Meet and Greet Review:
I went with my guest Quietrokbabe from Rockband.com. It was cool because she came all the way from Texas to see INXS play at two gigs. We were instructed to be at the willcall booth at 7:45 p.m., and we met two other women from Virginia who had also won. But no one came to collect us. By 8:10 p.m. we started to get really worried, and I flagged down a woman with an INXS pass and explained our predicament. She radioed back, and in a few minutes she brought us backstage.
While we were waiting, we were invited to watch The Lovehammers from the side of the stage. That was cool to see them so close.
Tim, Kirk, and Andrew came out for the meet and greet. It was great to meet all the guitar players.
Tim was first out and he was very sweet. He came over to me and introduced himself.
Tim: “Hi, I’m Tim Farriss.”
Me: “I know. Hi Tim, I’m Christine from Ottawa, Canada, and it’s great to meet you after so many years.”
Tim: “You’re a ways from home. ”
Me: “Uh-huh. I’ve been having fun on the road travelling to your shows. My friend [pointing to Quietrockbabe] came further. She flew in all the way from Texas.”
I told him he had a really sexy voice, and he chuckled. A deep sexy chuckle. And I told him it was great that the band was being so gracious with their time and meeting the fans like this. I continued blabbering on about how much I was looking forward to the gig that night, and the two more that I was going to on this leg of the tour, and how I was excited about the upcoming Canadian tour as well. He asked me which shows I had seen. Then he asked me what I thought of the “new guy” and I told him I was proud he was a fellow Canadian, that JD was doing a great job, and that he was really Pretty. Tim laughed.
He signed my CD liner “with love Tim Farriss,” and when I asked about picks, and he got us all one.
He told us Jon couldn’t make the M&G because he was not well, and that he’d been really dizzy all day, and that he was really worried about him because Jon was their engine. He said it in such a big brotherly way, and it was really touching. I told him to give Jon a hug for me. He laughed as he told me no way, that Jon was really sick, and that I’d have to deliver that hug myself.
Kirk came over to me next, and went to sign my CD liner, and I told him he had already signed it, and he faked a whatever moment and moved away from me, then came back and asked me when he’d done that, and I told him outside the stage door at Massey Hall in Toronto. He asked me if I was from Toronto, and I told him no, Ottawa, and that I was really looking forward to them playing my hometown again after so many years. I should have gotten him to sign it again to mark this occasion, and for the fact that he had personalized it but only signed KP in Toronto, but I wasn’t thinking straight. He moved onto the others right away.
Then Andrew was in front of me, and I stood there unable to speak for a moment. He reached out his hand and shook mine. I told him that it was a pleasure to meet the man behind the magic of INXS. He smiled. I told him we call him The Mozart of Funk on Rockband.com, and he said he’d seen something about that somewhere and really liked the title. He had the broadest grin, and repeated that he really liked what we call him. He continued to smile. I told him that the D.C. gig was my sixth gig on this tour, and he said “cool.” He asked me if I was enjoying the shows, and I told him I was having an awesome time.
Then it was time for the group picture. We were asked not to take pictures of the band as they were signing etc., but to wait for one group pic at the end. I was thrilled to find out that one picture turned out really well.
Then it was time to say goodbye. Tim came over to me and when I asked if I could have a hug, Tim said “Absolutely sweetheart.” Then he wrapped his arms around me in a big full-contact hug, and rocked me back and forth for quite a time. It was a great hug! Then he said goodbye. Let me tell you, that man is solid! And the way he said “sweetheart” made me melt.
I thanked Andrew for all his music, and he told us to have fun at the gig. I asked him if I could get a hug, and he bounced over to me and grabbed me really tight in a big bear hug which seemed to last forever. It was awesome!
Kirk said goodbye and have fun.
And then they were gone, and we were being escorted out. It was a bit rushed because we got brought backstage so late, and they had to prepare for the gig. I had some things I wanted to say but didn’t get the chance, in particular, I wanted to tell Tim that I sent him virtual hugs every week when he had to eliminate someone on Rockstar: INXS. And I had a few questions I wanted to ask but didn’t get the chance, like what does “Roquefort le Pont” mean. I’m sure that happens with everyone though. You spend years waiting for the opportunity to meet them, and you have so many things you want to say and so many things you want to ask, and so little time in which to do it.
But those few minutes that we did have were amazing. It was an honour to meet Tim, Andrew, and Kirk, and I’m so grateful for having had that opportunity.
Updated April 2006
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