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