Mehrnaz
Alirezaie: Rendez Vouz with John In Paris
I
am still not fully aware of what I could be part of the past Saturday
night. It was like a dream that I never even thought would come
true.
That morning I took the train from Germany to Paris to see John
Frusciante playing at La Scene. Me and my friends arrived at the
club at about 7.30pm and the gig was supposed to start at 8. It
was raining and we were all standing and waiting to get in. There
were not many people there and we thought it's great because this
way, the concert would be much more personal and intimate. There
didn't seem to be a backdoor at that place, so John would have
to use the main entrance , passing all of us. And finally - at
about 8pm- a black van with darkened windows arrived and stopped
right in front of us. We went to the other side to see if it is
really him and we just saw him getting out of the car really fast,
almost running towards the entrance -his eyes fixed on the ground.
Everything seemed to be really silent at that moment - it was
weird. His bodyguards followed him in with the equipment and finally
after some minutes, we were let in, too. It was a pretty small
but very nice club with dim light and a very warm atmosphere and
some really nice music playing. Everyone was already standing
close to the stage talking and laughing and waiting for John but
it still took a little while 'til he came.
Finally, the lights onstage were dimmed and he came. Everyone
started screaming and clapping their hands. His manager handed
him his acoustic guitar and he sat down on a stool. He seemed
a bit nervous and hectic at first as if he wanted to get it done
really fast. But throughout his performance he got more and more
relaxed and you could see that he is really enjoying the fans
and himself playing music for us. When he started playing his
first song, I was just so overwhelmed that I almost started crying
and so were some others. From that moment on, everyone was hypnotized
by John and his performance. I was sitting on the stage and I
was so close to him that I could have touched him. And I just
couldn't believe that I was so close to the person that has had
such a great influence on my personality and my attitude towards
music since so many years. It was the most wonderful and moving
moment of my life. He went on playing some of his old songs and
a lot of cover songs like: 'Modern Love' by David Bowie, a Joy
Division song and also 2 songs from his new album including 'Going
Inside'(which is my favourite song). He was really giving everything
he had and one time he stopped in the middle of a song and his
manager handed him some pill. He told us that he had just thrown
up in his mouth and that he is sick. And he was like:'Hey, actually
I am playing pretty good for a sick guy'. But we didn't care that
he had to interrupt some songs. His performance and just his whole
being are so natural. We felt like we are some really close friends-
almost like a huge family - meeting up with another great friend
who was playing songs for us. It was a really personal concert.
And his guitar playing and his voice were just awesome. I must
say, I actually like him a lot more live than on his records.
Because at that concert, there were no effects- it was just him,
his voice and his acoustic guitar and nothing else and it was
great. I really don't remember the exact order of the songs he
played or the exact titles. By times, I just kept looking at his
hands and how he played the guitar and I forgot everything around
me. I think I was in the 4th dimension he mentioned in Funky Monks
. It was just pure energy and vibrations and emotions. It was
beautiful.
He was done like after an hour already and when he went offstage,
we kept on shouting for him to come back and clapping our hands.
And of course he came back. I think he did 4 or 5 encores , it
was really cool. So , the whole gig lasted for like one and a
half hours or even almost 2. In the encores, he said something
personal before each of his songs. He played this R.E.M song and
he told us that he used to listen to that song over and over again
in his girl friend's car at the time when he had reached the lowest
point of his life and when he felt really bad- that was a very
emotional moment. He also played 'Lucky' by Radiohead and I really
liked his version of that song. Another song , he dedicated to
one if his friends who had died (guess he meant River Phoenix),
a song for his best friend Tori (I think that was her name). And
also a song he had written before he rejoined the Peppers that
has not been published and he said that that song had been written
by fame for him cuz it describes what fame did to him and his
life. In the end, he was asking us what songs to play and this
one girl shouted: 'Smiles from the streets!' and he was like 'I
don't remember how it starts' and he wanted the girl to come onstage
and show him. That was such a funny moment and we all started
laughing. He actually tried to play that song like 3 times and
messed it up. But we didn't care and it was a funny show !! But
finally, he managed to play it and when he started playing 'Your
pussy
.', everyone started screaming - it was just hilarious
!! He was so overwhelmed himself and was playing really hard that
he broke a string one time. It was just a very natural show. I
have never been to a gig like this. It was the best concert I
have ever attended !
After he left the stage, most people waited , hoping he would
come and give us autographs and we would get a chance to talk
to him and of course he came after a while. He is such a lovely
person and I can't say it enough: he is really so natural - even
more natural than most 'normal' people. He really came up to us
and started talking to us, smiling and hugging everyone and making
pictures. And when you talk to him, he really looks into your
eyes and really recognizes you. He was really patient and so nice
! He signed my BSSM cover and we made a picture and I also got
to talk to him. But worthwhile, so many fans were all standing
around him and wanting to make pics with him that sometimes he
didn't know which camera to look in and he was like:' Which camera
is it?' It made me laugh so bad.
So, after a while, he had to go but me and my friends still met
him again outside accidentally where he was waiting for his car.
And I got to talk to him again but he seemed to be pretty tired
already. He asked me if I had been at the Hamburg gig and he also
told me, that him and the Peppers will probably come to this festival
in UK this summer. My friend asked him if he would like to come
have dinner with us and he got so excited and started asking how
to get there and all. He really wanted to come and got so happy
but someone reminded him that he had an interview later that night,
so it didn't work out. It would have been so awesome !
When his car arrived, he thanked us all and said bye and drove
of.
I really must say: It was the greatest night ever for me. John
has played such an important part in my life since so many years
and I still can't believe that I had this great opportunity to
get to see him and enjoy his wonderful music. He is a true artist
and genius and a great inspiration to me. But the best thing is,
that he is such a kind and warm person and that he doesn't act
like a rock star. He is just himself and treats his fans with
respect. When I talked to him, I felt like I am talking to an
old friend whom I have been knowing my whole life. I didn't feel
shy or anything. It was just
there really is no word to describe
what I felt at that moment. That night, my friend said something
great:' that we live everyday like it doesn't mean anything, the
days just pass- but this day, we will never ever forget'. It will
be the best memory I have ever had and I thank all the people
who made it possible for me. I had such a great time in Paris.
Thanx for everything to Lina, Darya and J.T. ! It was wonderful
to share this experience with all of you ! And I think, I found
friends for life that night ! And most of all, I want to thank
John for sharing his beautiful music with us. Nothing can ever
make me feel better than watching you making music ! I can't wait
to see you again !
Love
to you all !
Mehrnaz #1439
Written in Cologne, Feb 5 2001 |
Mehrnaz
(right) & Lina
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