As you know, I'm trying to keep my blog a secret, and I write anonymously. This friend is one of those very few people I trusted with opening up how my true self went through all of the things I tell here. So I shared this link with him.
I remember telling him about this blog the very first time. We had met through the Queen, and all the stories I tell here were very relevant to him, as he was the bass player of a very popular band.
We were out with friends one night, and after we talked about this blog and I sent him the link, he said he had so much to do and had to go home. He texted me his first reactions to every single post all night, telling how he couldn't stop reading.
People who are not shy about appreciating others are always those you'd want to be around, trust me.
We had met two years ago at the annual party of a music magazine. All the music business people, and most of the artists were there.
My dear Queen was also invited, and we went there together in one of those nights were were out, partying. She was at a strange phase in her life. She had lost her mother 6 months ago, and following a deep grief, -all five stages of it- she had decided all that mattered in life was having a good time with your loved ones. She went through a complete transformation: she cut her hair very short, changed her mood significantly, and started going out almost every night, having fun and making people have hell of a good time. She always asked me to come, and I accepted gladly.
So started the days I partied the most in my life.
We had a deal which was never spoken: I was always having so much fun, but I avoided being very drunk on those nights. She always knew she could count on me.
He was on stage with his band that night, rocking out to some of their hits on their debut album. 24 years old, he was enjoying being the bass player and composer of all the songs of the band, which were right at the top of the charts, and this pop-rock band were the biggest sensation in the local scene at that time.
They had been on the cover of that music magazine several times that year. It was a typical, yet very inspiring success story:
They were from a relatively small town, released an EP and tried out breaking through the scene in the city, but it was a failure and they had decided to go back to their hometown; broke, defeated, and disappointed. On the day they were supposed to leave, a manager called them and said he believed in them, and he could arrange a major record label deal. He really did. My friend composed and wrote the lyrics to all the songs for the album, they worked with one of the best producers of the country, and their debut album was a massive success.
They started out playing at small clubs all around the country, couldn't believe the first time people sang along to their songs.
And now, they were the favorite band of so many fans, and also top sponsors, playing 25 big-production shows a month.
They came right to our table after they went off stage. They were long time fans of the queen, and they wanted to meet her. She was one of his main inspirations, and the sweet female singer of the band was no different. I can even tell she got excited the first time she met the Queen. We immediately clicked, and if someone saw us 1 hour later, they wouldn't believe that we had met just that night.
We had so much fun that night, and continued partying at the Queen's great house. We laughed, sang songs, and drank champagne until the sunrise. The Queen was making a toast, shouting: "Cheers to the band that made us excited again for the first time in a long, long time!". The singer was holding the queens' guitar right at that moment, and she started playing and singing one of the queen's classics.
The band had to go to another country in the morning, so the plan was to arrange their transportation right to the airport. I was on the phone with their tour manager, telling him not to worry, that they were drunk but I was there to make sure they left for the airport on time.
When I went back to the room after I hung up the phone, the plan had changed: The Queen also wanted to go to that show with the band.
So we did.
Following a typical evening I had left home to go to an event with the Queen, I had partied all night, not slept for 30 hours, was still drinking champagne in the plane, and going to another country to party more.
Oh I loved my life! :)
A lot happened since then.
We became very, very close friends with this band. Started going out together all the time. Most of those nights ended up at the Queen's house. We laughed and danced and drank a lot together. I witnessed countless amazing jam sessions during these spontaneously crowded parties, usually a rocker businessman would yell "let's go live!", and suddenly, all those wonderful people around me would start playing guitars or the piano, and singing all those songs that were soundtracks to my memories. I was always in awe of these valuable moments.
And sometimes, very profound conversations took place.
They had so much to talk about. Enjoying that newly earned success was one thing, but they had to face the shitty side of the industry. They were trying to figure out how to cope with all the negativity, and the Queen had gracefully overcome all those things 10 years ago, building a strong fan base, never giving in to industry impositions.
I watched how they listened to every valuable advice she gave, with sparks in their eyes.
All those days are in the past now. The Queen is in another phase in her life, and just like I am not a part of that phase, nor are the band.
I'm still close with them though, and we try to meet as often as we can. Every time, we remember those times, telling how much fun we had and what a strong figure she was in our lives, with a deep sigh.
A lot happened, and I need to tell every one of them. I just don't know where to start.
Next: The domino effect
