CONCERT MEMORIES:

*Note: if you were there and would like to share your memories, pictures or tape please send it info@rirocks.net

This show was a life long dream (at 17 years old).  I swore I would see the Rolling Stones before I died ha! ha! and finally the opportunity was here.  It was sold-out and I didn't have a ticket but I decided to try and get in.  I got a ride from my friends Joyce & Kim who were also going to the show.  Once at the Garden I walked around outside and some scalpers wanted too much money so I figured I'd wait.  By luck I was in the lobby of the old Boston Garden and a PA announcement came on saying that the promoter had extra tickets for tonight's show and they would go on sale at 7pm.  I was stunned and figured OK let me wait.  I was the 3 person in line and sure enough at 7pm the box office window opened up and I was able to buy a ticket for $9.50.  I was ecstatic and very happy that my dream was going to come through. 

I walked over to the entrance and it was from the back of the arena. Gave my ticket to the usher and he said "keep going forward". I walked up three section and got to the first section in the front.  The usher said "keep going."  I thought it was weird but I kept going.  The last usher took my ticket and walked me to my seat. I was floored and amazed!  I was sitting in the 6th row, middle section to the left of the Lotus Flower-shaped stage. Wow!, Wow!, Wow! I has in heaven.! At 17, I was full of excitement and the audience was very festive with joints being passed up and down the rows.  I also remember a very big jug of wine that was passed to me more than once.  I was wonderfully high and buzzed.  The lights came down and the Rolling Stones took to the stage.  I was so high I was just in some sort of haze but standing on my seat and enjoying myself.  It wasn't until the 5th song when they started Gimme Shelter that I sat down and told myself to wake up!! your at a Rolling Stones concert and this is your dream come true.  From that point on I decided to focus my energy not on being stoned or buzzed but to watch the show as it unfolded.  It was amazing.  Mick Jagger was only 33 years old and Keith looked fantastic and Bill Wyman was Bill Wyman just stoic while playing the bass.

Between encores there was an announcement saying that the concert was going to run over and that the train system would not be running in case anyone needed to catch the last train.  I thought about the problem I was going to have to get back to Pawtucket, Rhode Island but I said, "well you only get to see the Rolling Stones once in you life on this tour so deal with what comes later."  I stayed to enjoy the rest of the show and it was awesome!

Now that the show was over I was on the Muni train and had missed my last bus home.  I over-heard someone talk about Rhode Island and I asked if I could get a ride with them.  They said sure and I felt relieved except I had no clue what I was getting myself into.  I was so tired and high that I feel asleep in their car.  At some point they wok me up and said that they were at the end of the Rhode Island line.  I got out and looked around and had no clue where I was.  It was dark highway with very little cars on the road.  I began hitchhiking when a few cars went by and by luck this van picked me up and even though it was sketchy, I got in.  They guy was a weirdo but somehow I managed to talk my way back home and he dropped me off at the foot of my exit on School St.  From there I walked home and got into bed around 3AM fully exhausted but relieved I was in my bed.  Its only Rock n Roll but I like it, like it, yes I do! - Paul Fernandes