Metal, Madness & Mayhem - An Insiders Journey Through The Hollywood 80s
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I returned to my seat just as Mick was concluding the mandatory arena-rock guitar god solo and Tommy was climbing up the circus-act-like rope ladder to the aerial drum platform for his overhead solo. As spectacular as the swirling drum riser was on the previous Girls, Girls, Girls tour this one had it beat. A reverse monorail-type suspended rig hanging from the ceiling that traveled around the perimeter of the arena while Lee played furiously 80 feet in the air above the crowd. I remembered for a second hearing from Alan about how excited a young Tommy Lee Bass had been when the original plywood staging premiered in Coffman’s garage not all that that many years earlier.
It wasn’t too long after Tommy’s solo that the show concluded with more massive pyro effects that followed several encores.
As the crowd was leaving and the house lights turned on I said, “Well, Patti, thanks, that was a great fucking show.”
“If it had sucked would I still have gotten the apartment?” she asked with a smile.
“Yeah, I guess so….”.
“Oh, there’s one more thing Mike, kind of a surprise for you.” From her purse she pulled out two laminates labeled ‘Access All Areas.’ “Let’s go say hello.”
I stood there silently for a moment and was torn. Light years in ‘Mötley time’ had passed, the guys were World-famous stars now and I had successfully moved on with my life as well. The night had been a great nostalgic experience but I was thinking ‘why bother rehashing the past?’
I told her “No, I’m sure the guys probably want to forget about those early days,” adding “if they even remember them.” I suggested she go ahead backstage and I’d meet her later in the limo.
“Nah, not without you Mike, let’s just call it a night.”
“OK, but not before a late dinner at the Rainbow, Patti, my treat.” Hell, I figured a few more memories couldn’t hurt.
They didn’t.