VIRGINIA BEACH
Virginia Beach Pix: Members Only Public Gallery
Finally we got to do the place that people were starting to say was jinxed.
Let me just run down the past 4 shows that were cancelled.
1. 8/16/98 Joey’s Car caught on Fire.
2. 9/11/01 ….
3. 09/03 Hurricane Isabel.
4. 07/04 Hurricane Tyler - LOL (it's really not funny, I wish I had a roadie to change the strings in my throat!!! Not as lucky as most musicians ;) so goes the life of a singer.
Remember, we plan… god laughs.
After the show in Nashville, woke up the next morning around 12, painted my toenails black while I called Liv - she's still on the set of the movie “Strangers” with Scott Speedman from the Vampire Movies..? the same guy I said was watching the NLCS between takes and said, “Liv Your Dads on TV at the Game!!!” - went to dinner with Richie Supa, co-writer of Pink, Amazing, Bacon Biscuit Blues and Lightning Strikes with us… wound up at the Bellcourt Theatre to see the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, who have a documentary out, which I saw when I visited Joe last winter in Vermont. He’s been a big supporter of them and so am I. So when we found out they were playing in Nashville we jumped at the chance to go. Never mind what Aerosmith has been through - imaging ending up in a refugee camp in Africa, having survived a massacre and losing fingers.. the refugees stayed together and formed their band despite the worst atrocities known to man... and they rock. Their music reeked of freedom and everyone in the theater was up dancing. At the end of each song, the singer would yell “CEASE FIRE!!!!” Unlike the lyrics on "Just Push Play" which is Jamaican patio, and if you listen close, you’ll hear "six years of no war, we’re goin down under." They brought their own freedom to their own hearts by their own music and its infectious. Of course we had to get up on stage and play with the All Stars…and what a treat. The guitar player was the Keith Richards of the reggae world…a gorgeous black man, with dreads to his waist and humble as the day is long - its an experience Joe and I will never forget.
Joe called me after the show and spoke of them maybe opening up for us at Mohegan Sun. I said I’d have it no other way.
Virginia Beach - a little cool but not rainin - by the way, on that day, Jade Jagger was born. And on that day Jack Kerouac died… And on that same day, 148 years ago, in 1858, in Paris, the CAN CAN was first performed.. And most importantly, in 1957, JAILHOUSE ROCK starring Elvis Presley, opened! Although, Madonnas book SEX, went on sale. So isn’t it interesting we’re playing that night, a mile from the longest pleasure beach in the world - a Guineess record! - only to be shadowed by the lead Joe Perry took in "Draw the Line. Oh yeah, he knows how to, and I love to cross it.
.. and how about that guy at the front of the ramp…during "Dream On"…he was either a veteran of the war, or had a loved one who went over and maybe didn’t come back. I don’t know for sure, but it was a real moment for me.
I can’t imagine losing a loved one. Especially in a war like this one. But later for my views… for now its rock n roll!
After flying from Nashville at 5 o'clock... 6 o' clock backstage, tried on some new clothes from Junker, had my usual piece of wild salmo with broccoli before the show… then went into severe give it away mode with Joe, Brad and Joey, for the meet and greets. At 715, did our first meet and greet/press the meat of 40 or so people, back to back, with the Japanese fan club - sixty or so fans from Japan that flew over specifically for the show in VA Beach… and another meet and greet with the fine people from a Miller Brewing...and then had a quick chat with Bruce Hornsby and his son Keith… then 9 people from the HOHNER company, which I plan to do a blues harp for, in the very near future…. All went well, was covered in lipstick.. yum….. dragged it back to the dressing room with 45 minutes left.. all the while being filmed by Casey, never missing a moment. I usually always need AT LEAST TWO HOURS, before the show - I'm usually locked in by Scott and LIZ and hour before… and here it is 30 minutes and I'm in PANIC MODE. Haven’t worked out, haven’t warmed up with Russ, I frantically make it….but I put a hole for 5 minutes… as I'm bowing at the alter in the bathroom, and taking a pre-show wizzz.. I thank god I'm in this band, and think to myself, OH MY GOD ITS FRIDAY NIGHT, AND THIS CROWD HASN’T SEEN US IN 5 YEARS. Should be able to hear them in New York City. And so it went..... the lights dimmed in Memphis as we hit the stage…
The audience was louder than my in-ears could take… and I sucked up their love, till my cup runeth over… sorry if this gets out to you late.. but I'm draggin' a bit today, and it is Sunday… time for some rest…..
With love,
