INXS at the Hard Rock Café, Toronto, ON, February 7, 2006

I joined a number of Rockbanders for lunch at the Hard Rock Café Tuesday afternoon, as we waited for INXS to arrive for a press conference announcing the Canadian tour in May 2006. I was thrilled to learn that Ottawa is on the list of cities for this tour. They piped in the press conference to the restaurant packed with INXS fans so we got to see and hear it, but they didn't give the band a microphone, so fans couldn't hear the whole question and answer period.

INXS were presented with a platinum record for Switch, and they donated a signed replica of the megaphone used in the Pretty Vegas video to the Hard Rock Café. The manager brought it down and put it on the bar for the fans to see before putting it in safe keeping.



There was a particularly sweet moment just before the press conference began. A little boy had come with his mother, and he had a toy microphone and a little toy megaphone. The Hard Rock was playing music from Switch, and he performed to 'Pretty Vegas' for us, with perfect choreography, including raising his megaphone at the exact right moments, pointing out at us, and going in and out of the tables to meet us. The more we clapped and sang along to the song, the harder he performed. That little tot is going to be a star someday. I wish JD could have seen it. INXS security came and got him and brought him and his mom down to meet the band. The crowd there overwhelmed him and he couldn't perform, but he got to high-five JD a few times, and they all signed his megaphone.

After the press conference a number of us waited outside for the band to exit. It was very emotional for me as this was the closest to the band I had gotten in over 20 years. It was great that they stopped to sign some items, and pose for pictures. Andrew and Tim went through the crowd quickly, Jon stopped for a bit, and I managed to say "hi".



Then there was Garry a few people in front of me. I was able to gently touch his hand, and I told how amazing it was to see him up close and personal. I also told him I was seeing them six more times after Toronto, and he smiled and asked "really?". Words cannot express how hot he looked even with the cut on his head from the bass incident the night before. That man is so hot he can melt all the ice in the world.



Last out was Kirk who was a little surprised to hear his name being called by so many people. He stopped to talk to many of the fans gathered. I told him I was going to seven more concerts and was hoping I would get a guitar pick. He told me he'd watch out for me. The whole time we talked he held my hand in a handshake. It was magical folks. He's very flirty and very hot in person. Unfortunately we didn't get to see JD because he was taken out another door.