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This just happened during the winter of 2000.
It was during this time
that I checked out the Joan Jett site thoroughly and was amazed at all her
accomplishments. I even considered going to
New York to see her in Rocky Horror on
Broadway. I was
going to wait until the spring of 2001 and
just maybe I would go.
It was on Friday, May 11,
2001 that I saw an ad in the Chicago Sun-Times
in the weekend entertainment section (and to
my amazement) that Joan and The Blackhearts
were coming to the House Of Blues in Chicago
on July 1st.
I felt again just like
that time back in the 1980’s, another chance to
see one of my favorite rock idols in person
again. This
after so many years and after so many changes in my
life. Nothing was going to stop me from seeing
her in concert again, nothing.
I was even hoping that I
could get to meet her in person and get
some photos to illustrate this story, but some things
have not changed over the years. Cameras and
special access are even harder to get now in
most concert venues, even if you are legit and have
the means of online promotion like I do
with my web site.
I contacted Joan
Jett’s record company, Blackheart Records in
New York and provided my personal info, my credentials
and my reasons for requesting special access.
This article was to have at least one photo
from the House Of Blues Concert for the
headline
illustration.
Unfortunately, my request
was denied and my quest for another special
moment in time was dashed. However, I would like to
kindly thank Holly Lane at Blackheart Records
in responding to all my e-mails and making a true
effort in trying to help get me into
the show with my camera. Thanks so much!
But again, after
receiving the news, I did not
waiver in my resolve; I went to the concert
with every intention of smuggling a camera
into the show to get some pictures anyway.
But I found the security
to be tight and did not want to miss seeing the show. I didn’t know what they
would do if I was caught, so I didn’t risk
it. I took the camera back to my car in the
parking lot and put it in the trunk.
While heading back to the
House Of Blues, I thought about how I would
feel if someone used my original material
without my permission, and then it made sense
for me to leave the camera behind. It was a
tough pill to swallow but I figured I would
still get to see the show.
I really didn’t expect
to see a large crowd on a Sunday night at
about 9:00 PM for a Joan Jett concert. Was I
wrong! The place was packed!
The warm-up band went on
and really sucked. Everyone was anxious to see
Joan and kind of ignored the noise on the
stage.
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