It was only because I was working on my Photobucket the other day that I was led to think deeply about an amazing miracle that happened in 2006.
My favourite band in the world, “my” band for life, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, decided to do a very small gig in London shortly before the release of their latest album. I happened to be off work – I was teaching at the time and it was half-term; and I remember that the main method of winning tickets was calling Radio 1 whenever they played “Give It Away”. My best friend Silvia and I got up at stupid o’clock every morning and listened to Radio 1 as much as was humanly possible.
Me being me, I also prayed, and prayed hard. I reasoned that if it was not going to hurt anyone else, there was no harm in me having two tickets for Silvia and myself. And on the Thursday of that week, my prayers were answered – I was one of the chosen few who won two tickets through the fan club.
Of course, I had little time to think about it! I had to drive down to London – the car hadn’t been serviced, I was 20 weeks pregnant, it wasn’t at all ideal! But it was one of those times you just have to take the opportunity and to heck with it. We got up early on the Friday morning and queued all day to make sure we would be at the front. Again, this was well-rewarded; we were in the second row of this incredibly tiny club – “Canvas” in London – standing right in front of the guitarist, John Frusciante, who is my favourite musician.
The night was so surreal it’s forever etched in my memory. From the first moments when they materialised onstage playing “Can’t Stop” – one of their signature tunes – I was absolutely lost in the music. When my eyes locked with John’s, during that first song, I couldn’t help smiling from one side of my face to the other – and he smiled right back. The whole night was jewelled with moments like that.
You just forget the painful feet, the being bashed (I spent the night having to push and shove people getting too rowdy to guard my bump), trying to scream across at the singer, Anthony Kiedis, who Silvia particularly liked, in between each song to get him to look at the camera – sadly every time he looked in our direction, she wasn’t ready with it, the fact that another best friend, Sarah, didn’t get in (though she had her moments later in the year!) – and all of that.
I remember instead Flea being on top high-energy form, climbing on and jumping off the amps and feeling his bass right through the floor; catching Anthony’s eye when he was singing with all his heart and soul; the smiles and enthusiasm from Chad, the drummer; being so close to John’s amp that if I closed my eyes I pretty much fell into the melody of the rhythm guitar and felt the solo sections deep in my soul; hearing four or five songs on the new album for the first time live.
How precious that memory is to me. And somehow I knew that night that it was a precursor to something else; but that’s a story for another day. For now I just want to revel in the magic of that day, and the magical events and miraculous universe that brought that together. The memory will never fade, but consigning it to this collection of thoughts and stories will ensure it lives on beyond me and is there for anyone who would appreciate it to read.
Life is full of such miracles. You need to ask for them; you need to believe in them; you need to take the opportunities you are given; and you need to hold on to your dreams. You need to be prepared to throw caution to the wind and take action, too!
Some of my favourite pictures from the night:
I am the only person I know who has killed two cars for the love of a band.
I’m not exactly proud of it…but…the first time was on this occasion. Driving back from London to Manchester on the Saturday, the car I’d had for many years and absolutely loved like it was alive dropped a con rod on the motorway and…died.
Twenty weeks pregnant, I had to stand by the side of my car and call the RAC, withstand a tirade of chastisement from my then-partner, who doesn’t have the same love of music as me and just didn’t understand. To this day I smile when I think about it. I still know that I did the right thing. ;-)~
Oh my God!! I didn´t knew about this blog!!! So miss you sister,and I so miss those days back in London!!
Love you
Silvia
I still miss them too girl xxx