Memories,Meetings,Memorabilia and the story and pictures behind them.

  Fourth row Stone Vancouver 2011 Ed tossed a pic our way and it landed in the breast pocket of the guy in front of me. I guess I was the only one who saw where it landed because everybody around instantly started a treasure hunt, including the guy who had the thing already in his pocket. I let them go on searching for awhile  then finally get the winners attention and pointed to my breast pocket he looks in his and his day was made.

edwho said:

  Fourth row Stone Vancouver 2011 Ed tossed a pic our way and it landed in the breast pocket of the guy in front of me. I guess I was the only one who saw where it landed because everybody around instantly started a treasure hunt, including the guy who had the thing already in his pocket. I let them go on searching for awhile  then finally get the winners attention and pointed to my breast pocket he looks in his and his day was made.

on2legs said:

edwho said:

Loujoe said:

Keep the stories flowing people.

Oh man, I could bore you for hours. Wish I was a better writer. Feel for those that get headache from my attempts.

And, you all are hilarious. Sorry, can’t have flaps on pockets, search continues.

Maybe next year GA ticket holders can unite and all balance plates on their heads or hats with plates on top similar to the carnival game. Could make it fun for the band and of course more picks for us. win - win

1981, I am 13 years old and in 8th grade, living outside Hartford, CT.  I had just started to get into rock music and had been begging my mom to take me to see Kiss. No dice, too young. Really just getting into good rock music and had that huge Swan Song patch on the back of my Levi jean jacket. Then, the Rolling Stones announce two nights at the ole Civic Center where the Whalers played.  I was way too young to be lining up for tickets and basically it sold out in a few hours.  First $15.00 ticket and the tour was sponsored by Jovan Musk (random fact).  At the time my mom was dating this guy who "was a contractor" and I am not really sure if that was real, but one day he would have $5,000 in his pocket and the next he was asking me for $20. Powder blue Lincoln Continental. You get the picture. Let's call him Sam.

So the week of the concerts arrives and that is all anyone in town can talk about, it is the lead story on the local news each night.  I go up to Sam and tell about this and how cool it would be if he could get me tickets to one of the concerts.  "I'd be the coolest kid in school, come on Sam, please make this happen!" He says, OK kid, let me see what I can do.  "Thanks Sam, I will clean your car for a month, blah, blah, blah"

Day of the first concert comes and I say Sam are you having any luck with tickets? He says "get_right, I have never seen anything like this. These tickets are harder to get than for Elvis." He tells me to sit tight and stay at the house by the phone.  Around 5pm he comes home and says sorry buddy, I could not make it happen tonight, but I am working something for tomorrow. 

Next day arrives, and I am so nervous and excited that this might happen.  Sam tells me to pick one friend in case he gets two tickets.  My best friend and I at the time were completely distracted all day. I come home from school and the phone rings around 4 pm.  It's Sam, hey get_right, sit tight I am coming home, do not leave the house.  OK, what’s up I wonder.  Around 5 he comes home, and he has a couple of shirts over his shoulder, the show program under his arm, and a few pins in his hand.

He hands me the shirts and the pins and says, sorry bud, I could not get any tickets, but I was able to get inside, hear the soundcheck, and buy some stuff for you.  “So sorry I wish I could have made this happen for you.” He hands me the program and says “it’s all good, you can wear the shirt to school and tell all the girls you went.” I say thanks Sam this is great and start flipping through the program.

I get to the “centerfold” and what is sitting there? A single ticket to see the Rolling Stones that evening.  2nd row in the section right next to the stage.  “Holy shit!” Sam you are the man, how did you get this, how much did it cost, how am I getting there, am I going alone, can I take a friend, Holy Shit.  HOLY SHIT.  He smiles and says, "get_right, you have no idea what I went through to get that ticket for you."

Here is the deal, he says, I am driving us down in about an hour, we are getting dinner, and I am walking you to the Civic Center door.  Go to the seats and you will be sitting with my friends, they will keep an eye on you. When the show ends you come right back to this restaurant. 

So, I go into the show, and there are three 40 something guys sitting in the seats, and they welcome me warmly.  The show starts, Garland Jefferies opened.  All I remember about that is that it was the first time I heard a live concert and it was LOUD.  The fellas may or may not have passed a joint my way.  I will never tell.  Or did I just tell LOL.

Finally, the Stones come on and they open with Under my Thumb.  So. Good. I remember so many details from the show. The white stage, that sort of looked like the famous lips.  The drum kit rotated around the stage during the show.  I remember Keith’s black telecaster so vividly. I can still put myself in that seat and hearing Shattered, Little T&A, Waiting on a Friend, Cant Always get what you want (my first sing a long) and the last three songs of the main set, Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar, and Jumping Jack Flash. For that last song, Mick gets in this cherry picker basket and is singing the song to the audience as the basket rotates around the arena. I will never never ever forget seeing Mick Jagger in the cherry picker basket, hanging in the air 20 ft above me signing

But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas
But it's all right, I'm Jumpin' Jack Flash
It's a gas! Gas! Gas!

The encore is Satisfaction and I am completely blown away by the energy in the room and the intense, visceral joy I am feeling at that moment. I smile every time I think about it. And people wonder why I chase rock concerts.

November 10 will mark the 40th Anniversary of that night.  Through the years, I have seen many shows by many amazing artists in many amazing venues. To this day, that Rolling Stones concert remains in my top five, and the Jagger moment with Jumping Jack Flash is still the coolest thing I have ever experienced at a concert. 

But it gets better, at least for me it does. Not quite a VIP after party but maybe better....

So my parents were divorced and my Dad lived up in Massachusetts, just across the border near Connecticut. He had remarried and I had an older stepsister (3 years older).  I was visiting my dad about two weeks after the Stones concert, and my stepsister was having a little party in the basement, probably about 20 kids hanging out, playing music, ping pong etc.  There was some making out going on, and not kidding, they were playing spin the bottle (look it up youngsters). I am just walking around the basement, being the annoying younger brother that I was (and maybe looking for beer), and this girl comes up to me and says “Hey, were you at the Rolling Stones concert in Hartford last week, I think I saw you there!” “Why yes, I was.” She says, “oh that is so cool, wasn’t it fun, come on lets sit, tell me how you got your tickets.” Why yes, I would love sit down with you…. Ahh the 80s!