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Ten Thousand Motels wrote:
It's kind of funny how people can get so excited over a mere rock n roll band.

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Gazza wrote:
The "group" pix taken above were at lunchtime in our hotel just after we'd all checked out. Some of our party were flying on to El Ejido, some back to England and Mary and myself on to Dublin. As our flight wasnt scheduled to leave until 6.35 pm, we had a couple of hours to kill.

The plan was we'd go for some lunch, maybe take a quick look around the Stones hotel (maybe for 30 mins or so) and then back to the hotel to get a taxi to the airport at around 3.30. We got to the hotel around 2.30 (hadnt managed to get any lunch) which was about a 20 minute walk from our own hotel.

Didnt expect much to be happening, but I figured something may be possible when the first person I saw as soon as I walked in the door was Bobby Keys, who was walking out with his luggage. So, we decided to discreetly hang around in the lobby, near to the elevators (a follow on form our Lisbon experience). Chuck Leavell came past, seemed to remember us from Lisbon and said hello again. A very laid back Bernard Fowlwer was then checkin'out so we had a chat with him for a couple of minutes, got a pic of him with Mary, and then went back to where we were. The hotel staff were very relaxed. I think they could sense we werent going to plague anyone or be overbearing, as after we'd said hello to anyone (or got a pic) we'd just leave them alone.

Thankfully, there were only a small number of people in the lobby area, which helps matters greatly. It reduces the risk of some demanding over-enthusiastic idiot ruining things for everyone.

A few band personnel such as Arnold Dunn and assorted bodyguards were hovering around, some of the horn section were leaving, so we figured the Stones must still be in the hotel and due to leave relatively soon. The issue was that, even though we had a great vantage point, would we get to actually see them as it was now past 3 pm and we were getting pushed for time. We were sitting down again when Cohl walked past us. I gave Mary a nudge, and she quite audibly sneered "Rat bastid" in his general direction. Fortunately no one heard. LOL.

Chuck came past with his wife, finally leaving the hotel and turned and waved goodbye to us. Very nice of him. Then we saw Lisa emerge into the lobby and shuffled over to speak to her before she went out the door. She was really sweet. I told her (in all sincerity) that I'd never heard her sing anything as well as she'd done "Night Time" the night before. That definitely secured the two photos we got. LOL. Darryl Jones came out of the elevator,laden down with bags (you'd think they'd get someone to do this for him) shook hands and we spoke to him for a minute or so.

By this stage, the only band personnel left to come out were the Stones themselves. It was now about 3.30. We'd decided to bite the bullet and stay until 4, cab it to the hotel, get the driver to wait til we grabbed our luggage and then go to the airport. Cohl came out of the bar again and squinted across the lobby at Mary's "Too Tough to Die" t-shirt. She decided to walk over to him, and as she got there someone handed him a cellphone. He gestured to her to wait a second, finished his call and then they had a brief chat. I said hello to him and wished him a safe trip. I'd no time to discuss ticket prices or tarps!! Mary said that she'd heard him say to the person on the phone that "Mick is leaving at 4 pm". Christ, are we going to have time for this or what, I thought.

So we stood at the top of the steps in the lobby, watching elevators descend and being disappointed when "ordinary people" emerged from them. At this point, Charlie emerges from the side of the lobby and walks down the steps about 5 yards from us. Having had our moment with him two days ago, we decided not to bother him again, but the immaculate white suit he had on couldnt pass without comment.

Me - Hello again, Charlie
Charlie - (recognising us) - Hi there!
Me - Nice suit, mate!
Charlie (laughing and looking down at it) - Thanks!

At this point, I'm standing about ten yards in front of the elevator, and Mary is in front of me, talking to me and with her back to it. 3.40 pm. The elevator opens, and my mug must have been a picture, as my jaw drops and I simply utter "Oh... Fuck!" Mick emerges from the elevator with bodyguard in tow, who sees my camera, makes sure he's in between us both and looks at us and says "no photos please". Fair enough. This I expected and had been told about. Mick is TOTALLY focussed on getting down the stairs, through the lobby and out the door without making eye contact with anyone. As he gets to within five feet of us, we say hi to him, he turns very quickly, says 'hi' back and on he goes, only to stop briefly on the bottom of the stair to turn and say something to a couple of girls (!!). Like the rest of the band when you see them first, your first impression is how small and thin they all look. Mick obviously looks healthier than the rest, but there really is nothing of him.

That only leaves Keith & Woody. We're surprised Woody hasnt emerged and are half expecting Keith to be way behind everyone else. A slightly larger crowd has gathered, so the staff politely ask us to move to the side a little - presumably so as whoever is coming next can get out OK. It's now almost 3.50. More elevator doors open and various people emerge. I am beginning to hate them. Then, all of a sudden, the elevator descends again, it opens (it probably took about a second, but it seemed to take hours), and my next words were a quite audible gasp of "Oh Fucking Christ..". Keith's standing there, in a cool waistcoat, with shades and hat, looking as cool as fuck, standing against the back of the elevator with his legs at an angle in that little pose he has. Like I said earlier, an image I'll take to my grave.

Out he comes with the 2 bodyguards, and in the space of about 5- 10 seconds a few of us get a quick handshake, and a reply to our various greetings of 'hi keith', 'we love ya, keith' etc. I have NO idea what he said. I have also NO idea what his face was like. All I can remember is a pair of shades and a hat walking past me and shaking hands with a limb that seemed to emerge from underneath them. Any other attempt at recalling detail is gone. If you'd told me that my head had exploded, I wouldnt have known. It was REALLY too difficult to have got a pic at close proximity with 2 guys beside him, but I got one of him walking through the lobby.

We hung around for another ten minutes and the absence of pretty much any Stones people running around suggested that we'd missed Woody, so we decided to end our expedition on that little high note and try and make our plane. The lunch would have to wait another time....




[Edited by Gazza]

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time is on my side wrote:
Just got back from Madrid. Really had a great TIME there. It's a beautiful, wonderful city with bars, great restaurants, flamenco shows (my wife dragged me to a few), and world class art all over the place just to touch the surface. It felt good to be back again and can't wait to return to Spain. I'll be back there again hopefully next year.

We had planned this trip before the STONES had announced they were coming. The dates just happened to coincide. It was an unexpected, incredible surprise. An added bonus to our trip.

Before seeing the STONES, we had the great pleasure of meeting and having a short greeting session with fellow rock offers GAZZA and GTRM. I instantly recognized them from their photos (they were with four other people who we did not know- it seems they post on another message board). Everyone was very nice and gracious to us. Thank you all for being so kind. Both me and my wife had been drinking heavily at some nice spots near the Prado (man what great art that place has!!) so we did not arrive until late in the afternoon. Pictures do indeed exist of this meeting. Unfortunately, the picture CD that my wife made for me was not in my suitcase when I returned. It's unclear what happened to it. My wife is staying in Spain to do some graduate studies & will not return until August (she has the digital camera and memory stick). As soon as I'm able, I'll post the pictures here (for what I was able to see of them, they really turned out great so it's a little disappointing that I'm not able to post them here now).

GAZZA and GTRM had to leave as they had GA tickets while we had seats so we were in no hurry (we continued to drink and eat). A shame it was such a short visit. Our tickets were only average (we had great seats but got screwed- they told us the tickets were being mailed so I assumed that they would be arriving then after further inquiries it turned out there would be further delays so we got the order cancelled). We picked the tickets up in Spain and they actually turned out better than I thought they would be.

On the metro ride to the stadium, it was complete chaos. A pick pocket stole my wallet. Fortunately, I never carry lots of cash in my wallet (only enough to last a day, the rest I keep back at the hotel so they only got about 100 euros). They did get one credit card which we immediately cancelled. I had my wallet in my front pocket with my hand right on top of it. Because of this, I was able to save a few other credit cards and my driver's license as this fell on the floor. Got to admit, I was a little shaken by the experience. After cancelling the one credit card, I went looking for more beer.

For those that criticize the STONES and especially, Keith's performaces, all I can do judge fom what I personally see. I've seen them four times on this tour (2005, 2006, 2007 in Atlanta twice, Charlotte, and Madrid at three arenas and one outdoor show) and each time the performances by the STONES have been great. Keith and the STONES were on fire in Madrid. Gazza in your review you mentioned Wanna Hold You. I thought Keith played Happy and did a very good job of it. Surprisingly, I enjoyed both of Keith's songs.

My only disappointment was not seeing any songs performed I haven't heard before (still hoping for Sweet Virginia), an average seat location (though much better than expected), and seeing Miss You being perfomed on the B stage. Also, I was kind of hoping to see either CYHMK or MR (got neither). Small complaints went you get SSC, ADTL, Monkey Man, and Sway in the same show). in all a great evening that seem to go by very quickly.

If this is my last time in seeing the STONES, I thought I went out with a bang in more ways than one.

GAZZA, GTRM, and the other four we met- thanks again for your hospitality. It was to have met you.

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GotToRollMe wrote:


That's not even taking into consideration the actual two SHOWS we saw in Lisbon and Madrid - both extraordinary performances, surpassing even the '06 Atlantic City show AND the three '98 MSG Bridges To Babylon shows that I'd seen. Not to mention the GREAT people I met this week: JoStorm, and timeisonmyside and his lovely wife from Rocks Off; Paulywaul, Beast, BarRoomQueen, LondonStone, and Mr. Jimmy from IORR; and David and Jennifer from Scotland - and you've got the makings of one memorable week.

What a blast it was hanging out with JoStorm, and what a lovely person. Thanks so much for the gifts, Jo. That was so thoughtful of you. And let's not forget the brownies - you're an excellent baker...lol! I only wish we'd had more time with you, but family comes first. I hope I get to see you again - you really are one in a million, my friend!


[Edited by GotToRollMe]

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time is on my side wrote:
Gazza in your review you mentioned Wanna Hold You. I thought Keith played Happy

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Jumacfly wrote:
Fuckin great thread!!
many thanks, you all rock!!!

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albert wrote:


That goes for me too........


gr,
Albert
Holland

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Gazza wrote:
Home bakin' a la Jo :



(Note the two girls in the background who are so overcome by our presence that they decided to put on a lesbo show for us..)
[Edited by Gazza]

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GotToRollMe wrote:

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Gazza wrote:

"Gazza - The Polio Years"

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GotToRollMe wrote:
Did a little work on this one to bring it closer.
Keith, slipping away from us in the lobby of the Westin in Madrid.



Can ya tell I just don't wanna let this thread go? LOL...

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Gazza wrote:
Home bakin' a la Jo :



[Edited by Gazza]

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jostorm wrote:
Here you go, Martha, it's from Nigella Lawson's "How to be a domestic goddess",and makes between 40 and 50 brownies. The piece of nutmeg I used to grind and mix into the mixture before pouring into the baking tray was about 3cm x 1cm x 1cm big and was perhaps slightly too large, as after about 30 minutes of eating one you found absolutely everything hilarious (including the daily taxpayer's expenditure in Iraq) and could barely walk. I think it is partly responsible for the caption called "Gazza-the Polio years"...

375 g soft unsalted butter
375 g best quality dark chocolate
6 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
500 g caster sugar
225 g plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
300 g chopped walnuts


< 60 mins Brownies
Nuts Brownies
Low Sodium Brownies
Comfort Food Brownies
Preheat the oven to 180C.
Line your approximatley 33 x 23 x 5 1/2cm brownie pan with foil or baking paper.
Melt the butter and chocolate together in a large heavy based saucepan.
In a bowl beat the eggs with the sugar and vanilla.
Measure the flour into another bowl and add the salt.
When the chocolate mixture has melted, let it cool a bit before beating in the eggs and sugar mixture, and then the nuts and flour.
Beat to combine and then scrape out of the saucepan into the lined brownie pan.
Bake for about 25 minutes.
When its's ready, the top should be dried to a paler brown speckle, but the middle still dark and dense and gooey.
Keep checking the brownies as they cook; remember that they will continue to cook as they cool.


[Edited by jostorm]

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GotToRollMe wrote:
Did a little work on this one to bring it closer.
Keith, slipping away from us in the lobby of the Westin in Madrid.



Can ya tell I just don't wanna let this thread go? LOL...

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jostorm wrote:
Here you go, Martha, it's from Nigella Lawson's "How to be a domestic goddess",and makes between 40 and 50 brownies. The piece of nutmeg I used to grind and mix into the mixture before pouring into the baking tray was about 3cm x 1cm x 1cm big and was perhaps slightly too large, as after about 30 minutes of eating one you found absolutely everything hilarious (including the daily taxpayer's expenditure in Iraq) and could barely walk. I think it is partly responsible for the caption called "Gazza-the Polio years"...

375 g soft unsalted butter
375 g best quality dark chocolate
6 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
500 g caster sugar
225 g plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
300 g chopped walnuts


< 60 mins Brownies
Nuts Brownies
Low Sodium Brownies
Comfort Food Brownies
Preheat the oven to 180C.
Line your approximatley 33 x 23 x 5 1/2cm brownie pan with foil or baking paper.
Melt the butter and chocolate together in a large heavy based saucepan.
In a bowl beat the eggs with the sugar and vanilla.
Measure the flour into another bowl and add the salt.
When the chocolate mixture has melted, let it cool a bit before beating in the eggs and sugar mixture, and then the nuts and flour.
Beat to combine and then scrape out of the saucepan into the lined brownie pan.
Bake for about 25 minutes.
When its's ready, the top should be dried to a paler brown speckle, but the middle still dark and dense and gooey.
Keep checking the brownies as they cook; remember that they will continue to cook as they cool.


[Edited by jostorm]

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Gazza wrote:
Isnt there one 'ingredient' missing?

The "polio" picture was from Lisbon, not Madrid, but I see your point.....

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