Thursday May 8, 2008
May 8th was a day I had waited for since I was told by Angie and Al that’d be the next MINISTRY show in Chicago. On Dec 5 over pizza at Pizzeria Uno they disclosed between s there’d be 4 shows. So I took off Friday the 9th and Monday the 12th six months in advance. Which is pretty much how I plan my life as of late, at least 6 months in advance out of respect for my co-workers.
As we all in the Chicagoland area are very highly aware of the winter of 07/08 was a long cold one and we had more snow this year overall then in years though it didn’t accumulate as much at one time as it had in Jan of 99 and the winter of 2000/2001 in which we were violently buried.
So May meant more than just a cool spring, it meant the final four shows for MINISTRY’s as a band in the US EVER! With 8 weeks in the UK to follow. And looking back as a journalist and later as a friend I have spent the last 18 years of my life dedicated to the band in one form or another. And as the author Christopher Wayne Curry has often noted, when nobody else gave a damn in the 90’s about MINISTRY from “Filth Pig” through“ Animositisomina” when the machine actually really began to pick up steam, I had loyally as a writer, editor and publisher supported the band with nothing but positively and over the top raves. Many times to the discontent of the reader I was only writing how I felt, not what they wanted to hear, this band, the heaviest that I enjoy speak to me, sonically and with a deafening. And to the dismay of many and a subject of may “debates” “Filth Pig” is still my favorite album from Al and Company. Curry has actually stated that I was just about the only writer that never wrote anything negative about their efforts, which is hard to believe, but considering some of the press of that era, not totally unbelievable.
So at 5PM Thursday May 8 I changed my clothes inside my office on Michigan Ave and was once again, Alex Zander. I walked to the House of Blues and sat at the bar talking with an attorney and nursing a beer as I waited for Shelly and the others to arrive. At 630 we went up to the Foundation Room where we mixed with the staff and had another beer which again, I nursed. My friends Greg, Brett, Brad and Renae arrived and I got them onto a balcony and Shelly and I had a box and after-show passes. Since we weren’t really hip to seeing the opening bands we hung out in one of the prayer rooms with the most beautiful décor and had a round and some food to eat. At about 945 we took our places and waited for the show to begin. It stared with a huge Blackhawk’s symbol projected onto a screen while the new theme song which Al wrote and recorded titled, “Keys to the City” blared to a cheering crowds hometown roar. It was followed by a trailer for the movie “Wicked Lake” to which Al did all the music.
Then came a mirrored disco ball like skull that rotated onscreen to a new Revolting Cocks tune which is coming from an album of material which Al calls the best thing he has ever recorded in his career. The song for lack of a better phrase was FUCKING AWESOME and it’s been over a decade since anything as intense as it has been recorded or released. Thus only wetting everyone’s appetite.
Just after 10 PM the show was in full force and “a storm was a brewin’” And the first hour of the set was all newer material from the last 3 records. The energy of this live show was something I haven’t seen in the band in any incarnation. Al has always been a helluva front man but the rest of the line ups of days gone past didn’t have much stage presence. My pal Tommy Victor certainly exuded the most emery as he ran across the stage in better shape than he has ever been in, all along as Tommy does, smiling the entire time. I’ve seriously NEVER seen anyone that looks like he enjoys performing than Mr. Victor. He was certainly the most fun to watch as he just did all but destroy his guitar as he created to the industrial driven metal sonic assault with its unearthly effects.
Of course during the first encore we got treated to “So What”, “N.W.O.”, “Just One Fix” and “Theives” with some help from Burton C Bell. (The “C” is there so we don’t confuse him w/ other Burton Bell’s of the music industry) and for the final encore they played 3 tunes from the “Cover Up” CD as Ministry balloons fell from the ceiling of the House of Blues.
We left the booth and convened w/ friend in the Foundation room and Shelly and I went backstage where it was more than just a little tense. Al and the boys spent the day at the Sox game while would entail consumption and then to the show which……. well, we know. And our hero Buck Satan showed the fatigue the most. It was his homecoming and he is the ringleader and he had spread himself just a little thin, but made it to the meet and greet for eth fans before getting a good and I assume well deserved night of sleep. Maybe.
We must have been hanging out backstage for a couple hours when we all had t leave and go to O’Callahans which is a place my day co-workers frequent. It was Tommy, Shelly and I along w/ Jens the singer for MESHUGGAH and some of the road crew. Were drank there till 4 when they ran everyone else out but our small group. There was some ruckus w./ the crew and they “had” to leave and it was just maybe 5 of us and we drank free on the bar and the staff with us and it was fun. About 5 AM we took Tommy back to the hotel and went home. 90 min later Shelly had to get up for her last day at her job, I stayed in as I had the day off, cleaned up a little and went to O’Hare where I was to pick up my cousin Kim, who I hadn’t seen in 15 years. She is a fan and this would be our first reunion since my last family reunion in 1992.
Friday May 9, 2008So up and at ‘em by 7 AM I decided to vacuum the dining room, Windex the glass dining room table and make sure any CD’s DVD’s were in proper order. This was the first time in years I recall pulling nearly a 24 hour sleepless day. I would be well on my way to coming close to yet another. Shelly would be completing her final day at her job and going to spend some well needed and long overdue time w/ friends for the weekend in Indiana. Besides, when I’m AZ in full effect, I’m not exactly the most attentive better half of a relationship, and she’s come to know this. She saw everyone the night before and that was all she needed. Myself, when it comes to MINISTRY as a package, I remain “Insatiable.” Come Monday, my day of rest, she’d be starting her new job.
I took the train to O’Hare where Kimmy’s flight arrived on time. She came from Missoula Montana and flew via St Lake City. We had our first hug ever and waited for her HEAVY bag to come off the belt. It was no problem picking her out of the crowd and I’m sure I was not a problem either. Top quote Al from our first interview back during Psalm 69’s press binge, “You never really know how much the same everyone around the world looks until you go into an airport.” This once again proved to be true.
In some of our earlier correspondences I asked what her dietary restrictions were given that I am such an able cook. She commented she planned on having nothing but Chicago Hot Dog’s and Chicago Pizza when she got here. So after we got in the cab, I called Ranalli’s and ordered a huge stuffed veggie pizza, extra cheese, extra sauce, and extra tomatoes. They said it’d take 45 min and I knew our commute would take that long at least and then there was the unexpected CUBS gridlock on Irving Park Road. No sooner were we up and inside casa Diablo than the bell rang and the pizza was there. My cousin is tiny but has a huge appetite, and had two massive slices, (they should actually be called CHUNKS) as I could only handle one, though I had yet to eat. It seems as though she enjoyed the experience.
About an hour later, Chris, Julie and Rob arrived from Indianapolis, and Jeff was en route still about 2 hours outside of Chicago. We would all come together as one at the House of Blues Foundation Room. And this night Lori the manager had arranged for us all to have an opera box for the second show. All of us sat in the Buddha Room till 10 PM where we ate HOB sliders and friend oysters and had a couple round of beers. Jeff finally showed up and I caught our waitress off guard when I asked her “Doesn’t he look like Peter North?” She bent into the light and looked at him as I snickered knowing that she must know who Peter North is. Its Jeff’s hair, it looks just like North’s.
At 10 PM we were in our nice box and just as the night before the show was the same. For 120 min MINISTRY delivered a loud as a mutha set of high octane industrial driven guitar heavy metal pounding at more BPM’s than anyone can in 120 min outside of maybe, Slayer, and I stress maybe. It’s almost as though that on the last 3 offerings they’ve attempted to set themselves up as the heaviest and loudest band of all history.
The show wrapped just around 1230 and Chris, Julie and Rob took a cab back to where they parked close by my apartment. Jeff was going to stay in the living room, as Kimmy would spend her first night in Chicago in Shelly’s room. We hung out in the Foundation Room for about an hour, and I had decided earlier that I’d treat Kim to the whole backstage VIP treatment on Saturday being she was running on empty as I was as well. There was already a plan in the works for Tommy Victor to come by in the morning where I’d take him to the hospital for an injury which he has suffered sometime around Seattle resulting in a punctured lung, diagnosed as pneumothorax. (Pneumothorax may result from chest trauma, excess pressure on the lungs, or a lung disease such as COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, or whooping cough. In some cases, the cause is unclear.)
When the three of us got in a cab and arrived home, my cuz went right to sleep and Jeff and I sat up and had a glass of Meade. I said as soon as we’re ready to sleep Tommy is going to call. Well at about 3 AM sharp, it was TV and he asks, “Where are you, I’ve been looking all over for you”. I told him we were all beat and we’d hang out the next morning and the following night, because my cousin who had flown in was exhausted. All was cool, we hit the hay, then my alarm went off at 830 AM.
* Saturday, May 10 2008-05-22 (THEE LONGEST OF THE 4 DAYS/NIGHTS)
I had just gotten a shower and woke Jeff up to move his car and figured we’d go grab my mail as I was expecting a package from Full Moon that would serve as a donation to an AIDS benefit that Rusty Nails was holding as part of his 17 hour SCI FI Spectacular at the Music Box Theatre. It also served as promo for the June 7 Chicago stop on Charles Bands Full Moon Road Show. I showered and the phone rang at 9AM, it was Tommy and he was ready to get “the fuck” out of the hotel since Al had been banging on his door. (something I found out is a habit more or less when it comes to Mr. J and his team/bandmates/crew)
I gave Tommy the address, and told him to give me an hour. I changed, got to JB’s car and picked up my mail, and woke up my cousin. As she showered, Tommy arrived via cab. He and we were hungry and were going to eat at my favorite local mexican joint, El Palmar, but we had to wait for Kim to finish her shower. Tommy got the tour of the house and I was complimented over and over as he took pix of it and called his girl back in LA to tell her about it.
After waiting for lil Kim to exit the shower and change, she still looked tired. Though she’s very much one of the tres famila who has rebelled against the rather “normal” traits along with my brother and I, I have the sneaking suspicion maybe the jet lag and change of time zones not to mention sleep depravation was a major contributor.
We walked out the street and Tommy saw Byrons Hot Dogs 1017 Irving Park as what he’d wanted, and I mentioned there was no place other than outdoors to sit. So we went to where I take all of my guests for breakfast, El Palmar 1008 1/2 W Irving Park Rd . (that is unless I cook it for them, but it is a rule we eat there the first morning ALWAYS) And we all four ordered something different and it was awesome as Tommy exclaimed. Tommy, Jeff and I ordered a Tecate each, Kim a coffee, and I asked for a shot of silver tequila to which Mr. Victor replied, “That’s my boy!”
The morning wait staff are all native Mexicans and are by far friendlier than the evening version and the place is usually paced. The menu is extensive and the portions are Paul Bunyan sized. For those of you that do not know of the legend of Paul Bunyan, I’ll say John Holmes sized, is that more relevant now?
(Paul Bunyan is a mythological lumberjack who appears in tall tales of American folklore. The character originated in the work of American newspaperman James MacGillivray. Historically, the character has been popular in the northern region of the United States, around Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
John Curtis Holmes (August 8, 1944 – March 13, 1988) better known as John C. Holmes or was one of the most famous male adult film stars of all time, appearing in about 2,500 adult loops, stag films, and porno feature movies in the 1970s and 1980s, including at least one gay feature film and a handful of gay loops. He was best known for his exceptionally large penis, which was heavily promoted as being the longest in the porn industry; however, its exact dimensions are unknown. Holmes also attracted notoriety for his involvement in the brutal Wonderland Murders in 1981, and for his death from AIDS.
Holmes was the subject of a long article in Rolling Stone magazine in 1989 and a feature length documentary, and the inspiration for two Hollywood movies Boogie Nights and Wonderland.)
We ate breakfast and traded tales and my cousin absorbed the things she was hearing, rock n roll talk, and random banter between friends, she remained very quiet. But the earful she got this morning would be lightweight compared to what she’d learn later in the night thanks to a big mouth former producer of my nationally syndicated radio show who is now a record exec. But that comes later.
After b-fast Jeff and Kim went to my apartment as I walked TV down to the emergency room at Thorek Hospital. We got him in as I went to pick up a newspaper article in the Tribune which slammed the show. What a contrast to the huge 2 spread centerfold that the Sun-Times ran the day prior. I sat in the waiting room for about an hour and went over to check on Tommy’s progress, they had me come back to him and as his doctor shook my hand he commented, “I can tell you’re both in the same band.” I laughed and replied, “We’re in the same business he’s in the band.” Turns out the doc was a huge MINISTRY fan and everyone in the E Room starred. We waited on Tommy’s X rays which showed some fractured ribs and the punctured lung had been healing itself. If not otherwise he would not be able to fly. They gave him a prescription for some painkillers and we were off. While in the E-Room Tommy read the following review t which he had received several text messages regarding.
MUSIC REVIEW Chicago Tribune
Ministry farewell tour is the wrong goodbye
By Bob Gendron | May 10, 2008
Ministry should have saved itself the embarrassment Thursday at a sold-out House of Blues, where the industrial-rock band opened a four-night stand closing out its domestic farewell tour. The disappointing, 120-minute gig was no way for the local pioneers to commemorate the close of a distinguished career.
Not that the show lacked spectacle. Strobe lights assaulted senses. Abrasive riffs, pounding beats and distorted electronic samples swelled to ear-aching volumes. A projection screen flashed footage of political figures, torture scenes and terrorist attacks. The provocative imagery endorsed the music’s aggression. To further establish a volatile atmosphere, Ministry played behind chicken-wire fence sections that recalled the band’s chaotic heyday. In the late ’80s, performing behind protection was a necessity. Yet little else about this homecoming evoked the group’s prime—particularly the lineup, which, save for leader Al Jourgensen, claimed no original members or key collaborators.
And Jourgensen didn’t do the band’s legacy proud. He couldn’t even keep the songs straight. Early on, the vocalist announced that the sextet was launching into the classic “N.W.O.” but proceeded to blare the unmemorable “No W.” When the group finally got around to “N.W.O.,” Jourgensen didn’t bother to sing it. Instead, the Chicago native brought out Fear Factory frontman Burton C. Bell, who also screamed his way through the fan-favorite “Just One Fix” while Jourgensen stood slumped against a speaker.
Such lethargy dampened an evening in which the Ministry founder became an increasing self-parody. Even though preprogrammed vocal samples filled in for the bulk of refrains, Jourgensen mouthed words as if he were barking the lines. His uninspired movements seemed to follow a script.
The concert began with 13 tunes from Ministry’s last three studio albums, nearly every one taking aim at the current administration. The resulting thematic overkill smothered any critical purpose. Standards such as “Stigmata,” “Burning Inside” and “Deity” were ignored in favor of lesser recent material and three hideous covers. “You guys better be good because you’re taking away from my drinking time,” a wine-sipping Jourgensen yelled to the crowd near the finale, adding even more insult.
Openers Meshuggah used advanced instruments (including two eight-string guitars and a five-string bass) and supreme precision to twist heavy rhythms and unusual time signatures into knotty arrangements.
ctc-tempo@tribune.com
Once back at the casa Jeff had picked up some Miller Chill and we had a few and Tommy tried to strike up conversation w/ Kim and in his typical New Yawk manner says, “You’re boring.” I don’t think she knew how to take his sense of humor but Jeff recalled it and I knew it all to well, especially from being from back east, most of my time in Pittsburgh and most of Jeff’s between Pittsburgh and the VA/DC metro region. But we knew Tommy.
At one point as I took a call I hear Tommy yell, “DRINK!” to her. It was all too funny. Maybe for us, but I’m still not sure she got it. I think my world was a bit new to her and was still sinking in. (Kim if you’re reading this do you get it now?)
It was a really nice afternoon and it was a pleasure to have my old friend over to my new place. I’m very proud of what I’d built over the last 3 years and Tommy is an old friend who recalls when life was a little rougher for me especially since I sold over half of my life to rock n’ roll. Till lately I really didn’t know what I had been missing.
We were on the cusp of show #3, the Saturday night show. Al had reservations for the band at Ruth Chris Steak House 431 N Dearborn St to dine at 430, so Tommy caught a cab at 4. At 5ish we all took a cab to The Music Box Theatre where I had a couple boxes of contributions to the AIDS Benefit auction. Kim bought a Goblin shirt from a vendor, my friend Jill. Goblin are an Italian progressive rock band known for their soundtracks for Dario Argento films (including Deep Red of 1975, also known as Profondo Rosso, and Suspiria of 1977, and Dawn of The Dead in 78). I finally met w/ Rusty when the army of CHUDS came out of the flick that had just ended, and claustrophobia set in. I get that in large crowds when I’m not intoxicated and it’s even worse around CHUDS, they make me itch. My brother dubbed them CHUDS a few years ago, because the only time you see these “people” are at such events, mostly conventions.
So we split for the House of Blues and decided to have dinner in the downstairs restaurant. I had a decent budget for the trip and did my best not to let Kim spend much on anything. She’s a student for one, and a long lost relative overall. As we enjoyed a rather low-key dinner, Brett my good friend and box office manager comes over a couple times and one time w/ Tommy in tow who had just come back from dinner. It must have been a quick dinner. I hear Al didn’t eat and somebody spilled a bottle of wine. So to me it was a bit odd that a nice dinner would end so abruptly. So Tommy joined us, after having Lamb Chops which he described and ‘incredible’ and picked at some of our sweet potato fries and we chatted away and he talked about his guitar on the fence of the stage ,which had become an effect of his own which he totally had been using to his advantage. It was a very original almost Hendrix meets Einsturzende Neubauten ala Prong with a Schecter guitar (www.schecterguitars.com) that seemed to hold up better and stronger than any I’ve ever witnessed.
It was about time to go up, and again we had our own box. We had a drink in the Foundation Room and I took Rodney Pawlick and his friend, and Madman Mike Jacabow (my former intern, and producer of my radio show and contributor to MK ULTRA) into our box with us. And this is where Kimmy got an unwarranted education on her eldest cousin.
I saw him the previous night and he got the same warning everyone else did, when it came to my cousin, the policy was hands off. Of course everyone made a comment on her looks but that was all that I’d permit. Most of the people took heed. Mike decided to take his conversation with her to a whole other level which began with, “When I met your cousin I was this innocent college boy….and then he introduced me to……and….. and…. and I saw……” And I’m going to leave it at that. We’re talking the days of MK ULTRA at it’s peak, my radio show broadcast nationwide via syndication, club Djing, after show parties, late night after-hour parties, events with rocks stars and fun w/ rock stars after the events. It was a different time ya understand, umm 2000 or 2001. And I could not get him to stop. So later in the night I seized a moment and attempted to explain.
“When I went into this business, in order to truly write about it, I dove in head first and lived the rock n roll life w/ the rock n rol types. I had to live it to honestly write about it. Write about the inside as well as what people see and believe on the outside. It was quite and experience, do I have regrets a few, would I do it over, yes, if it meant learning what I had. It was a different time ya understand, umm 2000 or 2001.” She took it for what it was worth but I think she may have been a little more than freaked out. Besides, it’s all going into my book, “WINE, WOMEN, and SONG: ‘One Man’s Journey Through The Sweaty Underbelly of Rock n Roll Subculture’”. A book that I’ve sworn not to submit for publication till MINISTRY and Al were out of the game. MINISTRY is, but Al is far from it. But the day is growing closer, and it’s a day I’ve almost dreaded since it’s conception in 2001.
Needless to say, it was not as amusing to me or to Kim as it was to Mike the teller of the tales, ad I believe Jeff understood my discomfort.
The show got off to a late late start. There were even rumors that it may have to be called, but the band came out in full fury, and if I didn’t know better that had been pumped full of vitamin, exercise and a solid 8 hours of sleep. But that’s not rock n roll and MINISTRY ARE rock n roll. In every sense of it, extremities included.
And I don’t know if it was the reviews about Burton singing so much on the encores, but Al resumed duties on some of the classics for the most part. The show was stellar to say the least and again, it ourpal Tommy Victor that exuded the most energy, and in fact as I may have mentioned and others have as well is in his prime, and healthier than ever. How his ribs take that beating night after night I cannot comprehend.
We gave the band about 10 minutes to wind down and I took Kim and Jeff backstage.
……and we’re only ½ way into the night at this point!
So we walked backstage and Al kinda breezed by on his way to meet and greet. I had Rx Lounge all set up for me and some friends to party there at their expense, something we’d end up doing for the bands after the final show on Sunday. But though it was legally Sunday at this time, in our internal clocks it was still Saturday night. We spoke w/ some peeps backstage and though we had all access passes, my cousin Kimmy looked at me and said, “ I’m not gonna meet him, am I?” Well that’s all it took. We’d do it NOW!
The thing is about a month prior Kim and some friends drove 1600 miles round trip from Missoula Montana to Portland Oregon to see the band at a sold out show. They had tix, and I tried to get them meet and greet but was unable to reach anyone in the band. I gave her Tommy’s cell phone to text him, and got a text late that night from him saying there was nothing he could do. So there was no way that as close as I’ve been w/ this particular band that she wouldn’t meet her anti-hero Al. We walked out to the second floor balcony where a line of fans lined up to meet the band, I saw Angie and explained we couldn’t hang long this night since we had to be somewhere. So she had us wait till last and boy oh boy did Kimmy get the Al treatment. I introduced them and he said I love THIS GUY referring to me, and proceeded to basically tackle her in a family friendly way. They we almost on the floor as he gave her a hug I hadn’t witnessed in ages. It was quite amusing and I’m sure she felt closer to Mr. J at that moment(s) than she ever thought she’d get, and then we took pix. This all happened as I escaped the tackle and was able to take pix. We all made arrangements to meet up at Rx Lounge (1450 W Chicago) which is also were the farewell aftershow party I was co-hosting and organizing would happen the next night after the final of the four US shows.
Jeff, Kim and I hopped into a cab after saying farewells in the Foundation Room, Mike the Mad Man and his friends, also Tommy Victor, Jens (MESHUGGAH ) and Burton Bell also were not far behind us. We walked in and then let loose. When I came in David attempted to introduce me to Geno formerly of FILTER, and Geno shouts out ALEX!” and we did some photos and talked music and I told him Tommy was coming. He also told me of his new project but I didn’t get a product. Tommy came in and they reunited as well. Geno former band mate from FILTER Frank played in PRONG for a tour. I swear it’s a small world when you’re AZ.
It felt good, so good we forgot to order anything to eat. David kept the bar open for us after close and continued providing libations at our request. We were there for a good couple of hours and the hunger set in and that’s just about the worst. Voila there was still pizza at home though. Jens was really smashed and continued to make passes ay Kim.
Tommy was making fun and at one point Jens fell over a table luckily not busting his bald head open.
It was at some point in this madness that Tommy asked if he could borrow a dress of Shelly’s to wear onstage w/ MESHUGGAH the next night as well as MINISTRY. I said I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. As I continued to call her I realized that in her typical manner and ultimate wisdom she had left behind her phone charger which is noting new. So I kept trying to call and I left messages to no avail. Anyway, I decided just to look for one the next day on my own.
We decided to all convene at my apartment after Dave finally got tired and fed up w/ some of the antics. At about 3-330 AM we arrived there and chatted and played music and drank and Tommy teased at Kim about Jens. And after abut 3 hours of that around 630 Tommy headed off to his room back at the SAX. It as officially very early Sunday morning and as my friends left, the sun was once again coming up.
Sunday May 11, 2008
Kimmy had a 530 flight out of O’Hare to Cleveland and that meant she’d have to head out to the airport around 1 that afternoon. So Jeff and I woke her up around 10 to go to brunch which when I have guests usually means Holiday Club, (4000 N Sheridan Rd, www.swingersmecca.com ) which a couple years ago was actually a weekly tradition. So after we got all cleaned up we walked around to Holiday Club and Kim stopped at Byron’s for a Chicago Dog and brought it in. Jeff and I ordered and I also ordered a Bloody Mary pitcher which are ½ off on Sundays till 4.
We sat there for a lil over and hour and Kim was just beat, the poor thing. At one point she laid her head down on the table. I took a pic but am not mean enough to print it. She asked if she could take my keys go over and get ready. I told her we wouldn’t be far behind. Jeff and I finished up and after not being able to finish one pitcher called it and went back to la casa.
My cousin was showing signs of wear and tear, and at about 130 I walked her to a cab and gave her $40 and saw her off. Jeff and I kicked back and had a couple Miller Chill’s and took it easy for a bit and waited for Fred to show up. The official announcement was made via Angie regarding the official farewell private party for the band that I had set up at Rx through David.
The email went out:
Private Party for CULaTour Band and Crew and friends tonight:
END OF CULATOUR AFTER SHOW PARTY 11 PM TO 2 AM SUNDAY MAY 11TH
Relax Lounge
1450 West Chicago
between Bishop & Greenview Avenue
http://www.yelp.com/biz/relax-lounge-chicago
Special Thank you to Alex Zander from MK Ultra magazine for making these arrangements
for us!
In the meantime I had the displeasure of answering calls from people that wanted to go that need not be there nor would they be permitted, all rules of the band. There was one exception and later that night I’d have a two faced person tossed out of the party due to the facts of the rumors and insults he’s been saying behind my back for a few years now. Ironically, there are only people that contact me when MINISTRY is around, and he is one of them. I’ve worked to hard for too long and spent too much money in my life to get to where I am to continue to put up w/ people the likes of this person. I’m sure he has his own version of this but I could care less, I’m not part of that circle anymore.
The three of us caught a cab and went to the HOB, had a drink in the Foundation Room, bought some merch and I gave Tommy the dress. After MESHUGGAH played with Tommy in drag right up to the fake eyelashes Fred sat in our opera box and Jeff and I went backstage. We hung out and took some pix and all laughed it up. Al walked in removed his hat, stood in front of Jeff and stared him straight in the eye for about a minute before introducing himself. Hmm didn’t they just recently meet?
Al and I chatted a moment and he yelled about how he wasn’t going onstage without his blonde wig. I’m sure he didn’t want to be upstaged by Tommy who kept Shelly’s dress on. He commented how it didn’t fit and I said well that’s a good thing, I had hoped it wouldn’t. The dress was sweaty and torn and I knew Shelly wouldn’t mind. She’s often stated “Type O is my favorite band, but Tommy is my favorite rock star”. So of course if anything she’d be honored.
We went to our box and this was show 4 for me and show 3 for Jeff. And about 45 min into the set we decided to make and early exit and make sure all was good to go at Rx. We said goodbye to the wonderful staff at HOB and thanked them for everything. I’d pretty much lived there the last four days.
It was still daylight and nobody was at Rx, I phoned Viva Nova to tell her it was cool for her to show up. I felt rotten having to tell Ty Coon and her friends and my friend Matt they couldn’t. I felt like real shit about it.
Jeff and I walked over to 5 Star where my favorite waitress Meghan was waiting and I about flipped. I hadn’t seen her in over a year when she worked at Horseshoe. She brought over 3 shots of Makers Mark. It had been that long, she knew I always drank it but this May would be one year since I touched whiskey. I had to turn it down so she traded it in for tequila and we all three did a shot. I had a red Bull and vodka and then we sat at Rx and waited for the storm to begin.
Shelly got my messages and got a cab over and we caught up, it seemed like forever since I had seen her. At about 11 PM 2 limos showed up with the entire entourage, and with and hour the place was almost at capacity. Everyone and I mean everyone thanked me and it was my pleasure. It was a GREAT moment when Tommy presented Shelly w/ her dress nicely folded in a clear bag. A memento for sure. Tommy Victor wore my girlfriends dress onstage during MINISTRY’s final US concert, EVER!
After a few hours and at last call, the band and entourage split and we told David the owner thanks and goodbye and the 3 of us went back home and Jeff drove to Indianapolis that very night, or I should say day.
And that’s the way it was May 8-12th 2008. It is a time of my life I shall forever cherish with some friends that I pretty much started and am ending my own career with. And in case you’re interested, I always leave lots out, you’ll have to buy the book for that!
Thank you all of you.
