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Rolling Stoned at the Garden
I’ve told you about my dalliance in a New York coffee shop with Paul McCartney (See My Favorite Beatle), so now let me tell you about my night at the Garden with the Rolling Stones.
Our friends Mary and Frank own a deli and bakery on Mott Street that supplies food to the concessions at Madison Square Garden, and that connection helped us land some great concert seats over the years.
So when the Stones announced their 2002 Forty Licks World Tour, and would be at the Garden for one night, I knew of course it would be a sell-out and I immediately called my friend Mary.
I’m not so much a Rolling Stones fan as a Jagger fan, and I was dying to see my man Mick up close and personal. I asked Mary to try for seats for me and Danny as close to the stage as possible, and since we couldn’t very well go without taking our son, I asked her to get two (cheaper) seats for Noah and a friend.
Mary came through with great seats for us, literally a stone’s (!) throw from the stage, and separated from Mick’s ever-present ramp by only a measly theatre rope. What I didn’t realize was that Noah was sitting many tiers above us but by chance had a clear sightline to our seats.
I don’t remember who opened for the band that night, or even their set list, I only know Danny and I were on our feet raging to the music when Mick turned and seemed to look right at me. Then he pranced off the stage followed by the rest of the band, and they headed down the ramp in my direction.
What happened next is a blur – a lot of smokey stuff was wafting through the air that I couldn’t help inhaling and I may have been in a slightly altered state. But I do remember my son’s voice coming from somewhere way up above me yelling, “Mom, you rock!”
It seems this usually sober, law-abiding librarian had climbed over the theatre rope, pushed past a security guard, and was lunging at Mick Jagger.
Unfortunately I missed Mick, but I did brush Keith Richards’ arm with my right hand.
(I didn’t wash that hand for a week.)
– Dana Susan Lehrman
Dana Susan LehrmanThis retired librarian loves big city bustle and cozy country weekends, friends and family, good books and theatre, movies and jazz, travel, tennis, Yankee baseball, and writing about life as she sees it on her blog World Thru Brown Eyes!
www.WorldThruBrownEyes.com
Wow, Dana, Mary and Frank sound like great friends to have! How amazing to have that connection for seats at Madison Square Garden! I love the Stones too, and have seen them in concert a couple of times, but from much farther away! I don’t blame you for lunging at Mick! But you’re lucky you didn’t get dragged away by a security guard.
Thanx Suzy, that concert was great fun and yes lucky I wasn’t led off in handcuffs!
Dana, how fun! I saw the Stones twice, once in 1976 and again sometime in the 90s, both from afar. However, in 1976 they played a lot louder, and I’ve wondered if that contributed to my hearing loss (my ears rang for days).
Thanx Marian! Sorry about your ears, my son is a drummer and wears special ear plugs, and I think at rock concerts we all should!
Your story, your shirt, the Stones, Mick, that smoky stuff…yes, I like it, I like it, I like it, Dee!
Bebe, you mean it’s just rock n’ roll but you like it? Good!
Wow, Dana, you rock, grrrl! How cool; the hair, the story, the whole thing! I think your grown-out silver will look great, but the memory of that night is super-cool (can’t believe you could even hear Noah’s screams above all that).
Thanx Betsy! It was great fun, and glad you like my natural look!
I saw the Stones once – at the Oakland Colisseum. It was pouring rain throughout the warm-up act but when the Stones took the stage, Mick stopped the rain—and kept it away until the last song when it returned. I didn’t realize Keith Richards was such a comedian—antics made me laugh. No lunging for me, but I can understand how you might get inspired to reach out when so nearby.
Thanx Khati, glad you saw them too, great fun!
So you got what you wanted.
Thanx Kevin, guess I needed it too!
WOW! What a fabulous tale! So thrilled you had that experience and you tell it so well. Guess, you got your satisfaction!
Yes indeed, I did!
It’s a great feeling when an artist or athlete can transport you to another place for awhile!
Wonderfully put Dave!