when i say that I'm being pretty much serious. it was the time of big hair rock music. every band back then seemed to have great big hair, and put on an electrifying show. there was smoke, fog, and the lighting effects that would sweep the stage. it was a good time to be alive, and a good time for rock music.
i saw so many bands back then that i can't even name them all. everyone of them put on a great show. i can't even remember one that didn't. even the opening acts put on a premium show. the funny thing now is that most of the bands that have survived 20-30 years later can be seen doing free concerts on holidays. a few of the really great ones haven't fell into that category yet.
Aerosmith is still rocking hard today. despite the fact that all the guys are in their 60's. i think that Aerosmith have been timeless. they have gone through many different generations of time, and have always maintained to entertain each new crowd with fresh music. while keeping their old fans just as intrigued with their music.
they put on a great stage show also. Steven Tyler is a mad man on stage. he is all over the place. from the top of the Marshall stacks, swinging off poles, to crawling crossed the floor. when he leaps through the air it seems that he might never touch the ground again!! he also plays several different instruments through out the show. he is simply amazing to watch in himself!!
Joe Perry is a master musician on the guitar. he plays everything with such conviction and feel. he really doesn't do anything flashy to add to the show. he simply just stands there bleeding the strings of his guitar from his heart and soul.
i guess that you can tell that Aerosmith was one of my favorite concerts to attend back in the 80's. the whole story involves much more than seeing them. it was a once in a lifetime event, all the way through!!
i don't even remember what day it was, or where i had been. i just know that i had come in that day, and Amy was vibrating crossed the floor. now,............that's an understatement...............she was jumping, and hollering, and squealing just like a teenager supposed to be doing!! she was all excited because she had just won two tickets to see Aerosmith that night with backstage passes. since me and her mom had bought our tickets months ago, the whole group got to go now. somehow they decided that she was going to give the backstage passes to me, and her other sister Carrie, and i was sure glad to get them!!
we drove about 70 miles to Birmingham to see the show. we always went early, because we always planned to stand next to the rail in front of the stage. that way we got a good view of the band, and could just scream until we weren't able to talk in the morning.
do y'all know what i mean? your throat would be so sore the next day that you wouldn't even want to try to talk, and you certainty could hear nothing for the next three days, but a roar inside your head!! that remained a constant for after every concert i attended in the 80's. you ask why? why would i do that to myself? Because it was fun!! we were living in a rock and roll dream!! we were trippin' the life fantastic baby!! it was a small price to pay to see such greatness!!
anyway,............i usually had a buzz that was worthy of concert going, and my girl would always slip in a small bottle on her body just to keep the level up. i never saw a concert straight until i was after 40 years old. i guess that i just never seen the point in it. time does change a persons perspective of things.
here is the funny part. we had made it within ten feet of the rail, and the security sat us on the floor. they said that we could go to the rail eventuality, but we needed to wait right there for now. as i sat there on the floor i got to thinking............."hey,...........I've got this backstage pass,..............so i think that I'm going to use it!!" i told my girl what i was thinking, and ask Carrie if she was ready to go. now Carrie was ready for anything, so we headed backstage to see what we could see.
i knew that this was not the time that they meant for us to be backstage. usually, people go back for a few minutes after the show, and meet the whole band, and get autographs, and whatever. the whole area looked like a mess. there were equipment laying every where, and a lot of people running around. i kept looking behind myself as i walked forward. i really expected some security to bring me back out front. i guess you could say that i was paranoid. honestly, to paranoid to pay attention. i just keep looking behind me, and all i sudden i ran in to something, and that something had a name......Joe Perry.
i started apologizing to him, and then i heard this laughter from beside of me. the was Steven Tyler sitting on this huge speaker laughing at me. all of a sudden security came alive. I'm not sure how many, but several swarmed around me, and said that i didn't belong back here. they were taking me back out to the front when Steven said," fellows,........he will be alright back here for a few minutes. he's just a fan, and i would like the chance to talk to him." all the security simple vanish like they had appeared except for one. he stayed close to me, as Steven and i had a conversation. i really don't remember what we talked about, and for how long. i just knew that this was the most famous person that i had ever met, and he was willing to take his time to spend with me for a few minutes. i got his autograph, and he told the security to make sure that i got back in my place that i was in for the show. i shook his hand, and walked off with security. he did as Steven had asked. he took me right back to the spot that i was in. then he shook my hand, and said to enjoy the show.
Carrie started questioning me about what happened. she had took off back out front when she had saw me almost knock Joe Perry down, and saw the security rushing toward me. i just handed her Steven Tyler's autograph, and smiled saying this is what happened!!
now,........i can't remember anybody opening for them. maybe all the excitement that i had already blocked that info out, but i do remember most of the show that they put on. i say most of the show, because that was the only concert that i ever got kicked out of...........well,...........kinda. actually they kicked my girl out. she was having a problem with some chick behind us. this girl kept trying to kiss me, and of coarse i thought it was funny. my girl had about all the pressure that she could stand from the crowd pressing behind us, and the heat. it was pretty hot. almost unbearable to tell the truth. people had been coming off that rail all night because of the extreme conditions, and i finally talked my girl into crossing that rail. me, and some other guy had picked her up, and a couple security guys where going to catch her on the other side.
who would have thunk it? she just had to get her revenge on the girl that kept trying to kiss me. as she was going over the rail..........she hauled off, and kicked that girl unmercifully in the face!! immediately,......the security told her that she would have to leave the building for the night, and they were going to escort her out!! she told me just to stay for the rest of the show, but i couldn't do that. i had to take her punishment right along beside her. funny what love does to a man............huh? i would have never chosen any concert, or event over being with her. if i could go back today and remake the decision would it be different now? nope!!...........she was just that special!!
all i know is that the memory of that day has lasted longer than out relationship has. the Aerosmith experience will last me a life time. i just wonder why our people experiences can't last that long also?
...................much love
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