Still catching up with overdue posts: Jef is gone but made sure he got me back on the “live music” path before he left…
Back in April, talking to one of my colleague at the office (one of the few Brits working there), I was describing in great length our impromptu gig on the streets of LA and my love for good old rock ‘n’ roll… During that chat, this colleague of mine, who will remain anonymous to avoid people to harass him, asked me if I would be interested in going and see some old heavy metal band, I name Def Leppard, who were playing at some weird location in the middle of an Indian reserve, 1 1/2 hours east of LA…
Def Leppard? Was he joking? I used to be a major fan of the band, back in… ouch… 1988-1990… Well, good music always remains good music and I would have been silly to refuse such an offer. He started to explain to me that he knew some guy who was in some way related to the band and had been friends of theirs for years and as a result, every now and then, he got the opportunity to go and see them performing. OK, fine, I don’t care much (at that point) as long as I can be there and enjoy the gig!
On the day of the gig, I wish good night to the little monster and her mummy and jump on the pimp mobile and start my trek into uncharted territories. As planned, 1 1/2 later, I reach the Soboba casino, in the middle of the freaking desert: the latest place on earth I would have expected to see a band of international caliber playing! Once again, my first thought is: Who cares as long as the band plays!
I meet with my anonymous colleague in front of the venue and am handed my ticket and… backstage pass! Oh oh!! Now we’re talking! We look for our seats and I realize that we are, well, simply in front of the stage! One step closer and we are with the band! Fan-freaking-tastic! Not only will I get to see a band I love but I am as well going to see them from extremely close and even maybe meet with them after the gig if my colleague’s relation is around and manages to get us introduced.
The gig is fab, the band still amazingly fresh and the audience is… well… as good as you would expect it in such venue! 
Half way through the gig, my colleagues bends towards me and explains that “the guy I have to thank for the ticket is the dude with the white jacket”. I look at the stage, I look at him and answer: “Do you mean Rick Savage, the bass player? He is the only one with a white jacket that I can see from here!?!?”. He smiles and silently confirms that his real connection with the band his their bass player aka Sav… I check my backstage pass and realize that it is initialed RS… Holly smokes!! I guess that y friend’s friend is a friend of Sav…
Once the gig ended, we started our walk towards the backstage area (less than a minute away in this place) and ended up chatting (very briefly) to the band’s long lasting Tour Manager (remove him and the show stops) and waiting for some form of after party to begin. Sadly, as this concert was the band’s last on on the US leg of their World tour, band members were busy moving their stuff from their tour busses to their various cars, vans, driving back to LA that night!
So no big party ahead. I’m a bit disappointed for a couple of minutes (despite the long drive home requiring soberness) and as we are about to leave the place, Sav himself summons my buddy for a quick chat at the back of one of their buses. The guy explains to us that he usually dislikes crowds and seems to prefer hiding from them…
As I had been warned about but would have never expected, I found Sav to be one of the nicest guy I’ve met in a long time. Down to Earth, big time and not passionate about himself (like so many “Almost made it to stardom” kind of guys). No, his passions seem to be genuine and simple. Music. Pleasing crowds, a quick drink and last but absolutely not least Footie aka Soccer (especially if not only the Sheffield Wednesday club).
The result of this meeting is something quite out of the ordinary:
- We’re in the middle of an Indian (native Americans) reserve (let’s face it, in the middle of freaking nowhere)
- Chatting with the Bass player of one of the bands I have been revering for years
- No bullshit is involved…
- Coz’ we’re talking about the English Football League…
If only we would have had more time or a pub around, I am sure this evening would have been even more interesting!!!
PS: As per usual, more interesting pics in the appropriate section
I had a feeling he was just a regular guy with an extraordinary job, it makes me very happy to know this.
Well, I recently received an email from my friend Neil (the anonymous dude) and here is what he calls an editorial change and what I call a fab comment:
“You failed to mention that Sav knew who you were before you met! I remember you being a little shocked by the fact that Sav was impressed at meeting a French bloke called Cyril.
Pete is my mate, who is Sav’s mate. They used to go to school together and Pete was in Sav’s first band i.e. the one before Atomic Mass. Pete naturally gave up music to become an accountant, as you do.
You should also know that following the gig, Ryan, the lad who came with us, has taken up the guitar and Pete has been showing him how to play. Ryan’s getting quite good, if a little noisy.”