Live Aid: The sequel
—Posted by Noreen O'Leary |
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Live Aid was FANTASTIC! Read my story!
http://www.massi.org/LiveAid.html
Live 8 does nothing for me. Might be for the same type of cause, but most of the bands do nothing for me.
Posted by: Charles Massi | Jun 10, 2005 10:47:38 PM
My friends and I came in from Long Island... We had no tickets, figured we would get some when we got there. Arriving in Philadelphia, JFK Stadium was crazy, all those people it was definitely going to be an incredible time! So, we parked, broke out the grill and chilled out. We were waiting for Robert Plant and Jimmy Page to perform. My friend Rocky and his girlfriend Cathy had one ticket. That is right one and we did not get any others, but they had a plan... There was also Rockies brother Joe. We did not get any tickets, but we also had a plan... Rocky decided to fold the one ticket in half hoping by the time the ticket person noticed they would be in and gone... So we ate, drank, and headed on in. They handed in the one ticket, pushed through, and before the guard could do anything, they were in. I will never forget the look on that mans face. He gave a sort of a double take and after realizing what happen just continued to take more tickets. There was quite a large line of people wanting to get in. This was a good sign, and now Joe and I decided to do a few laps looking for a weak point. Around and around we went and downed and downed a few beers we did... You see as you walked through the stadium grounds you came across people with coolers selling beer. So when in Rome… Soon we noticed a weak point, and as odd as you might think, it was the back stage entrance. Limos and busses were pulling in and out all day and night. Now there was a tree just off to the left of the rear entrance along the wooden fence that surrounded that part of the stadium. Climbing up, I looked in, there were these two guys on the other side that saw me. I looked at them, and knowing what I was up to gave me the all clear. Thinking quickly I turned to look at Joe, gave him the high sign and jumped. I WAS IN! I walked straight across to the courtesy tent and had some pizza; mingling with the back stage crowd, I could not believe it. Very cool… Eventually I worked my way under the stage. I was now directly under the concert, hanging out and digging the situation. Now, right behind me was the stairs that led to center stage. This is where the talent went before getting on and who do you think was walking up at that time... TINA TURNER! I yelled "Hey Tina!" She stopped. I approached, took her hand and said, "Do Good Baby." (What else to say?) She said "ok I will", and up she went. WOW! Mental overload. Then a chick I met while I was under the stage took a picture of me shaking her hand. I met some cool people that evening. So Tina went up, I figured I would follow and making it to the top, security stopped me. I sad "Tina!"She looked back and gave me one of those "oh well" looks so I retreated. I went back down and under to the front of the stage. It was open, I had a clear view of Tina, and Mick Jagger getting down, that was until security told me I could not stay where I was... No problem, I went back to the stairs. So now what to do? This time I tried another approach, going to the back of the stage I found myself directly behind the concert, but this time security was a little thicker. I had to think about my next move, and sure enough, there was. This blind spot between these series boxes that made sort of channel about 3 feet high that went directly to the stage. All I had to do was crawl for about 15 feet and then walk right on, and that is exactly what I did. Wholly Shit! I could not believe it... I went to the scaffolding climbed it slid over on to the curtain rod, and now I was center stage directly above the concert. I could have jumped right on top of Bill Wyman. I had my shoe off, was going to toss it at him... I should have jumped on the stage; at least I would have made Letterman. However, I was good. ( I look back at that and should have jumped ) Now a photographer saw me and said that I could not stay there because I had no passes... This was fine since the concert was ending. Another thing I will never forget is singing "We Are The World" with everyone else on stage. Well, I was directly above them... Once the singing ended security locked hands and made a path for all the talent to walk in-between as they vacated the stage. So I climbed down walked right on stage and followed the "gang". I had to stop at center stage and wave to the crowd. It was incredible! I turned and walked past security down the back stage and got some more pizza. Now the fun starts... There was Joan Baize, and having no idea who she was at that time, I bragged to her about what I did... She was not fazed. Then there was Harry Bellefonte nice man, we talked about his neighborhood. Next was Cher, she was heading for the limo. We chatted about the concert, I probably could of got into the limo (I walked her right to it) but I could not leave all of this. At that point, I said goodbye and re-treated. I had some more Dominos. Then I went back to center stage and stood there in awe... It was truly amazing... By this time, the stadium was emptying. I went to the guest rooms and hung out... If I was only able to get in earlier, it would have been nice to meet Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. .. Now everybody left, it was time for me to go and it was hard to do. What an awesome situation to be in. But, I walked out the back, found my friends and told them the story. As for Joe, he got in also, having a neck full of back stage passes.
Posted by: Charles Massi | Jun 22, 2005 9:13:41 PM
