt as I wore the '83 original with the leather pants as well. I was so stylish in my thin youth. So we drove there and parked and hung out outside with my sis and my mom. Yup, Def Leppard had become a family affair. Ya gotta bring mom to have a good time. My friend and then writer for Metal Edge Magazine Roger and his wife showed up and I mocked his Red Sox hat as he claimed he peed on a purple mustang. Good comeback Mr Spook! My car may have been purple but the Red Sox will always shit! He then went to the tour buses to interview Ricky Warwick, the opening act. We were then herded together by "Craig The Pornstar" from WCCC at which point he said there were 5 sets of 2 passes and the recipients would be decided by...........
DEF LEPPARD TRIVIA
To say I was elated by these 3 words would be an understatement. There is nothing I know better than all things rock and especially Def Lep. So when Craig asked who wanted to go first, I shot my hand up. The question: How did Def Leppard originally spell their name? Now I was thinking this was a trick question but I cautiously answered "d-e-a-f-l-e-o-p-a-r-d". The response: "You're going backstage" Holy Shit!!!!!!!!!! ME? GOING BACKSTAGE? HOLY SHIT!! They asked who I was gonna take so of course I grabbed my sis, but then rethought it and grabbed my mom, as my sis would know more and would be a better choice to win another set for her and Jay. They had only one pair left when they picked her and asked: What album did Def Leppard release in 1984? My first reaction was none and my sis was stumped. I then thought about First Strike, the album the ex managers put out abroad after the success of Pyromania and mouthed this to her. She said it and they said it was incorrect. People shouted out HIGH N DRY and PYROMANIA and none were correct. I then told Jessica to say HIGH N DRY with remixes, which also was released in 1984. She did and it was still wrong. Finally, he said the answer was RETRO ACTIVE. Now that amazing disc was released in 1993!!!! So I got in Craig's face and told him that and that my sis actually did state an album that was released in 1984. So he gave her the passes. YAY!! All 4 of us were going to the meet & greet. See, as the Lep expert, I take this stuff seriously. Yep, I am that guy. But dammit I know my stuff. I'm not saying there is pride in it, but inside my head is a brain so full of random trivia that I can only recall facts if a point value is assigned to the answer.
Jay and I ran back to the car to get our cameras and stuff to sign(Chinese import of X and their greatest hits collection Vault on Vinyl) and we enter to hear that even with backstage passes we could not bring in cameras. So down the pants they went. Yes, when in a concert environment and a camera is needed, you put it right down your pants. Its the one place they won't pat you down. Consider that tip a freebie to all you up and comers. After hanging around for a few minutes, we were led into the theatre part where we passed Malvin Mortimer, their tour manager for almost 20 years. I squeaked out a "Hi Malvin" and he replied with a "Hello" back. Yep. I just geeked out. Totally shot that one right out. I was now "that fan". Then through 2 more sets of doors and we were outside. We talked with a few people whom I told I would get pics of if I could as they did not know about my super secret down the pants ti. We were then told that they thought we would be meeting Joe Elliott and Rick Savage. I knew you only meet 2 and not the band and this was the 2 I would ideally choose. So I started getting very excited. Then the screen door opened....
Out came Joe and Sav. They walked out with Sharpies ready and started signing various pieces of their lives that fans had held onto for years. Finally Joe made his way to me and I handed him the Chinese X cd. Joe was dumbfounded. He had never seen it or even known what was on it. He went over the tracks and realized the 2nd disc was just Vault. Then he just had to show it to Sav. He thought it was pretty hip. He Took it out of the slipcase and opened it up and everything to know more about it. Gotta love when a band doesn't even know what their international releases look like. Different markets do different things. He was also impressed when my mom had him sign the vinyl Vault. He said something to the effect of all the unusual stuff coming out tonight. When Joe signed my cd he asked my name. I said Jon, with no H. He said "Like Jon Bon Jovi?" I told him I really did not want to think of it like that and he laughed. Sav came over next and signed my cd and my Vault record. My sis got her Union Jack T signed as well and Jay brought his X cd cover. They also gave us each a signed 8 X 10 of the band. Then we had a group photo taken for WCCC and then I got an individual shot with Joe. They really weren't doing these but as God hates a coward, I had to try. Joe obliged and life was good.
We went back inside and hung out when I found Roger again. He went in to watch Ricky. We had seen ricky 10 other times so we were happy to skip this once and just hang. Well this chunky but still kinda cute blonde chick starts talking to us and she just loves us and gave us hugs and kissed my cheek. Strange to have fans for doing nothing! I am a legend. Somehow. And I did not mind her at all. We hung around during Ricky and talked with peeps we knew until it was time to go in.
We walk in and "Coma" by Guns N Roses is playing. Having been to see them as many times as I have, I know it isn't long now. As we walk in, the same blonde chick and the 2 dudes she was with sees us and grabs me and kisses me again and her friend in the real 83 union jack shirt grabs me too and wont let go. They were so excited to see us. I did not mind this either. This comes with the territory of being a rock god ya know? As I walk to my seat people are shouting to get my attention. Just a wave from me, a mutual recognition from various people I talked to throughout the night, was all they wanted. It's so hard being so awesome. No, really it is. We find our seats. 6th row. DEAD CENTER!!!!! Beautiful view with short chicks in front of us. The lights go down...
The show was incredible. I did not think the crowd was great but the band did. But they teased us!! BIG TIME! In between tunes, Joe says "Wasted?" in response to someone's cheer. Then Phil kicks in the riff to one of the best songs the band has ever written that they very rarely play live and the rest of the band joins. I noticed it sounded a bit off in the drums but they played more then just the main riff. They kept going. Joe just stood there and the crowd went nuts. Then right as the first verse would kick in...STOP! Nothing. "Who knew Def leppard could be spontaneous?' But then did not play it!! AHHHHHHHHHHH Then at the end, after Love Bites, Joe points to some dude n a Thin Lizzy shirt. Then says they are gonna mix stuff up because we were such a great crowd. I am thinking "Here comes Wasted" Then Joe states that this is a song they have never done before. All I could think was that my request for Desert Song was about to be fulfilled. But no, they played a Thin Lizzy tune "Don't Believe A Word" i believe. Cool to see something they had never played before though. I got one pic after LET'S GET ROCKED ended as of course, cameras were not allowed. With a camera someone might do something very bad…I am not sure how though. Then we headed out to the lobby where we were practically assaulted by this scary chick with a Popeye arm(only one) and her old friend and her cute friend. But The Popeye chick kept making us touch her arm by shaking hands and shit. Scary. But nothing I am sure Lep has never had to deal with in their fame. She told Jay and I that we were hot. Funny stuff but once again, these 3 just gravitated toward us. More fame without being famous. It's a tough life i tells ya.
Since this night I have had the opportunity to come face to face with members of the Lep a few more times. Each has been a delight. They are still my favorite band and seeing them live is always a thrill. Meeting them is cool enough but my views on meeting bands has changed. I would much rather work for a band nowadays then meet them at a show. Meet and greets are nice but with my goals in life, they just don't satisfy. I am not looking to be their friend or anything. But in a business capacity, it would rule to just work for them. I have my goals. I am good. Meeting people who have influenced my life has always been a pleasure. I have never been let down. I just don't place as much importance on them as I did in my younger years. Growing up is silly, but maturing can be a good thing.
They were promoting their newest release "X" and were doing so by playing the largest Wal-Mart in the country on August 1 2002. Yep, you can't make his stuff up. A stage was erected outside in the parking lot. The fans were told we could not approach the stage until a certain time. So we all sat in a line about 100 yards from the stage. Then, the go ahead was given. And we all started to run. Though I am not the most athletic person in the world, I am a fast runner. So like the wind I ran and managed to be right up against the guard rail in front of where guitarist Vivian Campbell would soon be standing. The show was fun and the band sounded great. But the highlight for me was the meet and greet following the show.
For 14 years I had wanted to meet this band that had so shaped my life. What would I say? What would I do? Were they going to be cool? So many questions. We waited in line for hours through the store. We approached the table where they were seated. We were told we could only have them sign the new cd. I had brought a copy of the cd by Girl called "Sheer Greed". Girl was a band that guitarist Phil Collen was in previous to joining Leppard. I wanted him to sign it as it was very rare. I hoped that i may be able to sneak it in.
Finally we were at the table. Lead singer Joe Elliott was first up. What to say? How could I sum up how much this band had influenced the direction of my life. I squeaked out "I just want you to know that you have been my favorite band for 14 years and I am only 21." Joe responded "Thank you. That means a lot" I could not have asked for anything more. Down the line we went and the members were all gracious. Mr Collen did indeed sign my Girl cd. He joked and said "These things just keep popping up from time to time." And soon the experience was over. But I had met my band. I figured that would be it. Oddly, the opportunity would come back around just one year later.
It was August of 2003. Def leppard were to play the Oakdale theater(Now the Chevrolet Theatre) in Wallingford Connecticut. Of course I had tickets and could not wait for the show. In the year since that fateful meeting, I had seen the band 10 more times but was always ready for more. On the day of the show, my then girlfriend alerted me to the fact that local radio station WCCC was giving meet and greet passes to people who showed up by 6pm and were wearing Lep swag. Well I got in touch with my buddy Jay and he got there early and I made him wear my union jack T shirt as I wore the '83 original with the leather pants as well. I was so stylish in my thin youth. So we drove there and parked and hung out outside with my sis and my mom. Yup, Def Leppard had become a family affair. Ya gotta bring mom to have a good time. My friend and then writer for Metal Edge Magazine Roger and his wife showed up and I mocked his Red Sox hat as he claimed he peed on a purple mustang. Good comeback Mr Spook! My car may have been purple but the Red Sox will always shit! He then went to the tour buses to interview Ricky Warwick, the opening act. We were then herded together by "Craig The Pornstar" from WCCC at which point he said there were 5 sets of 2 passes and the recipients would be decided by...........
DEF LEPPARD TRIVIA
To say I was elated by these 3 words would be an understatement. There is nothing I know better than all things rock and especially Def Lep. So when Craig asked who wanted to go first, I shot my hand up. The question: How did Def Leppard originally spell their name? Now I was thinking this was a trick question but I cautiously answered "d-e-a-f-l-e-o-p-a-r-d". The response: "You're going backstage" Holy Shit!!!!!!!!!! ME? GOING BACKSTAGE? HOLY SHIT!! They asked who I was gonna take so of course I grabbed my sis, but then rethought it and grabbed my mom, as my sis would know more and would be a better choice to win another set for her and Jay. They had only one pair left when they picked her and asked: What album did Def Leppard release in 1984? My first reaction was none and my sis was stumped. I then thought about First Strike, the album the ex managers put out abroad after the success of Pyromania and mouthed this to her. She said it and they said it was incorrect. People shouted out HIGH N DRY and PYROMANIA and none were correct. I then told Jessica to say HIGH N DRY with remixes, which also was released in 1984. She did and it was still wrong. Finally, he said the answer was RETRO ACTIVE. Now that amazing disc was released in 1993!!!! So I got in Craig's face and told him that and that my sis actually did state an album that was released in 1984. So he gave her the passes. YAY!! All 4 of us were going to the meet & greet. See, as the Lep expert, I take this stuff seriously. Yep, I am that guy. But dammit I know my stuff. I'm not saying there is pride in it, but inside my head is a brain so full of random trivia that I can only recall facts if a point value is assigned to the answer.
Jay and I ran back to the car to get our cameras and stuff to sign(Chinese import of X and their greatest hits collection Vault on Vinyl) and we enter to hear that even with backstage passes we could not bring in cameras. So down the pants they went. Yes, when in a concert environment and a camera is needed, you put it right down your pants. Its the one place they won't pat you down. Consider that tip a freebie to all you up and comers. After hanging around for a few minutes, we were led into the theatre part where we passed Malvin Mortimer, their tour manager for almost 20 years. I squeaked out a "Hi Malvin" and he replied with a "Hello" back. Yep. I just geeked out. Totally shot that one right out. I was now "that fan". Then through 2 more sets of doors and we were outside. We talked with a few people whom I told I would get pics of if I could as they did not know about my super secret down the pants ti. We were then told that they thought we would be meeting Joe Elliott and Rick Savage. I knew you only meet 2 and not the band and this was the 2 I would ideally choose. So I started getting very excited. Then the screen door opened....
Out came Joe and Sav. They walked out with Sharpies ready and started signing various pieces of their lives that fans had held onto for years. Finally Joe made his way to me and I handed him the Chinese X cd. Joe was dumbfounded. He had never seen it or even known what was on it. He went over the tracks and realized the 2nd disc was just Vault. Then he just had to show it to Sav. He thought it was pretty hip. He Took it out of the slipcase and opened it up and everything to know more about it. Gotta love when a band doesn't even know what their international releases look like. Different markets do different things. He was also impressed when my mom had him sign the vinyl Vault. He said something to the effect of all the unusual stuff coming out tonight. When Joe signed my cd he asked my name. I said Jon, with no H. He said "Like Jon Bon Jovi?" I told him I really did not want to think of it like that and he laughed. Sav came over next and signed my cd and my Vault record. My sis got her Union Jack T signed as well and Jay brought his X cd cover. They also gave us each a signed 8 X 10 of the band. Then we had a group photo taken for WCCC and then I got an individual shot with Joe. They really weren't doing these but as God hates a coward, I had to try. Joe obliged and life was good.
We went back inside and hung out when I found Roger again. He went in to watch Ricky. We had seen ricky 10 other times so we were happy to skip this once and just hang. Well this chunky but still kinda cute blonde chick starts talking to us and she just loves us and gave us hugs and kissed my cheek. Strange to have fans for doing nothing! I am a legend. Somehow. And I did not mind her at all. We hung around during Ricky and talked with peeps we knew until it was time to go in.
We walk in and "Coma" by Guns N Roses is playing. Having been to see them as many times as I have, I know it isn't long now. As we walk in, the same blonde chick and the 2 dudes she was with sees us and grabs me and kisses me again and her friend in the real 83 union jack shirt grabs me too and wont let go. They were so excited to see us. I did not mind this either. This comes with the territory of being a rock god ya know? As I walk to my seat people are shouting to get my attention. Just a wave from me, a mutual recognition from various people I talked to throughout the night, was all they wanted. It's so hard being so awesome. No, really it is. We find our seats. 6th row. DEAD CENTER!!!!! Beautiful view with short chicks in front of us. The lights go down...
The show was incredible. I did not think the crowd was great but the band did. But they teased us!! BIG TIME! In between tunes, Joe says "Wasted?" in response to someone's cheer. Then Phil kicks in the riff to one of the best songs the band has ever written that they very rarely play live and the rest of the band joins. I noticed it sounded a bit off in the drums but they played more then just the main riff. They kept going. Joe just stood there and the crowd went nuts. Then right as the first verse would kick in...STOP! Nothing. "Who knew Def leppard could be spontaneous?' But then did not play it!! AHHHHHHHHHHH Then at the end, after Love Bites, Joe points to some dude n a Thin Lizzy shirt. Then says they are gonna mix stuff up because we were such a great crowd. I am thinking "Here comes Wasted" Then Joe states that this is a song they have never done before. All I could think was that my request for Desert Song was about to be fulfilled. But no, they played a Thin Lizzy tune "Don't Believe A Word" i believe. Cool to see something they had never played before though. I got one pic after LET'S GET ROCKED ended as of course, cameras were not allowed. With a camera someone might do something very bad…I am not sure how though. Then we headed out to the lobby where we were practically assaulted by this scary chick with a Popeye arm(only one) and her old friend and her cute friend. But The Popeye chick kept making us touch her arm by shaking hands and shit. Scary. But nothing I am sure Lep has never had to deal with in their fame. She told Jay and I that we were hot. Funny stuff but once again, these 3 just gravitated toward us. More fame without being famous. It's a tough life i tells ya.
Since this night I have had the opportunity to come face to face with members of the Lep a few more times. Each has been a delight. They are still my favorite band and seeing them live is always a thrill. Meeting them is cool enough but my views on meeting bands has changed. I would much rather work for a band nowadays then meet them at a show. Meet and greets are nice but with my goals in life, they just don't satisfy. I am not looking to be their friend or anything. But in a business capacity, it would rule to just work for them. I have my goals. I am good. Meeting people who have influenced my life has always been a pleasure. I have never been let down. I just don't place as much importance on them as I did in my younger years. Growing up is silly, but maturing can be a good thing.
posted by Jon M Hyde at
11:03 AM
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