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Wednesday, November 30, 2005- At Home, 12:40 PM

Posted by Mark David Manders Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:40:00 GMT

So where do I begin? How can you explain the Rolling Stone experience? I’d like to take you from the beginning and tell my story chronologically but there are certain memories that keep popping up in my head so I am forced to jump around on the timeline.

My favorite moment: It’s probably around two in the morning and Blondie and I are in the elevator heading back down to the lobby of the Mansion Hotel. We drop down one floor and the doors open and Ronnie Woods hops in. Blondie introduces me and then asks Ronnie where he’s going. He says he’s going to drop by Bobby Keys’ room and meet Bobby’s friend, Joe Ely. Ronnie asks, “So who is this Joe Ely guy?” and I reply “He’s one of the greatest entertainers in Texas music.” Ronnie says, “Cool, maybe we’ll jam a little later tonight.” I thought to myself why do I have to go home right now?

My second favorite moment: Before the show we’re hanging out back stage and, as usual, I am the only person there with a felt hat. I feel a tap on the shoulder and turn to find Bernard Fowler, back up vocalist for the Stones. Bernard says, “Hey man, great show last year at the Viper Room.” I say, “How did you know it was me?” and he replies, “You’re still the only guy I know who would wear a felt hat to a Stones concert.”

So what is a Stones concert like? It’s a gathering of people of all ages, of different walks of life, of different beliefs, who have one thing in common- a love for the greatest band in the history of rock and roll. It’s also a social event for the “who’s who” in society. Everyone wants to see the Stones and be seen at the Stones show.

And what’s it like to be back stage at a Stones concert? That’s a little harder to explain. I’ve never been in an NFL locker room at half time during the Super Bowl, but I can say with some certainty that it couldn’t hold a candle to the Voodoo Lounge. (Actually this year it’s called “The Rattlesnake Inn”, but I prefer Voodoo Lounge.) Just imagine a room with gourmet catering, a closed circuit TV to watch the opening band, tables set up like a little café and rock stars hanging out and talking to everyone. Do you have any idea how cool it is to sit down and grab a bite to eat with Charlie Watts?

OK, enough rambling. So yesterday Grant shows up at the house at 3:30 and within a half hour we are loaded up and driving down to pick up my sister. Kathryn is excited because she’s never been to a rock concert before. We pick up Cassie and head over to the Mansion, where the Stones are staying, to meet with Jim Slaton. Jim calls us on our way down and says he’s running late but he’ll meet us in the bar a little later. I was concerned at first because the Mansion doesn’t allow jeans, but Jim reassures me that they will make exceptions for the Stones.

So we walk into the bar and there sitting by himself in the corner is Blondie Chaplin. Blondie says he really should get going but agrees to sit down with us and have a few drinks. Jim shows up a few minutes later and joins us. The next thing you know the tour manager is telling Blondie that the van is leaving for the American Airlines Center and he’d better get a move on. He takes off and, after a few more drinks; we all load up and head in the same direction.

We arrive at the American Airlines Center a little after seven and wait outside for Ed to bring us our tickets. Ed is a good friend from LA who always has great seats to the Stones shows. While waiting for Ed we ran into Laura Lynch, the former singer for the Dixie Chicks. I hadn’t seen Laura in ten years and we spent some time talking. She had a twinkle in her eyes that only comes from the anticipation of seeing the Stones. Hell, everybody there had the same look in their eyes.

A few minutes later Ed showed up and escorted us down to the back stage area. We ran into Blondie again as well as Bernard and Charlie Watts. Grant and the girls grabbed a bite to eat and then it was show time so we all hurried up to our seats.

Ed did us right. We were in section 119 which is slightly above and to stage right. The view was incredible. Jim, on the other hand, had floor tickets about six rows from center stage. Having been on the floor at the Houston show two years before I was convinced that the sound was much better where we were last night.

Pretty soon the lights die down and the show begins. Ed slips me the set list so I’ll know exactly when to leave to avoid the traffic. There’s nothing like having the set list in your hand while watching the Stones.

The show was incredible as usual. The Stones opened up with “Start Me Up” and then went into “You Got Me Rocking” followed by “Shattered”. But my favorite song was “Honky Tonk Woman”. Towards the end of the show the center part of the stage detached and moved to the middle of the arena while the Stones were playing. It was bad ass, I know of no other way to describe it.

We left with about three songs to go and drove back to the Mansion for the after party. We met up with Jim and company at the bar and had a few more drinks. I hooked up with Blondie again and we went upstairs to visit with Bobby and Joe Ely. By the time we made it downstairs Kathryn, Cassie, and Grant were waiting for me. I hated to see it come, but it was time to go home.

I wish I could have taken some pictures back stage and even at the Mansion, but the Stones frown on cameras. That’s alright, I’ve got the memories tucked away in my head and I’ll never forget them.