She Said...the who

Stacy's story:

I grew up with The Who -- I remember listening to Debbie's (my sister) cassette that had Boris the Spider on it and thinking that was the coolest song I had ever heard -- at that point in my short life.

I've seen concert footage and interviews, retrospectives and numerous countdowns that included them. I know that Pete Townshend is a guitar GOD and has been instrumental in the influence of all those that came after them. But, I never really considered going to see them in person.

Now years ago, in Philadelphia there was a double bill -- The Who, friday night - Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes, saturday night. Can you believe that I couldn't find one person to go with me to both shows?? Even Terry (before we started dating) declined the offer. I was a bit bummed, but no matter -- at that point Jimmy and The Crowes were much more important to me. So, I skipped Pete & Co.

Fast forward, 7 years ... and one less band member and the time had come for us to travel to see them. Terry was ecstatic about this concert. He talked about this for months - pulled out the tickets numerous times to show them off like a proud Papa. It was getting old. Yes, we are going to see them - settle down. During the week leading up to the concert, Terry kept asking, "Are you totally excited or what?" I was like, "yeah, okay - this will be cool," but really no more than that. Why? I have no idea.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I cannot pass up seeing just about any band playing live. I live for concerts - the excitement, the loudness, the singing, dancing, jamming....there isn't ONE aspect of live performance I do not like. However, this was the first concert (or serious outing) Terry & I have gone on together since we had Trevor. I wasn't worried at all about leaving him - he was with Claudia for crying out loud...he's obsessed with her and I knew he wouldn't have one problem being with her for a whole day. But maybe there was something in the back of my head that just made me a bit reluctant...could be.

But we couldn't have had a better day -- there was no rush, no stress and total excitement.

We had a 2.5 hour drive ahead of us with some looming rain clouds - which finally hit - thunder lightening and the downpour... would it do this in Fulda? Terry was like, NO WAY! He had absolute confidence that clear skies would be all around just for the concert. Terry carried the buzz for all of us...He was out of his skin - couldn't wait! It was a really wonderful thing to see someone so jazzed.

There was one point along our drive that I think had all three of us concerned. The rain storm that was following us. Then, a car accident clean up site - on the side of the autobahn - the engine...but the car? Up the side of the hill in a pack of shrubs and bushes...that wasn't good. Next, we saw a house fire being put out. What the...?! What's next and will we be okay?

But as Terry predicted, Fulda was just lovely. And seriously - what a really beautiful, sleepy little town. I cannot wait to go back to explore it some more. We had time to walk a bit, we had THE BEST food for lunch at a place called The Romantica (italian bistro) and had some beers and espresso. By this time, we were ready to head to the stadium and get this thing started. Terry's enthusiasm was now contagious and both myself and Michael were getting anxious to see one of the most important people in Rock's history...yes, this IS going to be wicked cool.

The concert was situated on an old US airbase and trust me when I say, this was nothing fancy. It was totally a temporary stage set up in the middle of a huge area of fields. No matter. It was open air and no seating assignments, although, there were stadium bleachers set up, that by the time we arrived had been completely filled. This was not boding well for our desire to reach the front of the stage. But I had instructed the guys - just like I did with Terry at the Werchter Festival in Belgium - WHATEVER YOU DO - NO MATTER WHAT MAY HAPPEN - DO NOT LET GO OF THE BACK OF MY SHIRT! I was going to get us to the front, just like I always do.

But there wasn't any rush, like I said, this was a stress-free day...it was awesome. We pursued the stands (all 2 of them) - made our way to the beer truck, looked around, saw people sitting on the ground reserving their spots and noticed that the front was not packed at all...as a matter of fact, we were able to walk right up to the left front, in front of the speakers and slowly eased our way to the center ... we didn't make it all the way center, but it was way better than even I had anticipated.

At this time, we also learned that there was an opening band -- this was a bit of a controversy since Terry was not able to find any info on supporting bands on this tour, but I couldn't believe that they wouldn't have one. They did - and Terry nearly had a heart attack when he found out it was The Cult. *time for a tangent*


Terry is a huge fan of the whole 80s hair bands and groups I likely never heard of before. HE has this habit, it only happens after a night of successful boozing, when he pulls out the music in search of the perfect jam. It takes him a while to find it, 10 seconds of a song here, half a song there, on and on. Well, for some time, his jam was She Sells Sanctuary but The Cult. I had never heard of this band before, never heard this song before, but at this point, I do honestly believe that I have heard this one song at least, REALLY, at least 1,000 times. Now, we find out we are going to see them...we're both a bit stoked.


Okay...the excitement is circling the area...everyone is a buzz...lots of folks wearing really old concert shirts...we're up front, The Cult is opening...Terry goes to get some beer...lightening strikes, thunder rolls and the downpour begins. People start running for cover...the umbrellas come out, rain ponchos are thrown over heads...and Michael and I stand there, cracking up at each other, pointing at how soaked we are...and I mean SOAKED. We looked like we had just stepped out of the shower.

After, literally 5 - 10 minutes of absolute pouring rain...it clears. Terry comes back with a fistful of beer and dry as a bone.
We are having a blast & we are ready to ROCK!






The Cult comes out and blows both me and Michael away -- neither of us are familiar with the band (other than the tangent mentioned above) and there were really really killer.

Terry offers the bass player a beer and he is all like, "Thanks. Kinda busy right now." Cool. We are close enough for contact! I decide to make a WC and beer run before they finish and naturally that is when they play the one song I know. Ah well...I was still rocking out...it was a really perfect opening to what was to be the ultimate concert experience for all of us.

And then...after all the anticipation, excitement and buzz, the thrill began...by 2 men, in their 60s, walking onto a stage and a crowd that roars like I had never heard before. I'm totally rocked by 2 rock legends. Blown away by how surreal this all was...Pete Townshend? Roger Daltrey? 100 feet away from us? This is really way too cool. I'm LOVIN' IT! Out come the classics...everyone is singing and dancing along, shouting...riding the wave of ecstasy. Yeah...HELL YEAH! LONG LIVE ROCK!

And they played and played. Pete looks at Roger and asks him, "Can you hear her?" and points off to the right side of the audience. Cool...but not to be out done...I scream, "Roger, what about me?" He walks over to our side of the stage and says, "Yes, I can hear you too, love." OH MY GAAAAWD! Roger Daltrey was talking to me. And dudes...he was lookin' gooood. For a man that age and from the distance that I was standing and looking at the photos...the guy has a body on him...just look at those arms!

Things from that point on go wonky -- Terry threw my bra on stage...then his Eagles hat - it hit the stage, but then landed in that no man's land between audience and performer. They kept playing...they kept rocking...and we were all in a hysterical state of bliss. And then, the end came and we were all bummed. But, for 2 1/2 - 3 hours -- life was unbelievable..

Terry decided to try to get his hat back by talking with the blonde-y security guy in no man's land. He just shook his head, "no way." Terry is totally bummed. I'm all like, "let me try." I lean over, get the dude's attention and start talking away. "Hey, that hat down there is my husbands. Any way of getting it back?" No problem. Terry is thrilled he got his hat back, as it now considered the Eagles hat that hit The Who stage.

Michael at this point, I do believe, is ready to get back to the car and start our journey home. Where we had been standing for the show was just inside to the backstage steps that lead to the stage. We all took notice of this earlier, but it resonated with Terry at this particular moment. He sees an older couple talking to a security person. The security person walks away and the woman starts to pass between two gates that leads to the backstage area. Bless him, Terry actually listened to me after all these years. "If you act like you belong, no one will question you. If you have the confidence to be there, no one will bother you." He hooks arms with the woman and passes swiftly and safely through the gates. Michael and I look at each other incredulously, not believing what Terry had just accomplished. "C'mon, Mishy, we gotta go!" and I head to the break in the gates. *time for a tangent*

Up until this point, Michael was in there with us having a really good time. He hadn't heard of The Cult before, but he dug it. Now, this guy is a regular shmoe like you and me. He drinks and parties and knows how to have a good time...to a certain degree. I think he nearly lost it when he saw what we were about to do. Being the good, law abiding German that he is, this is a major no-no in most circles. But, he's one that can hang and bless his heart he did. Geesh, he didn't have much choice considering his two passengers (what I am sure he considered) did the unthinkable.

So, there we are...walking around the backstage area. I check out the buses (Becky, sound familiar?) and Terry and Michael meet up with some dude also hanging out. He's an American married to a German and he's waiting for Pete Townshend to come out of his trailer. "That's his trailer? It seems so retro." This thing looked like an old Zephyr camper trailer. It's conspicuousness seemed so blatant, like "who the hell does that belong to?"...and for some reason, unreasonable that that is what Pete would hang in. But it all makes sense in retrospect.

The other dude had to go because his wife didn't want to wait around any longer. Terry perused the caravan of buses and trailers and temporary eating tents. Michael is getting antsy but is curious and take a quick peek around. I'm just milling around like I own the place. Then...a man starts putting stuff into the car trunk that is parked in front of Pete's trailer. Terry starts to walk near the car and Michael says to me, "you might want to get your camera ready." Ready? Ready for what? Like we are actually going to see the rock guitar god and legend - Pete Townshend. I switch the darn thing on, start walking towards Terry and Michael and I'll be damned if Pete didn't come out and start getting into his car.

HOLY CRAP-OMILE!!! Terry starts taking about something, Pete was all like, "Where are you from?" Terry says, "Philadelphia." Small pregnant pause, I step forward and start babbling like a fool: "All my son and I have heard about for the last 6 months is Terry talking about coming to this show...."..."......some other stupid stuff....."......"can I take your photo?"

Pete steps out from behind the car door towards Terry and Pete starts to put his arm around him...this is SO funny...out of the left corner of my eye, Michael makes a bee line for the other side of Pete and says to me as he passes me, "I am getting in on this!"

Picture taken...everyone is shaking hands...I think, he gets into his car and starts talking on his cell phone (probably to security asking why the 3 of us were there) and we start to walk away. I turn, take a photo of his rental car...and Michael is now able to wrangle us back to his car. We literally take 5 steps away when all of a sudden we hear Terry scream (not unlike a 13 year old girl groupie) "AAAAH MAAAA GAAAAAAAWD! I MET PETE FRICKIN' TOWNSHEND!" and that is what we heard for the next hour or so in the car, until he passed out.

Now...I cannot stress enough how surreal, fast and blearily that last portion of our evening went. Terry and I keep asking each other questions of the details of our encounter with Pete. I do not remember hearing Pete speak, I don't remember seeing hands being shaken...I don't remember all the stupid stuff I said. But it doesn't matter...I've got the proof that it happened and that we all met him.

Terry, dear little grasshopper, you have learned your lessons well and have officially bypassed your master of stealth and deception and have moved onto the next level. I have to honestly say that I do not think I would have had the desire to do what he did, or to make what happened happen. He's learned from me well and I am very proud...and wicked psyched that we all met PETE FRICKIN' TOWNSHEND!


photos from the whole day:
Saturday, June 9, 2007
The Who - Fulda, DE