2006 Archives

My disappointment occurred on a cold day in Liverpool, U.K, in December 1999.

My friend Karen persuaded me to go to a local gig at John Moores University (formerly Liverpool Polytechnic). My ticket was paid for, so I went along to see what all the the fuss was about regarding this David Gray character. This was the opening tour to promote “White Ladder” which, later in 2000, became a huge success. Liverpool John Moores University is a small venue for new and up and coming artists and bands to start their musical journey. It’s not a big venue, holding just a couple of hundred people, mainly students who attend the University.

After a long queue we entered. To my joy, nearly every ticket holder made a dash to the bar. I had just turned twenty and had spent my few adult working years in pubs, so I had learned quickly how to use this to my advantage. While the population of the gig were drinking and forming time consuming lines at the bar, we took our position. With our little hands firmly stuck to the front of the stage edge, we waited in anticipation.

David Gray came on stage and stood his microphone stand no more than five meters away from my hands. My disposable camera was on automatic clicking and I couldn’t believe my luck when a scouse lady, (terminology used for describing Liverpool people) behind me was shouting “David, David Smile”, as he did I got the photo. Now this is the photo I show to my friends and say, “this is when David Gray smiled at me”.  The concert was fantastic, the band members where brilliant and David Grey had just sold “White ladder” to me and my friend.

After experiencing a great gig such as this one, I always enjoy staying to the end and if possible meeting the band. This is just something I have to do at concerts. Just like some people feeling absolutely compelled to buy a CD if they enter a music shop. This is just my thing.

The ticket holders were now moving out in herds. My little white knuckles were still firmly attached to the stage praying for another encore, when, all of a sudden, the stage crew began ripping the set apart. I could see set lists being thrown into a bin liner so I shouted “hey can I have one of those”. Before I could register what was happening people began crowding around me asking for parts of the set. I shoved a set list into my little 32A bra using the tape still attached to it from the floor to stick onto my chest. 32A in the U.K is a very small breast size so as you can imagine my set list was shoved through my bra and started to hang out through the bottom of my top. I looked ridiculous but didn’t care. These people would strip me bare for the set list I had just got!

I left the gig with my set list, and the drummer’s half drunk bottle of water. I was slightly disappointed with that, after watching a young “lad” (terminology used to describe a young Liverpool male) dived in the air with excitement after he caught David Gray’s half drunk bottle of water. My friend managed to plead for the drummer’s sticks and before anyone could see what was happening.. they were down her jeans.

We headed outside. We were still aware that time was not of the essence as our car was parked in a safe place in the university grounds. We waited around with some people who looked like David Gray’s groupies when we suddenly realized we had in fact been waiting outside the stage door. With sheer excitement, Karen quickly pulled out her “lucky” pen and again we waited in anticipation.  It was cold, roughly 1 or 2 degree Celsius and our inappropriate clothing allowed the cold to creep in. We stood on the steps with the other fans for about 30mins. 30mins at 1 degree Celsius puts the fear of hypothermia into any British person. I was about to give up on any autograph possibility, when I met Tim Jim.

A coach was parked not far away from the stage door when my brain cells began to work. I realized that the band would be suffocated by the fans waiting outside the door and they may run through them to get to the coach. My new plan was to drag my friend without her consent and sit us on the step of the coach.. that way, our chances of a meeting with the band are definite, and with us two young girls just waiting patiently we could have a better chance of an autograph. Plus.. cheeky as the plan was, David Gray would literally have to climb over us to get on the coach.

Just as I had made friends with the band's driver and kind of “got in” with the band, Tim Jim came to the coach. Karen had asked for an autograph and after his shy comment of how he was not of any importance in the band, just the bass player, he signed our tickets 'Jim'. The groupies found out and headed in our direction to steal Jim off of us. Myself and another pleased fan shouted,”thanks Jim” and to our complete amusement the poor shy guy turned around to us and said “it’s not Jim its Tim”. Six or seven of us shouted “sorry Tim, Jim Tim” and laughed.

I looked around at the crowd who had hurried from the stage door to my space after they had spotted Tim Jim, Anger quickly took a hold of me. They had ruined my plan and it had almost worked. The driver was calling my name, (we were on first name basis now!).

By now, I was riddled with anger and couldn’t see past my imaginary shooting of the groupies with salt pellets to their tongues. I got my self together and looked over at my friend and was surprised to see her smiling and having fun. I stood up from the steps of the coach in my depression, when a man in a fur coat nudged passed my shoulder and got onto the coach. I looked ahead and still couldn’t see David or anyone else. The driver’s voice was now sounding repetitive so I turned and listened. “Why didn’t you ask him then?” he repeated. I was praying to God he didn’t mean David. I stood at the door opening making a fool of myself asking “was that him, are you sure, he’s on there?” In my disbelieve I searched for a reassuring look from my friend. She said to me “did you see him, did you see him”. It took a good couple of minutes for it to register that she was talking about David Gray!

Amidst my anger towards the groupies for charging the coach, and stealing my fantastic idea, I was oblivious to the painful fact that I had let him walk straight past me! I even stood up for him.. to pass 'me' to step on to the coach. David Gray simply just ignored me. What is worse……..I let him!!!

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