THANK YOU TO BILL & KEITH!
Mood:  vegas lucky

Words cannot express my gratitude to Bill & Keith for their kindness.

I've been "HAPPY" for a solid week now. My smile has not faded. I love you both!

 Concert tickets for 2 shows $1000, 2 flights to AC & one flight to Vegas $500, 2 hotels in AC & 1 hotel in Vegas $900...getting my picture taken in Las Vegas with Keith Richards PRICELESS! Getting the photo autographed in Atlantic City...even more PRICELESS!!!

 

Meeting Keith in Las Vegas
Mood:  happy
There's no time to lose, I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away
Dying all the time
Lose your dreams
And you will lose your mind.
Ain't life unkind?

 

I finally caught my dream on Saturday evening in Las Vegas, after waiting a mere 27 years! I was backstage at the MGM Grand and was allowed to go to the Wardrobe room to meet Keith Richards and get a few photos taken with him. It was a surreal and fantastic experience.

I had met Keith briefly on a few other occasions, the first being in Pittsburgh, PA in January 2002, and that was a thrill enough, getting a hug and kiss & a "thanks darling" from Keith in the lobby of the hotel. I also met him again in 2003 as he left for the SARS show and he grabbed my hand as he walked by, and then in 2005 in San Francisco Keith gave me another big hug & kiss backstage in the Rattlesnake Inn.

But Saturday night in Las Vegas was different. It was special because it was just me and Keith and Keith's security, Bill. If it wasn't for the kindness and generosity of Bill, this would have never taken place and I want to thank him from the bottom of my little Keith loving heart for all he's done for me this tour.

I was told at the "second" opening night in Boston back on Sept. 20, 2006 that I might get this opportunity to have my photo taken with Keith. So every show since then (6 times to be exact), I prepared for the possibility. It meant sneaking in a camera of course, and picking the right outfit...I mean I wanted to look good right? Well, for different reasons, things just didn't seem to work out show after show, so by Vegas, which was supposed to be my last show of this tour, except that Atlantic City got postponed, I had all but given up hope. I didn't wear anything special to Vegas, no cleavage or anything, LOL, just a new skull t-shirt I had gotten.

We were in the Rattlesnake Inn, but things were SO hectic, busy and crowded backstage. Time ticked away, and the prime time would have been after the boys finished playing snooker, but that time came & went, as did the meet n' greet, etc. Bonnie Raitt was finishing her opening set, which meant the Rattlesnake was closing, so my hopes faded away, but I made a last ditch call asking "Is there any hope?". To my surprise, I was asked where I was at the moment & within seconds I was at the doorway and whisked behind the curtain up the backstage hallway. We were walking fast, but things were in slow motion for me.

In a few seconds I entered the doorway of the room marked "Wardrobe", and was told to wait in the doorway. I did so, standing beside the cases filled with the band's stage clothing. Jo Wood walked in carrying 4 hangers of Ronnie's t-shirts. I didn't speak to anyone who passed. I just waited. I wasn't nervous. Maybe I was in shock.

I was told to get my camera ready, so I turned it on, but it has a 1 minute shut off if left idle. So, it shut off as soon as Keith came around the corner, looking just fucking fantastic and ever the pirate with a huge smile, and gave me a big hug. Bill introduced us again, and I gave Keith a red, white and black skull scarf, which he hung around his neck. I thanked Keith for letting me see him and he said "Thank YOU, you keep on giving, and all I do is accept." Keith was all smiles, genuine, friendly, cool, sweet, everything you'd imagine he'd be. He grabbed me and pulled me close and Bill asked how to turn on my camera and then he took a few photos of us. I didn't even notice until afterwards that Keith wore his sunglasses for the first one, and then took them off for the second...but I do remember him leaning his head against mine. Then a woman snapped a photo of me, Bill and Keith together and when I lined up next to them, Keith said "You get in the middle" and I said "I'll be happy to be in the middle". I just couldn't stop smiling. But, funny, either could Keith. I told him I'd been waiting for this since I was 12 years old and then thinking of the song "Far Away Eyes" said "Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord" and Keith laughed and said "Don't thank them!" to which I replied "Thank you Keith!". Then the 3 of us walked out of wardrobe, down the hall together to Camp X-Ray, where Keith said goodbye and I said thanks for the 10th time to both Keith and Bill. I remember watching Keith duck into Camp X-Ray and then peak his head out again and smile at me. I think I floated out of the backstage area to where my friends were waiting in the hallway.



I couldn't believe the photos came out so well, I couldn't have asked for better shots! Not a lot of words were spoken between us, but the emotion and the happiness and Keith's genuine spirit could truly be felt. He really did touch my heart.



Again, my heartfelt thanks to both Bill and Keith for allowing me this opportunity of a lifetime. I love you both! Tears came to my eyes a few times that night during a stellar performance by the Stones, especially when Keith sang my favoirte song of his...


YOU GOT THE SILVER
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)

Hey babe, what's in your eyes?
I saw them flashing like airplane lights
You fill my cup, babe, that's for sure
I must come back for a little more

You got my heart you got my soul
You got the silver you got the gold
You got the diamonds from the mine
Well that's all right, it'll buy some time

Tell me, honey, what will I do
When I'm hungry and thirsty too
Feeling foolish, and that's for sure
Just waiting here at your kitchen door?

Hey baby, what's in your eyes?
Is that the diamonds from the mine?
What's that laughing in your smile?
I don't care, no, I don't care

Oh babe, you got my soul
You got the silver, you got the gold
It's just your love, just leave me blind
I don't care, no, that's no big surprise

Boy Did We Get Screwed
Mood:  irritated
SHE SAW ME COMING
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)

She saw me coming
She saw me coming, yeah
She saw me coming
I didn't see a thing
I wasn't looking
I just walked into it
A sucker for it, I'm a sucker
Thought I was so cool
She saw me coming
Boy did I get screwed... yeah!


Maybe they saw me coming? Who knows. Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall was to be my first indoor small arena gig since last March in Vegas. And, it was the night after my birthday, so how much more fun could it be?

Well, the show got cancelled 6 hours before showtime. WHAT??? Postponed really, but that doesn't helps things. It doesn't take care of the almost $2000 on my credit card paid for 4 tickets at $475 each, or the $200 airfare to travel to Atlantic City, or the $200 hotel room, or the food, drinks, gambling...we didn't have to spend had we known we weren't going to get a show. My friend Elizabeth flew in from California for God's sake. My other friend Susan drove down from Alexandria, VA and my friend Isabel flew from Chicago. And then there were the folks who came from Holland, Germany, Japan, etc. I feel even worse for them.

I know shit happens. I have had cancelled shows before. During the Licks tour I flew to Amsterdam and of course couldn't return for the new date. But this was the most unlikely of shows to get cancelled and I think it had less to do with Mick's voice and more to do with Clinton's bash and the Scorcese filming. I'm not blaming Mick or anything, but those who were listening to rehearsals just the other night said he was in fine voice. In my opinion, the only reason this show was cancelled was because of stupid Clinton's Beacon show on the 29th and the fact that Scorcese is filming those shows and yes, Mick HAS to be in good voice for those shows. Those shows, could not be cancelled. AC could. Painful news, since we are not going to the Beacon shows.

So, there we were having a blast the night of my b-day. Then on the 27th at 2pm we were having lunch at Sonsie across from Boardwalk Hall at the Pier and my phone rang with Susan on the other end saying "I have some bad news for you..." and immediately by the tone of her voice I thought to myself "please don't say they are cancelling this show"...but that was what she said. We were stunned.

The Stones had not played Boardwalk Hall since 1989. This show was sold out, it was hyped all over town, it was in every paper, on billboards, the media in NJ was out in full force. Casinos were hosting parties and contests to win tickets. the whole town was abuzz. How could it happen here?

We walked back up the Boardwalk in shock, calling others to pass on the news. Many people were still enroute to AC. Some people arrived at the venue ay 7pm only to find the cancelled sign posted on the door to the venue. One guy was quoted in the paper as saying "When I see Mick Jagger I'm going to kick his ass!".

Once we got over the initial shock, there was nothing left to do but...drink. LOL. So we bought some beer and Elizabeth and I went to party with our friends Susan, Isabel, Ed & Debbie in their room. Later E & I went to happy hour at the Blue Martini at Bally's. Lost more money. Then we met up with everyone again at the Atlantic City Bar & Grille where were partied the night away & commiserated with fellow fans until 2am.

The new date was announced almost immediately, which also led me to believe that they knew about this cancellation earlier than we think they knew. Now, since this is rescheduled for Nov. 17, and there is an LA show on the 18th...it seems the LA show will get pushed back a few days, which will piss those people off too.

Well, what can ya do? Shit happens. And you can't blame this one on Keith!

The North American Tour 2006
Mood:  chillin'
Well, Stones fans in North America are now furiously planning their own fall tours with the Stones...at least I am. They made a few additions and changes in the scheduling since it was first announced last week, but luckily it didn't affect the shows I plan to attend. I already have some hotels booked and flights booked. Both those things tend to go up in price rapidly, especially hotels when a city gets wind that the Stones will be in town. In 2002, I paid $120 for a room in Chicago, that now costs $250! Same hotel. Although the price of my flight went down. Of course our Stones ticket prices went up too, even though Cohl said he dropped prices. Anyway, my tentative plans for the fall include: Boston, Louisville (which isn't announced yet as of today), Chicago, Atlantic City, Oakland, Phoenix and Las Vegas. I think seven shows should make up for the 4 I missed in Europe due to cancellations eh? And maybe, the Stones will return to Europe in 2007...so perhaps Amsterdam or something will be in my future then. Right now, I am just looking forward to opening night in Boston Sept. 20 and how about some set changes you guys? Come on, throw us some rarities boys!

Idiots on Stones Message Boards
Mood:  irritated
I have been online in the Rolling Stones internet community since 1995...which is very near the inception of the first Rolling Stones chat room. The first RS chat room I visited was an AOL chatroom, and I encountered even back then, a bunch of know it all mean spirited folks who couldn't answer newbie questions without belittling them. I took that as a lesson and left AOL and went to Stones World, the first chatroom outside AOL on the world wide web. Remember, these were the OLD days, LOL. There I made friends with some people in 1996 that I am still friends with right now, 10 years later.

My lesson from AOL was that even though I know a ton about the Stones, I am always willing to answer questions from people who don't...happily and without berating them. After all, anyone can be a fan, but not everyone is a die hard fan like myself. And there was a time that I didn't know anything about the Stones as well (hard to believe I know). Before 1996 I didn't even realize there were other die-hard fans like myself.

In May 1997 we held the first Rolling Stones internet fan gathering in Cleveland, OH at the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. Nine women and one guy (lucky man) met for a weekend of partying and Stones music. This was virtually unheard of in those days, as we were total strangers driving and flying to Cleveland from PA, OH, DE, NJ, CA & Canada! Most people's families asked "how do you know it's safe?" or "how do you know these people won't rob or kill you?" But we all survived & had a fantastic time. So much so that we all met many times afterwards on various Stones tours starting several months later with Bridges to Babylon.

Anyway, in those days, there weren't many Stones message boards and by 1998 I had met so many of the online folks during the tour that on the several boards that existed I knew just about everyone and everyone was friendly to each other. We talked mostly Stones, but we could talk off topic and talk shit too because we all knew each other in person.

Stones World eventually folded and our little group moved to Voodoo Lounge where we stayed for quite sometime. This is where the rifts first began & making a long story short some people left that board siding with one person and moving to another board called Backstage, while others chose to stay. Eventually Voodoo Lounge also folded and everyone headed to Backstage. And eventually flaming and flights began there too as the board grew with more and more fans. And then Backstage folded as well. By then, there were other boards coming along like Shidoobee, IORR, Stones Planet, RS.COM...and zillions of smaller boards like my Yap Yap Keith board.

One thing though became common, most boards could not prevent the childish behavior that some adults continually engaged in. Which, was and still is, bashing people on a public forum simply for the sake of doing it.

Does it make them feel big? Important? Who knows. They do it because they get a rush out of making someone mad with no recourse. Nine out of 10 of these people would probably never say to someone's face what they say online. Online they are anonymous and that's what makes it easy. And sad.

I learned early on that fighting back is not worth it. I did it a few times, and it dragged on and on and in the end of course, no one won. A few years ago I was personally attacked on a public forum with many nasty unthruths related to Keith and the Stones and the fan club.

At that point I left message boards for good for quite a while. It really wasn't worth it.

So now, several years later, new tour, I decided to make my way back onto a few boards. One of which is our own Stones Planet, which is safe because we can edit it. But I have also been on the official board at RS.COM, which recently is full of garbage and hateful comments too. I've posted on Shidoobee here and there. Most recently I joined IORR for the first time.

When I post these days it's usually because I have information to share with other fans that I feel is important or else I have been asked to get the word out about something. This time I was spreading the word to fans about 2 different Stones related things-the TOTA' 75 book by Genesis Publications and Blondie Chaplin's new solo cd that is due in July.

Wouldn't you know that within a week or 2 of joining a new board I have already encountered several rude or childish remarks related to my posts. I typically do not respond to rude posts, but I did tonight, very diplomatically. We'll see what the rude poster says tomorrow, but I am sure it will be something even more rude, as is usually the case. And I won't respond again.

Having said that, I was at the same time relieved to be welcomed to the IORR board by several fans, which was nice.

In the end, Stones fans have the Stones in common, but that doesn't mean we'll all agree, nor do we have to. It also doesn't mean we'll all like each other and we don't have to in order to like the same band. For as many idiots as I've encountered over the years, I have met or spoken online with 100x as many great, generous, fantastic people. I have made some lifelong friends.

And for tonight, that's the end of my endless diatribe on Stones message boards. May the good natured fans outweigh the bad!

Keith is Ready to Tour Again!
Mood:  a-ok
KEITH RICHARDS IS GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR TO GET BACK TO WORK

AS STONES ANNOUNCE NEW ITINERARY FOR EUROPEAN SHOWS



Press Information – Friday, 2 June 2006



With the news that Keith Richards has made a complete recovery from his accident and is ready to return to the concert stage, The Rolling Stones have unveiled today their re-vamped European Tour Schedule.



Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts will now kick off their ‘A Bigger Bang’ European Tour at the world famous San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy on Tuesday, 11 July 2006.



There will be 21 stadium dates in 11 countries across Europe and these shows will be all the Stones will be doing in the summer of 2006. Concert promoters CPI/TNA have made every effort to accommodate fans in as many countries and cities as possible.



The new tour itinerary is as follows:



Tues 11 July Milan Italy San Siro

Fri 14 July Vienna Austria Ernst Happel Stadion

Sun 16 July Munich Germany Olympiastadion

Wed 19 July Hannover Germany AWD – Arena

Fri 21 July Berlin Germany Olympiastadion

Sun 23 July Koln Germany Rhein – Energie Stadion

Fri 28 July Paris France Stade de France

Mon 31 July Amsterdam Holland Amsterdam Arena



Thurs 3 Aug Stuttgart Germany Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion

Sat 5 Aug Zurich Switzerland Dubendorf Airfield

Tues 8 Aug Nice France Le Palais Nikala

Sat 12 Aug Porto Portugal Estadio do Dragao

Mon 14 Aug Valladolid Spain Estadio Jose Zorrilla

Wed 16 Aug El Ejido Spain Estadio Santo Domingo

Sun 20 Aug London UK Twickenham Stadium

Tues 22 Aug London UK Twickenham Stadium

Fri 25 Aug Glasgow UK Hampden Park

Sun 27 Aug Sheffield UK Don Valley Stadium

Tues 29 Aug Cardiff UK Millennium Stadium

Fri 1 Sept Bergen Norway Koengen

Sun 3 Sept Horsens Denmark Forum Horsens



All tickets purchased for previous itinerary are valid.



The Rolling Stones concerts that were originally scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Madrid, (Spain) Brussels (Belgium), Gothenburg (Sweden), St Petersburg

(Russia), Brno (Czech Republic), Warsaw (Poland), Athens (Greece), Zagreb (Croatia), and Frankfurt (Germany) are POSTPONED. Concert promoters are in the process of

rescheduling these cities and there will be news of these shortly. They ask ticket holders to hold on to their tickets and await further announcements.



The 2006 Rolling Stones Concerts in NURNBERG & LEIPZIG are CANCELLED.



Michael Cohl, The Rolling Stones World Tour Promoter, commented ‘’ We are delighted to announce the Stones tour is back on track and thank all the fans and ticket holders for their patience. We have put in as many shows in as many countries as was feasible. This is still going to be the most incredible rock show ever’’



Keith Richards added ‘’ Excuse me, I fell off of my perch! Sorry to disrupt everyone’s plans but now - It's FULL STEAM AHEAD! Ouch!!"’’



The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang European Tour is presented by American Express.

Rolling Stones World Tour 2005/2006 is promoted by Concert Productions International and The Next Adventure and produced by WPC Piecemeal Inc.

Support Keith-Wear Your Stones Stuff!
Mood:  lyrical
Many Stones fan sites on the net have come together to inform their members to wear their Stones/Keith shirts to support Keith in a massive get well effort. Many fans around the globe have been doing so all week already-tongues are in abundance out there! As are skull rings! I am headed to the Pirates baseball game tonight here in Pittsburgh and will definitely be supporting Keef! Hat, shirt & skull ring...he is, after all, the most famous Pirate!

Keith Out of Hospital!!!!
Mood:  happy
Finally some good news on Keith!

I just got word from Fran Curtis (stones publicist) at 7:45 pm EST tonight (May 10) that Keith was discharged today from the hospital! Here is her statement:

UPDATE ON KEITH RICHARDS


Keith Richards was discharged today from the Ascot Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. He will be an outpatient returning to the hospital for check-ups.

Fran Curtis – Rogers & Cowan



All the best to ya baby and stay well!!!!!

The Hand of Fate
Mood:  down
Keith. Every day we get a new rumor from the press. Stick with Stones Planet and the Keith Shrine for the official word from the band and don't believe everything you read or see on TV.

The official statements from the band's PR office are posted on Stones Planet and my Keith News Page here. Fran Curtis has been giving updates daily.

Tonight's most disturbing rumors say Keith may have suffered brain damage from undergoing TWO, not just one operation. Fran Curtis denies that and said this tonight:


"Keith Richards did not undergo a second operation. The first and only operation was done on Monday, May 8, and was 100 percent successful," the band's statement said. "There was no brain damage. He continues to improve as expected." Fran Curtis, Stones Publicist, NYC.

Now, what is strange is that something possessed me in late March to decide against going to the start of the European Tour, which had been my original plan all along. I wanted to see Barcelona, Madrid, Brussels and Paris. The flights were very expensive, which was one factor in my decision, however, for me to say I am not going to a show due to the price would be uncharacteristic of me! But I did, and when I said I wasn't going, I figured in the end there would be some good reason why I made that decision.

Keith made my decision clear when he fell out of the tree, had surgery, and forced a postponement of the start of the tour. Uh, thanks Keith, I guess. Not really, poor Keith. But I do find it quite funny in a bizarre way that had I not made that decision I would have had an entire European trip booked for 2 people in 3 countries, including airfare, train travel and hotels...and it would not have neen refundable. I would have been screwed. I would have had to go to Europe for a vacation and NOT see the Stones. And, although I like going to Europe for vacation, doing it that way would have royally sucked.

So now, as I sit praying for Keith's full and speedy recovery, I can't help but wonder what role the Keithian Gods (as we call them) played in my odd decision not to go to Europe. Saved me a bundle.

Get well Keith, love ya baby!!!

Keith, Isn't That Just Like Him?
Mood:  a-ok
Now that Keith has been declared as A-OK by the Stones camp, here is a commentary by Scott Paulsen of WDVE radio in Pittsburgh, that is quite funny!

Isn't That Just Like Keith?

May 3, 2006

Scott Paulsen



There goes Keith, falling from a tree. Isn't that just like him?



There are certain celebrities who, when strangeness befalls them, create no surprise. Whether it's because of their personalities, the circle of acquaintances they frequent or past histories of adventure and mayhem, when oddball things happen to some celebrities, nobody is surprised.

Let me give you an example.

Keith Richards was admitted to a hospital in New Zealand the other day for treatment of a concussion. This caused some interest and reaction, mostly because Mr. Richards, in addition to being a famous rock star, is 62 years old. Anyone of that somewhat advanced age who receives a concussion is newsworthy. What amazes me is the fact that when the explanation of how Keith bopped his head became public, no one flinched. In fact, most people took it completely in stride, as if it was an everyday happening and completely expected.

He fell while trying to climb up a palm tree on the island of Fiji.

Had this happened to your next-door neighbor you would still be telling the story to total strangers you met at the store. “Hi, you don't know me, but wait until you hear about this! My neighbor (who's 62, mind you) is in the hospital with a concussion. You wanna know how he got it? He fell out of a palm tree! In Fiji! He was climbing it!”

Unfortunately for Keith, most people are not surprised to hear about his accident. In fact, most folks who recognize the name probably think it's quite normal for him to fall while climbing for cocoanuts.

When word filtered ‘round the globe about the ‘Stone's space walk, no one flinched. It was almost as if we expected it. Eventually, we all figured, it would happen. It was only a matter of time. You know Keith.

Even after the news turned grim and reports aired that, rather than a “mild concussion” as was first reported, Keith in fact has suffered some more complicated problems from the fall, it is still being sloughed off as if another one of his wacky gags.

Toss a TV from a hotel room.

Endure a drug bust.

Have your blood changed at the local Quickee Lube.

Word comes this week that the fall is, indeed, more serious than first reported. The latest news, being reported in Great Britain, is that Keith is suffering from a brain hemorrhage and has been scheduled for an operation in which doctors will drill a hole into his skull to relieve some pressure from excess blood build up.

That crazy Keith.

There he goes again.

Having his skull drilled.

Isn't that just like him?

Bet he was high.

Because he has survived seemingly a road-to-ruin lifestyle, Keith remains nearly indestructible to many of us. Nothing can hurt him. Nothing he does surprises us. He is the chicken little of rock.

There are others.

Robert Downey, Junior. Billy Bob Thornton. Angelina Jolie. Michael Jackson, somewhat. Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter. That guy that runs the Virgin company. Lance Armstrong.

The late, great Jim Morrison was such a chicken little celebrity that there are many who still think the cat's alive somewhere. He didn't die. He staged the whole thing.

That crazy Mr. Mojo Risin.

There he goes again.

Faking his death.

Isn't that just like him?

Bet he was drunk.

Remember a couple of years ago when Jimmy Buffet crashed an airplane? Back in 1996, Buffet stuck his two-seater airplane nose-down into water. It wasn't a seaplane. The runway was over there, on the land. Jimmy suffered some pretty serious injuries and came dangerously close to drowning in the surf.

People's reactions?

That crazy Jimmy Buffet.

There he goes again.

Crashing his plane.

Isn't that just like him?

Bet he was drunk and high.

I guess, as Dad used to say, you make your bed, you sleep in it. (Interestingly enough, I never saw my father ever make a bed. He slept a lot, though.) If you create a persona of balls-to-the-wall survival, when the real world comes cascading down around you and fate serves you up a heaping helping of bad fortune, nobody's going to blink twice.

There isn't much in the way of sympathy for the Devil.

And it's all in the perception.

John Denver crashes a plane and everybody is shocked. “We didn't even know he could fly!” Jimmy Buffet crashes a plane and it's as if it happens everyday.

There will come a day (hopefully not too soon) when the death of Keith Richards will be reported. It will probably be of something very common, like cancer or heart failure.

No one, of course, will believe it.

Keith would never die like that.

On the other hand, if one day your local trusted news reporter comes to the screen to announce that Mr. Richards, former Rolling Stone, succumbed after being trampled by a pack of wild water buffalo while attempting to retrieve his Zippo lighter that had fallen from his pocket while on safari, not only would we all believe it, but we'd all have the same reaction.

That crazy Keith.

There he goes again.

Dying.

Isn't that just like him?