My brother
Back when I was a youngster my eldest brother was my hero. He was so cool with his black clothes, crimped hair, eyeliner, skinny jeans and biker jacket. I looked up to him and emulated his taste in music, clothes and make-up. This led me to becoming a mini-goth and, having access to my brother's music collection, I became a huge fan of The Cure, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Cult, Sisters of Mercy etc.

As I was still too young to go to gigs I used to stay up late when Drew went out, eagerly awaiting his return so I could question him and try to get an idea of what it was like to see a live band (what songs did they play? how close did you get? did you get to meet them?). He'd always have great stories about the ingenious ways he'd find to blag his way in for free and get backstage to meet the band, and he would always come home with some kind of souvenir, a towel, a setlist, a plectrum, which I would take in my little hands and shiver in awe at the greatness of holding such a valued item that only hours before had been in the hands of the gods. I couldn't wait until I was old enough to start going to gigs.

Fast forward a few years and I was finally old enough (well, I was 15 but could easily pass for over 18 if I applied enough of the old warpaint) and one of my favourites, The Cure, were coming to play in the Glasgow Barrowlands. We lived about 20 miles from there and I knew I would never be allowed to go to the big smoke on my own so I begged and pleaded for my brother to take me. Thing was, it was sold out by the time I heard about it and we had no money for tickets even if we had known earlier but a minor detail like that wasn't going to stop us.

On the afternoon of the gig Drew and I jumped the train to Glasgow and made our way to the Barras to see if there was some way we could blag our way in with the roadies. There were already loads of people queueing outside and there were a lot of security around that hindered our attempts to sneak in through the back door. We asked quite a few roadies but it seems we weren't the first to ask and they were unable to help anyway, they were under strict instructions not to let in the riff raff. I was disappointed to say the least but Drew wasn't disheartened, we went and got a bottle of cider and hung around outside the venue waiting for a miracle.

Several hours later and almost opening time we wandered up and down the (by now round the block) queue asking if anyone had spare tickets and wanted to take pity on us but to no avail. At this point the tour bus pulled up outside the main door and a dozen huge security guards formed a guard of honour between the bus door and the venue, holding back the screaming fans who'd just realised they were about to get their first glimpse of Robert Smith in the flesh.

I was trying to squeeze through the crowd with Drew so I could lay my own eyes on my hero when I suddenly lost Drew. A bit panicked in the crushing mob, I frantically scanned the faces around me and then I spotted him. My jammy brother had somehow managed to push through the security straight into the path of Robert Smith. I was dumbstruck! How the hell did he manage that? Being the cool individual that he his, my bro put out his hand and said "Hi Mr Smith, my sister and I couldn't get tickets for the gig, don't suppose you could put us on your guest list?"

Robert Smith asked his name and reached into his coat pocket. He brought out an envelope which he autographed and handed to my brother before pushing him aside and entering the venue. When Drew finally made his way through the security and back to my side he opened the envelope.

Inside were 2 tickets for the gig.

Length? he was pretty short actually...
(antigen is running away from something, Fri 17 Apr 2009, 5:02, 3 replies)

That's awesome!!
sounds like a nice guy.
Your brother sounds like a top person too. :)
(Poppet some assembly required., Fri 17 Apr 2009, 5:29, closed)

after a very late decision to do so
The missus and I went to see The Cure in Melbourne when they were last here.

I have no stories of meeting the band. I didn't even try to blag anything (being so far up the back that we needed oxygen masks).

All I can say is this...anyone who has both the stamina and such a rich back catalogue which allows them to play for 3hrs (almost non-stop) is a top bloke in my book.
( bacon and egg roll is going to be big downunder, Fri 17 Apr 2009, 5:47, closed)

I've heard he's a very decent fellow
But it's always nice to get confirmation!
(louveciennes , Volvospotter, Sat 18 Apr 2009, 0:37, closed)