Been a while, down but not out …
2 months and some since I last started a blog. No I haven’t given up by any means, but sometimes - especially now, I consider just walking completely away and just enjoy being a normal person. I do want to open my own business in the next few years. Mostly because of the health issues I deal with keep me from a normal 9 to 5 gig. Chronic pain doesn’t take a day off, and many years of hard living - good and bad. Have taken their toll internally and I get to deal with health issues that at best “aren’t working as they should” to “that should not happen” and the at my age the “preventative” stage.
No complaints, just the daily life of the Devil so to speak.
Since my last post, a long time friend from the West Coast came to visit, and several adventures were had, along with a few hang overs! Was nice seeing someone I had not seen since 2015 in Seattle. Between the daily grind and what came next though, kept me from working on the site and getting the show up.
Shortly after my friend went back west, I got a text from my former Co Host “Metalchick” that one of my favorite performers band was playing in Boston and if I wanted to go see them with her. This is important here for SEVERAL reasons. For one, Metalchick (MC hereafter) was the OG Hardcore Vault of Metal fan. How we met some day we will do a video on, but she was the one who convinced me in 2005 when I quit Hard Rock Radio Live (HRRL) to not give up and keep going.
She also had the unique perspective as an “Ex” as well. We had dated during her time with the show too. So yeah she knew I liked the singer King Diamond. This is where it gets interesting. She HATED his voice. HATED is the best easy word I can think of at this hour. But NOT A FAN. Nope.
So yeah, we have had arguments.
And long ago I told her to go see him live before making up her mind. She agreed. This is probably 15 - 16 years ago now too. So her asking me to go with her to see Mercyful Fate was a surprise now, sure. And I, ever the Intellectual Fornicator - made the offhand remark of “If I can finally get to meet him”. I had already seen the VIP Packages for the tour and I just could NOT see myself spending that kind of money to meet my favorite singer in metal - my Idol at one point, if you will.
Her answer was “That’s the plan.”
So once I negotiated the whole “You don’t have to do this” argument and losing it. This was a gift from her knowing how much I wanted to meet King. So I began the crunch of saving for the trip and merch table.
My health lately isn’t the best, seasons changing wreck me. Inside and out. So I went low energy to conserve it for November. 38 years I have tried to meet King Diamond - 12 attempts going back to 1989. All of them except my interview in 2008 somehow failed. Including the Mayhem Festival in 2015 that made me decide that the show had run it’s course.
So I saved, plotted, prepped. The day came and I went. There is a Vlog from the trip I am working on now. But am at odds with some of it so it will be going up soon. The trip was a good time, plans did not completely go as planned once I got there and I did not get all the footage I wanted.
The day of the show was a fiasco once we got to the venue.
MGM Fenway - New Place. You would think the people who run the place could be more aware of issues in their venue when someone who calls first, and gets told everything is fine. To MAYBE make the stuff you claim to work, well, WORK. Also in the video sadly no rant here. Just will say I hate the post pandemic don’t touch me sterile world. Wimps.
Also calling the venue a week in advance to ask if my bringing a professional photography camera would be an issue, I had plan to use it to take decent images for my video. That said I couldn’t record the show in video but pictures was fine. Day of show. NO DETACHABLE lense cameras. Um, that would have been nice to know 800 miles before I left. Tip of the Iceberg of issues. Now I add in the Security staff and the VIP concierge were fantastic. But the NO CASH venue - wouldn’t have been an issue except the damned machine didn’t work to convert cash. I do not travel with plastic. I prefer cash or travellers cheques. So after the chaos my phone also was dying and I could not even take halfway decent pictures.
My back had a bad moment and we did get to see the show from directly above the soundboard. It was an unreal show. If you were a fan it was church.
Yes I am redirecting, the rant is in the video. Make myself finish the blasted video. Anyways …
MC - as I said wasn’t a fan. So about halfway through my yelling along to the music. It was 38 years ago and I was a dumb teenager again. But she had a look on her face I couldn’t register. So I asked if she was ok and enjoying it. Her response surprised me.
She was loving it.
King held court, the music was amazing. The new line up was incredible. Becky Baldwin deserves praise for joining the tour for the USA so quickly and kicking a lot of ass on bass!
MC enjoyed King. The show was amazing. And then it was over. My heart pounding I met up with all the other Diamondbangers with VIPs and my being from what I could see be one of the only “PIC ONLY” 1 minute meet and greet. The rest had the sit down and talk to one. I just wouldn’t let MC or myself pay that kind of money for it. Organic for that sort of thing or not at all. But the pic I had wanted. To close off a chapter, check off the bucket list.
Over too soon, again thoughts in video. Good though.
Now the Holidays and the end of 2022 is coming. Not sure where I am going from here. But I am moving forward. I am still working towards getting back in the game. Just need to stop being selfish. I keep taking me time.
My health gets the best of me. I hate it. It’s not just weight, it’s not just the injuries. A lot of it is from a nearly 35 year old elective surgery. So I have to move at a slower pace at 52 than I did at 35.
The show must go on after all!
