My Summer of Billy Squier 2009: Billy in Hankinson, ND June 26, 2009

The First Time...

I clearly remember the first time I heard the music of Billy Squier. I was at a party at an apartment of a boy named Jimmy Elmer. A typical weekend party at Jimmy Elmer's consisted of beer, illicit drugs, and extremely loud music. Jimmy had the best stereo system of the time, which consisted of two turntables, double cassette tape-players, and two huge five-foot speakers that blasted the works of AC/DC, Van Halen, Def Leppard, and The Talking Heads to name a few. Often, the music was turned to a level so deafening that the only form of communication was to read the lips of others through the smoke filled room.

This seemed like a nuisance and forced solitude to me; after all, this was a party, a gathering place to drink, talk, laugh, and socialize. But, after the very first time Jimmy played Billy Squier’s Emotions in Motion album, the volume and the solitude didn’t bother me in the least. I recall the beat blasting out of those giant speakers on the first track “Everybody Wants You.” I remember instantly thinking that the resonance of the singer was different, sexier, and sweeter than the previous artists heard coming from the massive sound system. I felt the soul soothing rhythms stir in my chest with the second song “Emotions in Motion.” The lyrics within the third song “Learn How to Live,” replicated the feelings I, as a teenager, felt but couldn’t express. The timbre and quality of the music was far different from anyone I had ever heard.

Looking around the room, I searched the faces of others wondering if anyone else was hearing what I felt. The taps of feet and the bobbing of heads from males and females alike gave credence to my new discovery. Yes, others felt the difference too. However, I was hooked. I couldn’t get enough. I had to hear Billy at every party Jimmy threw. I longed for information regarding Billy, so I bought every rock magazine I could afford in hopes of discovering any written word about him. I sat for hours watching MTV every Saturday desperately hoping to catch a glimpse. I dreamt for years of meeting him. I attended every concert he performed in my area. But, I never had the opportunity to meet him. That was then. This is now.

After twenty-six years of dreaming about meeting the extraordinary singer, song writer, guitar player, my dreams have come true—not just once, but in fact several times over. This blog contains a brief glimpse into my travels during the summer of 2009 while following my favorite rocker the one and only--Billy Squier.

10/10/09

Billy in Hankinson, ND June 26, 2009

After we found out we were the only two meeting Billy in his dressing room before the show, we were so nervous we kept taking pictures of ourselves in our hotel room.

After meeting Mike, Billy's tour manager, at the pre-designated location before the show, we followed Mike through the ballroom, up the stage steps, across several thick black cords--my heart racing with each step--and came face-to-face with Billy striding toward us. Meeting him in the center of the stage, Natalie put out her hand and introduced herself as she shook hands with Billy. I, waiting twenty-six-years for this moment, threw my arms around him while he said, "Hi. I'm Billy Squier."

One of the happiest moments of my life!

Billy seemed rather reserved while the four of us stood in the tiny little dressing room located two steps from the stage. I'm sure celebrities must be cautious when meeting people--especially in their own dressing rooms--as they never know what type of crazy fans they may be meeting!

I'm not sure what I said to him other than inadvertently insulting him once due to my nerves, but I remember being very glad that Natalie was there to help gloss over my tongue tied state. After a few moments of chatting I asked Billy, "So, have you been waiting twenty-six-years to meet me also?" He laughed at that and said, "Yes, I think I have."

He signed the lithograph "To Teresa, at long last. Billy Squier."