TheEnglishGent said:

KeithyT said:

Wembley Stadium August 31st(?) 1993, when I heard Prince say "Welcome 2 The Dawn" for the first time. I genuinely got goosebumps.

I thought we'd arrived, and I guess we sort of had.

That was my first Prince concert. I was completely fed up with Thunder after that day, they played it over and over again before the concert. That and the Coca Cola advert as I recall.

Lol - happy days! I paid a shitload of money for that concert for VIP seating. Ended up in a corporate box miles away from the stage and with a terrible view. I was with loads of stuffy people who'd clearly been given the tickets through work and only started to loosen up after numerous drinks. God knows what they thought of me dancing round and screaming my head off!

With regard to KeithyT's comment. I think there were a few times I genuinely got goosebumps at Prince concerts. My first ever concert was Lovesexy - I'd only ever seen Bananarama and Erasure live previously (I was young). That drumbeat at the start (which I now know to be Erotic City but didn't at the time) - I knew right there and then that this concert was going to be in another league to anything else. Literally, that moment was my transtition from just playing his records to being a lifelong fan.

January 21 1st Show--Everyone singing Paisley Park. The love in that room was something different.

I have 3:

1) he was touching some girl's hands and i reach out and touch him too (that got me a wtf look)

2) then he asks "What's my name" remembering the line from Shhh! I yell "I love you!" and again a WTF look... (the answer was "Mr. happy")

3) at an after show he was walking in and holding a purpleaxe... and there was this plastic chain in his way... i unhooked it and said something like "you can't get good help" he gave a nod but I am not sure he heard me....

ChimChimBadass said:

1987 - SOTT Tour in Paris. My first Prince concert and the best concert i've seen in my whole life. It was like a dream, like being in another world, i've never felt this emotion again, Prince was at his best and i feel so lucky for being there.

1988 - Lovesexy Tour in Paris again. A really BIG show with lots of effects, probably the last Prince gigs of this kind, because it must have been really expensive.

Gimme five.

The lights go down. Paris screams. We're in the 3rd row (it pays to stand in the queue since 7.00 AM), but me and my girlfriend swoop under the gorillas arms that prevent the first row to become overcrowded, and here we are, almost teleported (ah, the mighty power of adrenalin) in the front row, right in front of Skipper's mike.

Smoke machines go berzerk, real soon we can't see shit, while the SOTT loop starts.
Paris screams louder.

All of a sudden, Skipper appears and starts "In France...". I must have been yelling like a virgin female Beatles fan during the whole song. I'm right in front of him, for crying out loud.
But I cannot hear myself. This is the SOTT speaker system.
Quadraphonic sound and all that shit.
It's a miracle I still have my ears in good condition.

I see him do a split during "Housequake", so close I see the sweat drops on his forehead. It's one thing to watch him on video. It's another to witness it for real.

The whole experience felt like a dream.
I have glimpses. Sheila quickly lowers her mini-skirt during the Transmississippirap, after making eye contact with me. I saw Sheila's panties, and she noticed.
I see Eric in his cape, blowing the "6" riff. I see Levi slapping scales.
I see Skipper running after Cat.

At the end of "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night", in the SOTT movie, you have a panoramic of the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy. 14.000 people, dancing as one.

At the end of the panoramic, there's a young dude wearing glasses, jumping up and down.

I made it in Skipper's final cut. At least I have proof this was not a dream.

I don't post here much but I wanted to share this story with some who might appreciate it. It was '94 or '95 and Prince held a "Gold Masquerade Ball" at Glam Slam in LA. Attendees were told they had to come in costume or dressed in gold. Having nothig gold to wear I decided to wear a costume fearing if I showed up in regular clothes I woldn't get in. Being young and dumb I decided to dress like Prince from the Controversy period given I had most of the components for it, eschewing the bikini briefs for black jeans. Well upon getting into the club I noticed that I was retty much the only one wearing anything resembling a costume. Emberassed, I headed upstairs to hang out in the relative darkness behind the DJ booth. After a few minutes, who should emerge from the booth but Prince sucking on a lolipop. There I was just 3 feet from the man himself and I am dressed like one of his old album covers. I wanted to speak but my mouth wouldn't work. I just remeber thinking, "Oh my God, Prince is right in front of me! Say something you idiot." He looked at me, thinking what I can only assume was, "look at this MF right here," then walked off. It was one of the best yet most emberassing moments of my life.

He played a gig in Manchester Academy, i'd waited outside for hours to make sure i had a good view (only being 5'2)

Got inside, i was very lucky to get to the barrier. There was a very nice lady next to me, also on her own. Before the show started she "warned" me she might lose it when he did Purple Rain, since it was her deceased husbands fave, who was also a fan.

He was on stage for over 3 hours, he played Purple Rain on piano.

As soon as she heard it, she burst into tears, as did i, because i'd waited so long to see it live and because she had told me what it meant to her.

When he had finished, he spotted us two with tears in our eyes. Over he came to grab our hands. I'll never forget that, him looking me in the face and smiling at me.

What an amazing man and artist!

Show at the Electric Factory club in Philly.

We waited 7 or 8 hours between doors open and him actually getting on stage somehwere around midnight.

I nearly had kidney failure but it was worth it to see him that close. The show was so funky and loose. Like an aferparty.

Years later I was able to get a boot of the show. Played it in my car today and smiled.

flew from europe to mpls a few days before mill city festival in 1999. landed around 21.00. got a ride to PP. a party was going on... alot of people. at round 3.00 am most of the people were asked to leave PP. talked to morris hayes shortly before for a minute. he invited me to a private jam in one of the studios! what I experienced after that was just huge, unbelievable. it's just unreal. Prince around me and maybe some other 40 people.... friends, fans....(some of them had to leave after a few hours... maybe cuz of work...) Prince jammed for 190min and switched instruments. he even sat down on the drums.. he played a DREAM SET LIST:

http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=04_September_1999-am

at the end the band left and he played pop life all alone and recorded track by track on a loop machine... when he left the studio shortly before 7am he played on and off with the light switch to give the few people still there some kinda disco light effect... and left.

Before the show he told us: " who's not going to dance, gotta leave.." that's all.

The band was placed in a circle around us listeners... we were dancin and funkin around in the middle...

THANK YOU MORRIS HAYES!!!!

That was my Jackpot in life. And I don't wanna have another...

[Edited 4/28/16 10:22am]

TheEnglishGent said:

CynthiaR said:

Aftershow on the morning of 14 September '07 at Indigo O2; I went to the 13 09 concert (which was incredible) and had tickets to the aftershow too, hoping he would play it. I remember waiting and waiting in Indigo. We had a great spot, right next to the stage, and I just had a feeling he would be there. I'll never forget the moment he suddenly appeared on stage - I was awe struck. He was incredible, he played some of my favourite songs too and a few of us even got to get up on the stage to dance at the end. I remember climbing the stage steps up to where Prince was standing. My heart was beating so fast! [Edited 4/27/16 16:19pm] [Edited 4/28/16 0:00am]

That was a great aftershow, loved that one. The main show was pretty cool that night too, wasn't that the night Elton John came up and subg with him? So many great memories of that summer. I got so lucky with the aftershows, went to 9 and Prince played 7 of them!

It was a great aftershow! Yes, I think that was the night Elton John played the main show. Forgotten about that! I do remember Prince coming into the arena in the black box, which I thought was going to go into/under the stage with him inside, but then just as it got to the stage it stopped and he just got out, right where we were standing! Everyone was just screaming!!

Wow, you were lucky to catch him at some many aftershows! Which shows did you go to? I went to another one not long after but I can't remember which night it was. You might have been there. I remember he sang (is it?) 'Begging Woman' which was pretty funny. Prince disappeared from the stage that night too and then suddenly appeared in the updairs area! Yes, many good memories.

I have the 21 nights cd (that came with the book) but I don't suppose any of the aftershows were ever recorded and released were they? I'd love to listen to them.

spitty said:

CynthiaR said:

I have the 21 nights cd (that came with the book) but I don't suppose any of the aftershows were ever recorded and released were they? I'd love to listen to them.

All the Indigo aftershows were recorded and are available since 2007

I've shared this story on another thread here awhile ago. Not half as cool as some of the other stories here but I thought I'd share.

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The radio had just announced Prince and the Revolution to play Detroit on June 6th 1986. This came after the June 7th show sold out in minutes. So they added the June 6th show. Knowing it would sell out fast also my girlfriend (wife now) literally scraped pennies from a penny jar to get tics for the show. Cool thing was we were in the balcony next to a light operator and b4 the show started he took his headset off and said "You wanna talk to Prince?" So I grabbed the headset and Prince was giving directions when to put a spotlight on Wendy or something to that effect. It was loud and I could barely hear. But still super cool being 16 yrs old and it being my 1st concert ever. Only thing not cool at the time was my girlfriends mother had to take us. LOL!

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I had seen several shows after that but going to Paisley on Aug. 5th 1995 was another big highlight. We got to meet Sonny, Michael, Tommy, and Morris and tour Paisley. We also got to see the Same December and 18 & Over videos for the 1st time. Then the icing on the cake was Prince and the NPG playing live. I was about 5-10 feet away from Prince center stage. At that point I had not slept in over 20 hrs. I felt like I was in some dream or something. I was in total awe. I will never forget that trip. We did go back in 2000 for the Celebration and got to see Mark and Fink play with him which was awesome too.

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The other big Prince moment wasn't an encounter or show. It was when he and Mayte were expecting. We were expecting our 1st child as well. I felt a deep connection with Prince at that time. We had a girl born within days of Baby Gregory. It was so cool to me because my name is Gregory. Then I was crushed when heard the news that the baby did not survive. I felt and still feel so bad to this day for him. Still it's a connection I had that will live with me forvever.

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Other great moments were touching the box he was in as they wheeled it to the stage in Cleveland 2004. Also being at the HOB 2nd show in Chicago 2012 was amazing.

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Those are some of my most memorable Prince moments and also some of the best moments of my life.

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[Edited 4/28/16 17:34pm]

starkitty said:

I tapped his box, too! and lo-fived the band on the way to the stage!! (this was in Philly) I bargained really hard with whomever the tour manager was to go onstage during "u got the look" but I was wearing jeans & he said, no jeans. so I dragged my sis (smaller than I) to the men's bathroom & made her switch pants with me but by then they had given all the wristbands out : (

Too funny! Stuff we do for Prince.

March 2004 Club Black in New York City.... Prince was just inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Waited for hours outside. Met up with a co worker and her daughter and she had a dozen purple roses and the crowd actually pushed us to the front and let us in the building. We had to leave our cell phones with security but we got to stand in the front of the stage in fact beyond the velvet rope. James Brown's Doing it to Death(gonna have a funky good time) played forever. Prince finally came on the stage crowd went crazy. He walked over to us on the right and we handed him the vase. He asked if they were for him we shook our heads yes and he bowed and thanked us as he put the flowers on his purple amplifier turned around admired them and then turned back to us and said thank you again. At the end of the performance after everybody left the stage, his assistant came out and took the flowers - like he told to him to go fetch them! My picture ended up on the old NPG music club website and funny enough my hands were in the air and I covered my face!!!

21st February 2016 - When Prince saw my son dancing when he started Kiss, he stopped playing, came over to him, lifted him on to stage, and started Kiss again. He changed the lyics to "I think HE wanna dance!' with a little chuckle.

You can read more about it and listen to the moment here: www.mynameisanzac.com

It turns out that he was the very last person to dance on stage with Prince He will cherish it forever.

[Edited 4/28/16 21:16pm]

starkitty said:

we all have one! i think we can celebrate by sharing. i'll start.

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lovesexy tour. philly. first concert i ever attended with a friend. we had slept out for tickets in his truck, not knowing we should have gotten in line as soon as we arrived. needless to say, our seats weren't great, but the show was amazing. (i had configured my outfit lovesexy style - black biker shorts with my name sewn up the side over black tights; purple blazer. clip on ponytail like sheena easton's [i had gotten my hair cut just like hers in "u got the look" and obviously we were growing our hair out at the same time].)

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we found some fans in the parking lot after the show; one, tracey, i had remembered from waiting in line. she eventually became my friend and my partner in crime at the great controversy fan convention. tracey told us where prince was staying: the plaza, and his band was staying across the street at the four seasons. i met miko and billy sparks and others but man, that was bush league. the doorman at the plaza told us where he was headed (and WHY was my luck so good that night?!!) - the black banana. 2nd and race street. and if that's where he was, that's where we were going. somehow we had picked up straggler fans, and we all piled into my friend's truck, on a mission.

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we arrived. i had no idea the black banana was a PRIVATE club.

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so what'd i do? i LIED. i mumbled something about controversy magazine, etc, etc, (i was very underage at the time) and dude behind the glass said, oh, you're with prince?

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YES, WE'RE WITH PRINCE.

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we paid, like, $10 each and entered, adrenalined up, and looked around.

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the place was empty, and by empty, i mean not one single other person. i was confused, befuddled, a little sad. but the brain trust among us saw the stairs and we all went up. oh, did i mention the tv's mounted all over the walls, playing porn in fast forward motion? yeah, there was that.

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we got to the top of the steps to what seemed like a smaller club-in-a-club, small dancefloor, disco ball, and a dj playing club music. it was still pretty empty, but someone in the crew whispered, "back there, in the corner - see where that guy's standing? where it's roped off? he's back there."

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dudes. you know how i felt. if prince was sitting in the corner, i wanted him to see the effort i put into the outfit. so we danced to music i had never heard until we needed a break and took a seat.

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and that's when it happened.

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i saw cat walk around the rope. and, yeah. prince right behind her, headed for the stairs to exit. i, quiet as a mouse, stood up and walked with purpose across the dance floor and followed them down the steps. MEANWHILE, some n00b who was with us stood up with such commotion that she knocked her seat over and i was pissed, but still focused. while tiptoeing down the steps, i felt a hand on my back and thought, oh fuck, security. but it wasn't. anyway. i made it out the door, onto the sidewalk.

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guys.

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cat was getting into the van. prince was standing on the sidewalk behind her. he saw me. we were, 7 feet apart?

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he looked at me. he waited. with eyes locked, my mouth dropped open. time stood still on a deserted philly sidewalk at 2AM.

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nothing. NOTHING. i forgot how to speak. i went completely mute.

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he got in the van as others, who had seen what i saw, flooded out in pursuit. the radio dj went up to the passenger side and told duane, "hi, i'm so-and-so from WXXX". duane replied, "i know who you are. he's not talking to anyone." time sped up. i started crying on the street.

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but i had my moment.

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what's yours?

Oh so many amazing moments. I got to dance on stage with him in Maui, under the stars, during U Got the Look. I turned around and he was playing his white guitar at my feet! All the other girls were on the other side of the stage, which is where I thought I wanted to be, but oh no, Prince was down on the ground playing as security pointed for me to turn around. And there He was under me! AMAZING moments! I also got to hold his guitar once. He passed it down to the front row, where luckily, I managed to be many times. I held his guitar!!!! OMG! I will never forget that. Have been to 22 shows, some after parties and sound checks. There is never going to be another Prince, and I am so happy I was alive to see him so many times. He shaped my life...

highcalonic said:

I guess my biggest "prince moment" was in 1995 on the Gold Experience tour... but didn't actually involve Prince though.

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Me and 2 friends managed to get front row tickets several nights in a row by queuing at Wembley at 6am on the morning the tickets were released!... Just us and a bunch of ticket touts mostly!!

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Our seats happened to be on the right, where Michael B and Morris Hayes often came out to see the crowds before the show started, and we had a little chat.

On the 3rd night though, during the show, Prince's head of security came up to us, and just said, "It's happening at the Astoria tonight, tell everyone."

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It didn't happen though! But something else funny happened... We were all stood around at the Astoria wondering what was going on, when I got a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and there's Michael B! He wanted to know what I thought of the show that night. They hadn't been happy with it. And he explained that they had to call off the After Show because they couldn't find an easy way to get the drums into the building!!

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A couple of nights later they got it sorted though, and the show at The Astoria went ahead! Good times!!

[Edited 4/29/16 2:50am]

I like this thread and the original story. I love the idea of your name being branded on your pants!

I'll read all of this when I get a chance, but for now, I'll share mine. I've been lucky enough to get on stage 4 or 5 times at Prince shows, but I actually got to sing "Peach" with Prince and his band in 2006. I'll link to a post I made at the time, reply #22 of this thread:

http://prince.org/msg/7/190603?&pg=1

CynthiaR said:

TheEnglishGent said:

That was a great aftershow, loved that one. The main show was pretty cool that night too, wasn't that the night Elton John came up and subg with him? So many great memories of that summer. I got so lucky with the aftershows, went to 9 and Prince played 7 of them!

It was a great aftershow! Yes, I think that was the night Elton John played the main show. Forgotten about that! I do remember Prince coming into the arena in the black box, which I thought was going to go into/under the stage with him inside, but then just as it got to the stage it stopped and he just got out, right where we were standing! Everyone was just screaming!!

Wow, you were lucky to catch him at some many aftershows! Which shows did you go to? I went to another one not long after but I can't remember which night it was. You might have been there. I remember he sang (is it?) 'Begging Woman' which was pretty funny. Prince disappeared from the stage that night too and then suddenly appeared in the updairs area! Yes, many good memories.

I have the 21 nights cd (that came with the book) but I don't suppose any of the aftershows were ever recorded and released were they? I'd love to listen to them.

The Begging Woman Blues was from the 16th September.

The aftershows I saw Prince at were the ones after the main shows on

1st August
18th August
28th August
6th September
13th September
16th September
21st September

So many great memories from that summer.

I got really lucky seeing him at so many aftershows, I lived less than an hour away and just went last minute to a lot of the O2 shows picking up the tickets in the morning as the unsold VIP seats started appearing on ticketmaster for £31.21. The only after shows I bought at the initial ticket sales were the ones for 1st August, 28th August and the last night on 21st September, the rest I bought on the day. Even if I'd only gone to those pre bought shows I'd have seen some amazing performances.

I nearly went for the aftershow on the 9th September and remember sitting at my computer on the org and it was about 11pm and I was contemplating going but decided against it for whatever reason and then he played a nice long show. I was mad at myself, especially as I'd decided not to go to the main show that night thinking that I'd seen it all at the ones I'd attended and that he wasn't going to be playing much stuff now that he hadn't played before. Then he opened with pretty much the set from the Superbowl performance and I was absolutely gutted.

After that night I decided I wasn't going to miss anything else and went to each main show and aftershow after that. .

[Edited 4/29/16 7:10am]

starkitty said:

SquirrelMeat said:

First contact. SOTT Utrect 87. I followed the tour and on the way to the venue, pouring rain, having slept in the park overnight, Prince pulled up on the way to the second gig, wound down the window on the limo and said "I've seen you. You wet?". Me "Soaked, are you going to give me a lift to the stadium?" Prince, "Do you buy bootlegs?". Me, "Yes, I love them". Prince, "Wrong answer". Me, "Wrong question". Prince laughs, and says "What should I have said"? Me, "Don't get my seat all wet". Shared smile, he wound and the window and drove on across the stadium car park.

how can you be so cool?

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SQUIRREL MEAT U R A BOSS

Agreed. That is an awesome, awesome story!

After one of his concerts, I was riding with a friend and they announced on the radio that Prince was going to be at a club near downtown. He hadn't been to our city in a long time so I didn' t think he would actually show up. We drove for about 20-30 minutes arguing back and forth about going to this club to see if Prince would show up. My friend finally talked me into it so we drove there and pulled in to a parking space. The place wasn't really crowded yet. But as soon as we pulled in a big purple tour bus drives up and we lose our minds. We jump out of the car and take off running to meet the tour bus. We stand there for a long time, Prince probably thought we were crazy. I'm surprised he didnt send his security out on us. But we decided to go inside the club and wait. We are standing there very near the stage and the entrance trying to look all nonchalant. Suddenly there is a crowd next to the stage and from the middle of the crowd Prince pops up like he jumped from another floor to the stage. Dressed to the nines, hair all fine, looking like only Prince could look. My eyes almost popped out of my head and I guess we just sat there staring at him like fools. Prince had been walking back and forth talking to people and doing stuff on stage and at one point he stopped abruptly and spun around and looked at us like he caught us staring and we froze like we were in trouble. Prince won the staredown and went on about his business. We ended up having so much fun that night.

I went a little crazy the summer of 2007 and went to as many shows as I could at the O2 and Indigo, often travelling from Cardiff at very short notice as tickets for sold-out shows were released for sale.

One of my favourite elements of the London residency was the "Ohhhhhhh funky lonnndon!" chants he would get going with the crowd, getting everyone involved and feeling funky. To show my love, towards the end of the tour I designed a simple a t shirt with the words "OH FUNKY LONDON!" on the front, and a symbol on the back (see my profile photo), and had it printed to wear at the last couple of shows.

20th September, and the penultimate night of the tour, and I had managed to get a ticket right in the front row, directly in front of the tip of the bottom/front "point" of the symbol stage. I was running late to get to the O2 on time, and as I was rushing through the building, I could hear the crowds inside go crazy and the show starting with "Musicology"! I was terrified that I would miss the chant!! I was wearing the t-shirt!!! I remember telling the steward that he didn't need to direct me to my seat, I knew exactly where I was going, and he left me just carry on and get through. I got to my seat, a little out of breath, and quickly removed my jacket and shirt and placed them under my seat, proudly displaying my t-shirt, and started dancing along.

A few moments later, Prince danced down towards the symbol point and stopped at the end, mere metres away from me, to start the crowd chanting... singing "OH FUNKY LONDON!" while looking right at the words on my t-shirt. I'm not sure whether the look on his face was approval, confusion, or just surprise, but there was no doubt he was looking right at me.

The timing was crazy, perfect, and I will never forget it.

The video for "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", especially when he hits the gutar solo. 1987-1993 was my peak of fandom. Sometimes I wish I never looked him up on the Internet and learned what an ass he could be to people. It ruined it for me.

To me that moment each time you were at a show and he was right there in front of you. Not a picture, not a video, not an album cover but right there. I was lucky enough to be on the front row of several shows and a couple of after shows, nothing, absolutely nothing in my life will ever compare to being right there in front of him as he made that wonderful music.