Another hidden memory unlocked. Sorta. I was in the ninth grade, I think. I would sometimes sneak out with my gal pal, Christine. She was a grade older, and she knew how to drive. She would steal her parents Honda Civic. Stick shift. I remember thinking she was sooo cool because she could drive "stick." She didn't even have a license. She may have even been fifteen. She had very fair skin, crazy hair, and eyes of yellowish green that you could get lost in for days.
Christine and I were very close. Sometimes she would sneak me into clubs with her late at night. I was already going to different types of bars & clubs, at fourteen years old. I liked more of the New Wave and Industrial jams. She seemed to favor the Metal crowd. Dudes with long hair, maybe some tight jeans, and high tops. I knew those guys all too well, my brother was one of those dudes. Remember, this is the late 80's. Christine often took me to a rock club called, Sneakers. Haha. Sneakers. My first REAL experiences with older drunk guys hitting on me.
So...my first time into that not-so-fine establishment, the band that performed that night was Sleeze Beez. I don't remember anything about them, and prior to that show, knew nothing about them. Didn't know the existed. Forgot they existed. Who names their band Sleaze Beez any way??? I don't actually remember much of the night, but I do recall she and I going to get a bite to eat on our way home. After late night munchin', we headed toward my house. This is where I will soon be successfully sneaking back in.
Driving home, once we are on the highway, approaching alongside us comes a tour bus. Christine knows all too well what it is, I'm still naive enough at this point that I never knew she planned the timing of our drive home to possibly pass this bus. She starts driving faster, I could see the color of the adrenaline rising straight up her back. Oh yeah, and she's smiling. I don't get it, are we about to race these guys? They start accelerating in speed, they're now catching up to us. I look over from the passenger seat, I notice that in the front lounge area, there are some guys. Of course, it's that Sleeze Beez band. One of the band members is holding a sign up in the window. Was having a hard time reading the sign at first. Finally, my eyes could finally fixate long enough to distinguish some letters.
"SHOW US YOUR TITS"
Gross. I think I was traumatized. But, I think subconsciously, I kinda liked the attention. I was fourteen years old. I'm sure I looked my age at that point in my life. I know I lived for music, but that was the day I realized I never wanted to be a groupie. That must be when I decided I wanted to work in the music industry, even if it meant that because I am a woman, I was willing to work harder. Today, 20 years later, I can say that I "pretty much" stuck to my guns. I did work long days doing all types of jobs in the industry, freelance and for different record labels & bands. I still dabble in the industry today. I can't say I never dated musicians, that would be a bold LIE. I was just very "selective" in that department. Sometimes, heh. A girl can't be in the industry that long without being able to relate to artists. Artists in general. That's a topic for another day.
Christine, that is a different story. She died tragically in a horrible car accident in 1997. She had retired her "groupie" status, and was going to law school to become an Entertainment Attorney. I miss her. I know that every day in my adult life she is with me for the wildest of rides and the best of times. It was because of her, I was introduced to the world I call, "home." The road. I wouldn't change my life for anyone else's....ever. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Sleeze Beez. You sleazy, dirty child molesters. Get a haircut.
xoxo.
what a horrible name! I've tried to watch "that metal show" several times but always found the metal lacking.
ReplyDeletesounds like you had a great friend though.