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.
Billy in Houston, TX October 4, 2009
and I had a blast! The crowd was wild for Billy. The entire place rocked to the music and
screamed louder than any other venue I had been to this summer.
I met several fellow Squier fans; I had no idea there were so many people that
shared my great admiration for Billy.
Pam, Billy, me.
After the show, Billy sat in a large bar area backstage
and spoke with us for about twenty minutes before
going back by the buses to sign items for fans. That
was truly a dream come true for my new friend Pam
and I! He is a true gentleman as well as a brilliant
entertainer.
Billy and my sister Tanya.
Right before this picture was
taken, I told Billy that this
would be my last concert.
He replied, "Why, are you moving
off the planet?"
When I asked Nir Z. if I could get a picture with
him he said, "Yes, lets get some action shots!"
He proceeded to tell his fellow drummer friend,
Kevin, to take several pictures of us.
Nir was very sweet and thanked
me for attending all the shows.
Of course Nir had to jump into
this photo with Alan and I below as well!
The soft-spoken and always gracious
Alan St. Jon gave me a kiss on the cheek
when I walked up to him. He said he
really appreciated my supporting the
band. I will certainly miss seeing and
speaking with him and his lovely
daugher Asia.
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