It's no secret that I love the ‘80s. Just check out any of my Friday Flashback posts for proof. And yeah, while I dig all things ‘80s, when it comes to music, I was always a big-hair, head-banging fan. Growing up, I'd crank the CD player... er, make that the tape player up to 11 as Twisted Sister's Dee Snider belted out "We're Not Gonna Take It!" My sister knew this. She listened to it. She knew I hated most mainstream poppy type music like WHAM! Or Boy George. And yet, she went and did it anyways.
I must've been a freshman in high school. She was a senior and one of her good friends Denise was in the school marching band, so I knew her from there. For my birthday that year, my sister decided to get me something special. Something I'd never done before. She knew I love music but I'd never been to an actual live concert before. So she bought me tickets to my first show ever.
Back in 1986, tickets prices were probably a lot lower than they are now, but still cost a pretty penny. Especially for high school students. So yes, it was definitely a nice gesture. Except she not only bought me a ticket, she bought herself a ticket. Okay, so I'll go with my sister to my first concert. I can live with that. Except... we were also going with her friend Denise, and Denise's boyfriend. Uh, okay. Little weird for me that I'd have to spend time with practically two strangers on my birthday, but okay. I could live with all of that except for one thing... the musical act.
So who'd we see? What was my first concert-going experience like? What horrendous act did my sister force me into under the guise of my birthday present? Something that would scar me still to this day? Sigh. She bought me tickets to... Madonna. Yep. During the big controversial "Like a Virgin" Tour no less. Oh, and for added fun, Teknotronic opened up playing the wonderfully poppy "Pump up the jams." Yeah, I really don't like dance music either.
But being a good little brother, I went. I feigned enjoyment and thanked her for the tickets. But I knew deep down she probably wanted to just go herself and didn't want to be a third wheel to her friend Denise and her date. Either that or my sis really doesn't know me too well.
I've only been to a handful of other concerts since then, mostly at fairgrounds or small arenas (Whitesnake, Black Crows, Tom Petty to name a few). Next month, however, I get to try again. My friend Bill snagged some tickets for an upcoming Iron Maiden show. But not only is it Maiden (who I really dig), but they're doing a retro tour, where they're playing all their hits from the ‘80s; even using the same type of stage sets they did from back then. Maybe I can fool my mind into thinking I'm back in high school attending my first rock concert. Yeah, I think my memories are already getting a little fuzzy. Madonna? Madonna who?
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3 Responses to “My Super Secret Shame”
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! I'm so friggin' jealous of you. I have LOVED Madonna since age 12 or 13 or so. I even had a BoyToy t-shirt that I think my dad threw out when I wasn't looking. LOL. She's my superhero role model for all-time. Great story too and cool sis you have. My brother is 4 years younger than me too ... so your sis and I must be about the same age?
Nothing to be ashamed about being an 80's fan. I'm one too. It's funny though that back then so many songs and videos were so controversial for our parents, but when you compare them to today's, they seem so tame.
@Paula - I, uh, think you completely missed the point of this story. Heh. Your jealous of me and I'm mortified and scarred by the whole encounter. Heh. And yeah, i guess you and my sis are pretty close in age.
@Mark - No no. Don't get me wrong. I'm not ashamed of being an '80s fan. Far from it! I'm proud of my being trapped in the Bubble Gum Decade! But for a big hair band fan like myself, going to a Madonna concert is just, well, wrong.