JuliaAllByMyself Posted April 8, 2003 Share Posted April 8, 2003 I've just got back from a 60's Weekend and one of the bands was The Swinging Blue Jeans. I was standing at the front by the stage (it's cooler than standing back in the depth of the crowd and there is less chance of people dancing on your toes) taking in all the guitar work and the drums (I love all that at live concerts) and one of the guitarists (not an original) spotted my Eric Carmen t-shirt and smiled. He came over towards me and said, "Eric Carmen!" (double thumbs up) "All By Myself!" (double thumbs up). After a few songs later, the lead singer said, "Who loves the Everly Brothers?!" and the guitarist said, "Who loves Eric Carmen!" I couldn't believe it and I screamed. The lead singer, with a puzzled expression, looked at the guitarist, looked at me, looked back at the guitarist, who then said, "ERIC CARMEN! ALL BY MYSELF!" I lost control, screamed again and started jumping up and down waving my arms in the air. It's a mainly crazy crowd that go to these Weekends, so the bands expect a few nutters in the audience. When their gig had finished and the curtain closed, the guitarist came off stage and came up to talk to me. He took my arm and said, "Eric Carmen, I think he's great. I've met him." I gasped and said, "When, when? Where?" He said it was about twelve years ago, he couldn't remember exactly, but it was in ENGLAND (!!), possibly at a private gig/radio station (before he was with The Blue Jeans), either Radio 2 (I wish it was when I worked for Radio 2!), or Capital Radio. He thought the DJ was Johnnie Walker. He said Eric was "a really nice guy, very unassuming". I was then definitely convinced he was talking about THE Eric Carmen!! I asked him if it was okay that I quoted what he had told me on Eric's Message Board, and he said, "No problem. My name is Alan Lovell and I think Eric is GREAT!" He was really excited to be talking to me about Eric, but it was a shouting-in-each-other's-ear conversation as the DJ was playing The Searchers "Needles and Pins' very loud at the time. I was SO chuffed that he took the time to talk to me about Eric AND mention him during the gig. It really made my day! Bernie ~ do you have any idea on why Eric was in England around that time? PLEASE you have to tell me!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 WOW! --Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymooladi Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 Sounds like a awsome time! I'll double that Wow. WOW WOW JUNE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCOTT JENSEN Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 sounds like you had a blast!!!!! www.theblastkc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Sutton Posted April 9, 2003 Share Posted April 9, 2003 12 years ago sounds about the time Eric was in England recording a song called Feels Like Forever with Bryan Adams. A song that never got released. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuliaAllByMyself Posted April 9, 2003 Author Share Posted April 9, 2003 Thank you for the info, Ron! Was Eric really so near me without me knowing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Julia, Alright! Those musicians have great taste!It's too bad you couldn't have seen Eric when hewas in England, but no matter--you got a specialwelcome when you came to California (remember?)And he announced that someone came all the way from LONDON to see him! You also got to meet hismom and his wife...and that's even better than just bumping into him in England. And someday soonwe will buy his newest CD.... --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuliaAllByMyself Posted April 10, 2003 Author Share Posted April 10, 2003 I'm still living on Cloud 9 with the amazing course of events from my special trip to Cleveland. It was a roller coaster that even now, I can't believe is true. I was absolutely stunned that at last I was seeing Eric Carmen in the flesh and he was so, so, very, very lovely, kind, friendly and thoughtful – more than I could have ever wished for. It was like it wasn't really happening – but it did and not only that, his wife and mum-in-law made me feel very welcome too! I was expecting just to catch a glimpse of him at a distance. I often re-live it all in my mind and smile, though still not believing it. I will always be so grateful for all the kindness that was shown to me, and Thank You Eric for being the wonderful person you are. xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggiesjc Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 Julia, please remind us all how you were able to meet Eric and his family. I may have read it before, but can't recall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 My goodness....I thought I was the only person alive who still listens to the Swinging Blue Jeans. My gym workout minidisk for last week was the SBJ's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 Julia, I mistakenly thought he was appearing at a concert in California--and that his family was with him--didn't realize that you went to Cleveland! What a nice trip! --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hungryeyes Posted April 12, 2003 Share Posted April 12, 2003 Julia, that's a FANTASTIC story !Very Cool!Rock On!Gina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted April 12, 2003 Share Posted April 12, 2003 Darlene--I guess you don't remember what happened to Julia from London. She flew in from England to see Eric at the R&R Hall Of Fame only to find out the concert was sold out. Only a couple of hundred tickets were available. When she told them she came all the way from London to see Eric, they got her in! Now do you remember?--Kirk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Kirk, Julia is going to have to clear this one up.Before she ever went to the Rock Hall of Fame, shesent me a picture of her with Eric (I thought it was in California) where she had waited to see him arrive and missed him. She sent me the picturewhen I first started posting on this website. I was sure she said he announced from the stage thatshe was all the way from London. I may have bothvisits confused...Julia, HELP! --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazumi Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Julia , That's a great story! If you don't mind,can you tell us a little about what you talked with Eric?It seems like many people on this board had met Eric in person. Unfortunately I have never had an opportunity to talk with him. ( and I don't think it happens to me ) But if I had,I would be totally speechless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Darlene, it could be my confusion. I have a hard time keeping my own E.C. memories going. Kirk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadfingerBarb Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 For goodness sake, the hippy hippy shake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 I'll have whatever Badfinger Barb is smoking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuliaAllByMyself Posted April 14, 2003 Author Share Posted April 14, 2003 Here is my Eric story! I have a fantastic friend who used to email me at work with regular updates about Eric, as she used to check out his website for me, as I didn't have my own computer at the time. Anyway, she saw that Eric was going to do a one-off concert in Cleveland (22 March 2000). As soon as the tickets went on sale I phoned and phoned, but the tickets had sold out!! I was SO upset and I cried and cried. My husband Steve said we should go and take a chance that we might see Eric arrive at the venue, or when he left, and we could treat it as a holiday and if we saw Eric it would be a bonus. So off we went! When we got to the RRHOF, a guy there told us Eric was already in the building and was just about to leave to come back later! He told us to go round to the stage door and wait as he would probably be out soon. So off we ran! It was such a strange feeling standing outside knowing and hoping that I was about to meet Eric Carmen (!) any minute now!!! It was awful because the door he was to come out of had a really bad squeak, so every time, the squeak went, we thought it was Eric coming out, and I kept getting disappointed! Anyway, the door squeaked once more and it was Eric! He came out, and I thought, "Wow! At last! My hero in the flesh after all these years!" and I was shaking SO much! Walking towards us he said, "Are you the guys that have come all the way from London and you couldn't get a ticket?! Hold on right there!" Then he turned round and rushed back in to the building! I thought, "Oh, no! Come back!" We waited a few anxious minutes and then he came back out and said we could go and see the show, although we would have to stand at the back. He was SO nice! I asked him if I could give him a hug and I was in Heaven! My dreams had come true at last! During the show, we stood quietly at the back, not believing it was happening and I was so surprised when just before he did ABM, he said, "There's a young lady here who has come all the way from London. That's what I call dedication." I just stood there in shock. I was absolutely stunned! If someone had burnt me with a cigarette I don't think I would have even noticed. After the show, his wife and mum-in-law came up and chatted with me, which overwhelmed me too. There was a queue for autographs etc outside and I was chatting to Ken Sharp telling him that I had been trying for over a year to get hold of a copy of his book, and we were kneeling down while he was writing down his details. Suddenly I looked up, the queue had ended and Eric was GOING! I quickly snatched the paper out of Ken Sharp's hand and ran, at which point Ken fell over backwards and Steve told me Ken said, "GO!" to encourage me to catch up with Eric. Then as I caught up with Eric, I said, "Eric! You're not going are you??!" and he said "Ah, the lady from London" and he sat back down at the desk and signed loads of autographs for me, then stood up and gave me a real squeezy hug and kiss on the lips!! Steve said when he was hugging me, he was smiling! Well that was it, what with everything that had happened that day, I was in such complete shock I nearly forgot to breathe. I had so many sharp intakes of breath that day and had been on autopilot and dazed, that I still shake my head and smile in disbelief when I think about it. We then bumped into Bernie. He introduced himself, though because I was still in a daze, I didn't really enthuse as much as I wish I had done. I just stood there looking dazed and stupid. Even now, I can't believe it all happened. I don't think I've ever shaken so much, or had so many sharp intakes of breath in one day!Darlene ~ You are probably confusing my trip to Cleveland when I saw Eric's Return to Fender guitar last year. The picture I sent you of me with Eric (!!) was from the Ringo tour in San Diego, when I waited for hours so I wouldn't miss him when he arrived (and he remembered me!) I have told you about each trip before, so that's probably why you are confused! (Eric Carmen Rules Okay!)Kazumi (I really like your name!) ~ I can't remember anything sensible I said to Eric apart from telling him I thought he was wonderful (while I was hugging him!) I was too star struck and overwhelmed. In fact he probably thinks I'm a half-witted ninny. I'd LOVE to hear stories from other fans who have met Eric, from just catching a glimpse or having a proper conversation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggiesjc Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Holy Cow! My mouth went dry and my heart's still beating a million times per minute after reading that story, Julia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Julia-- I really enjoyed talking to you and your husband after the show. Certainly everyone was aware of you after Eric singled you out from the stage. I remember telling you that I was sure that I was Eric's biggest fan in the United States but that you had "biggest fan" in Great Britain locked up! As for the concert, it was hands down the best...EVER! I still think back to that night with GREAT memories. --Bernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Would it have killed some smart E.C. fan to videotape or digitally record this dream concert (with Eric's permission) so the rest of us could buy a copy? Oh, say...maybe that "Got Milk" guy who created this elaborate website? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy K. Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Tony, you know, maybe Eric ought to do is have the deal like what the Grateful Dead did for many years....have a taping section for the die-hard, hardcore fans.Really doesn't decrease any income from the issue of regular albums as (1) the tapes are not being sold as bootlegs(only traded for the most part), and (2) most of the fans have all of the studio recordings anyway.In fact, if anything, increases the amount of concert income, since many would go to multi-city shows, especially with Eric not touring all that much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Kazumi, I'm sure you'll get to meet Eric one daywhen he does a concert in the future. And no, youwouldn't be speechless, because he is so nice, hereally puts people at ease. He really is extremelyeasy to talk to, and is so relaxed and nice thatyou would forget to be "speechless!" --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Think I'll nominate JuliaAllByMyself' story as 'Post of the Year'. Great story, Julia! Kirk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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