Well, as most of you must have understood the title is a joke.
I am not humble.
Anyways, today I listened to Sailing from Wembley, and I remembered what I've lived this summer, so I decided to share it with the rest of the board.
Before this crazy summer began, I was supposed to see 3 shows, a bit later 2, a bit later they became 3 again, then 2 again, then 4, and in the end I attented 6 GN'R shows... Crazy huh?
Well, it all began back in February or March... I wanted to go and see them at Rock Am Ring. Then I talked with Jarmo and he told me he and lots of others were going to Rock In Rio. So, one Sunday night I bought one ticket to Rock In Rio festival. Little did I know... I ended up buying tickets for 4 other Greeks.
The days were passing by and the rumours for Madrid were really strong, so I booked the plane tickets for all of us and I thought what the hell, in worst case scenario, we'll get to see Madrid as well.
GNR were announced for Madrid, so our money weren't "lost". Then they changed the date.
I couldn't miss the opening night of this European tour... I HAD TO BE THERE. So I paid for plane tickets all over again and...
Oh, I had also bought plane tickets to Nuremberg for the 10th of July, a show with the Rolling Stones, a dream show.
May 25th, 2006Woke up really early, something like 4 am, and we flew to Madrid. The first surprise was waiting for us at our hotel.
We didn't have a hotel. Anyway, we found one quickly and went straight to the venue.
Well, back in 2002 I had this small sign which Axl noticed in London Arena. This time I decided to make it a bit bigger...
Me and Natassa outside the venue in Madrid
A few hours before the show GN'R were soundchecking. It was surreal, being out of the venue, listening to the soundcheck. And then Axl joined the band and they kept on soundchecking. People around me didn't seem to realize what they were listening to so they weren't paying attention...
Me and meanmachine before the gig
Well, the spanish crowd got really upset cause of the delay, GN'R showed up at 12. People got crazy the moment they appeared on stage.
GN'R, 4 years later, without Buckethead. AND they played There Was A Time. This reason alone was worth all the extra money I spent. I just love that song. And I feel extremely lucky that I heard it that night, since they never played it again on this tour.
Anyway, the night had come to an end and we headed back to the hotel. Straight to our beds for sleep...
May 26th, 2006We got up, went to eat some McDonald's and went straight to the airport with one of those cars GN'R used in London. That was a bit funny, cause the windows were dark and I felt like a celebrity driving through Madrid.
At the airport we found out that we didn't have a hotel in Lisbon as well, the 2 Greeks that didn't have enough money to buy another ticket for Madrid had already arrived in Lisbon and gave us the good news.
I was so fuckin upset during the flight, but an hour later all this would be a loooong forgoten memory... Or NOT...
The plane landed safely and we went to get our bags.
Suddenly as I was seating I heard someone screaming DIZZY.
I turn around and I see Dizzy. The rest can be found here:
http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=30827.0After this "meeting" we went to the hotel to see what's going on, anyway we only found a hotel a few minutes before the pre-show party at the Hard Rock Cafe. All the hotels we looked at before ending at the right one, were like whore-houses... But in the end everything worked out fine...
God, what an amazing night.
Read about it starting from here:
http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=30864.msg602638#msg602638
Me and Jarmo presenting Kidnap
Me singing Knockin' On Heaven's Door with Kidnap
Thanks to these amazing guys from Portugal, I had one of the best nights of my life. Thank you Kidnap.
May 27th, 2006Dead tired. Sleeping all day. Went to Bella Vista Park right before the Darkness started playing. Enjoyed all of their set, as I really dig them.
Then GN'R came on stage for what I consider one of the best gigs I've been to, along with some other from this tour and some other artists...
Most of you have downloaded the dvd so I won't get into this.
Back to reality after 2 beautiful days in Lisbon, a city I've loved so much, I'll be back as Arnold said once...
Back To RealitySo, back to reality, just to find out that the gig with the Stones in Germany has been cancelled and that a pre-sale for the shows in London is on.
I immediately bought my ticket for the 30th, and a day later for the 29th.
A few weeks later, I found out that they're coming to Greece. On the same date I was supposed to see them in Germany. Life plays weird tricks on us...
I'm in constant talks with the promoter to help them advertize the show, since it's only 2 weeks away.
Official Preshow Party for the show, with the help of Universal Music and the promoter (Poster thanks to and by xxxrosexxx)
One week in Athens for promotion. Met lots of nice people, especially at the pre-show party. One hell of a night.
Then the day of the gig came.
July 10th, 2006Right before the gig I got interviewed by MAD TV, the biggest Greek music tv station. They asked me questions like when the album is coming out or why do GN'R have so many really young fans. Like I could answer both those questions... Still, they played the interview like 5-6 times for the next 2-3 days. Lots of people saw it, a friend of my dad as well, he told him about it but my dad hates such things...
Now, lucky again, the promoter had saved the pit infront of the stage for the VIP's. Since I helped them with the promotion, I was one of the lucky fucks in the pit.
Front row, definitely one of the best gigs of my life. I was singing all the new songs by heart, Axl was watching me singing them and he was smiling... And then he mentioned my GREECE LOVES GN'R sign... I think I died that moment.
I was also the one who screamed "DO THE ASSHOLE SONG" and Axl said "Ooh, we got another request for this one" and he played it... Funny... Felt really weird, my first request and not denied... Frank's (the drummer) first request was denied at the acoustic gig and mine wasn't...
You can find many pictures from the show here:
http://www.gunsnroses.gr/athens2006pix.htmOnly 3 weeks away from London...
July 28th, 2006Flew to London, watched Superman, went to the pre-show meeting. Funny night, when I left the "meeting" I met Juliet Lewis (
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000496/). She was really cool to me, talked a bit about her singing "career".
July 29th, 2006Probably the best day of my life.
Went to Soho to buy some used records, then left them at the hotel and went straight to Wembley. We went to the pre-show meeting at Greyhound, not so many people.
Me outside the new Wembley stadium
Then the gig. I really loved this gig. Covers (of Sailing, Sway, Back to the USSR), Izzy, Sebastian and the winners announced.
After the show we had heard that there was this aftershow party at some club in Soho but we didn't know if the acoustic was gonna happen there.
So, after 3 hours of waiting in the rain, we found a cab and went straight to that club in Soho.
Everybody was getting out of that club, so I assumed that the acoustic wasn't gonna take place there.
Then my ANGEL (you know who you are
) sent me a text with the club's name. We headed there and a friend got me in.
I managed to get in front of the band, dead center. I watched an acoustic gig by GN'R, and I was right infront of them.
God, that was weird and amazing at the same time. Right infront of the guy who saved my life with his lyrics 6 years ago.
All that week, I was thinking of making a new sign that would say GREECE THANKS GN'R. I never did it.
So, then it struck me. I took this yellow envelope out of my bag and I wrote it on its back.
GREECE THANKS GN'R
I showed it to Axl and he smiled and shook my hand. I really wanted to say it to him, but showing it had the exact same effect and probably even better..., so I'm so fuckin happy I had this chance.
Now, Sailing, that song has been haunting me ever since he performed it with the band that night. I wish they'd release it cause it was simply mindblowing.
Amazing night, probably the best of my life.
The next night was great but weird as well, last night of the tour, with Axl being sick, not able to finish the gig, Sebastian saving the day... Also thanks to the people who showed up at the pre-show meeting at the Greyhound.
And now, back to reality once again, trying to work, but how can I after this summer?
I wanna thank all the people I've met this summer, too many to name them, I hope you still remember me. Thank you all for being so cool to me.
And sorry to Jarmo, Adam and the 2 girls who were with us for being such an asshole on our last morning in London. You didn't deserve that...
Above all, thanks to Guns N' Roses for one amazing summer and for the years to come.
I'm sure it will be one hell of a ride. And I'll be there until the end...
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