by Chris88 » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:55 pm
Okay, I'll bite....
I have been into music from a very young age, and was into Yngwie Malmsteen. I knew of JSS, but never knew he put out music after Yngwie until 2003. That's when I joined this site (well reading it anyway) and really began researching Melodic Rock bands, and overseas music. I was not aware of the music scene outside of the continental U.S. So one of the first CDs I bought was LITT by JSS (2004). It is STILL one of my favorite CDs. Easily in my Top 10. (For the record, I broke out Eyes last week, and Wired 4 Love still has one of the best hooks in a song IMHO.) Anyway...since 2003 I have been a part of this website, and posted here and there along with JSS forums. I'm always afraid of being labeled a "groupie" so I don't post or say a whole lot....I have tried to see JSS live before but came up short each time. (I still wish I would have seen the Boogie Knights show, dude!)
When JSS was introduced as Journey's new lead singer, we got in contact. It was only two shows before he came through Charlotte, NC. He came through like a champ and gave me tWo Meet & Greet passes, plus a couple of tix. (I never old him this but I had already bought lawn seats because I wasn't going to miss it. I couldn't believe he was being so kind to a slacker like me.) Now, I have never been to a Meet & Greet and well......was not aware that it was BEFORE the show. (By the way, when Journey was on stage it stormed like a MoFo outside so that was kind of an additional form or 'cool'.) So I take my date and go back near the backstage area and ol' security guard doughboy tells me I missed the M&G. SAY WHAT!?!?!?! At that moment, fire and brimstone fell from the sky......or I wanted it to.
Man, I did everything but threaten to kick this dude's ass, and I'm a fairly low key dude. A woman came from back stage (I think it was a friend of Ross') and I told her to let JSS know I was here. (Surprisingly, she did!) Ricky Soto also overheard and told me to chill, I was going in with him. Jeffro comes to the gate, let's everyone in except for my date and I..........just kidding. He let us in too. It was very cool, and very chill. (It was also great to feel the air conditioning, and if JSS remembers that night, he knows what I'm talking about!) In my opinion it was 100 times better than any meet and greet. I missed a good portion of Def Leppard and couldn't have cared less. I got to meet Neal Schon which is a guitar hero of mine and he was very kind.
The thing that meant more than anything was that JSS treated us like family, and as if we had known each other for years. (I guess we had in a way.) His kindness will never be forgotten. It was a wonderful night.......despite my date turning into a sabretooth demon by the end of the night.
Thanks again, Jeff! That meant a lot to me, dude!