80s matchbox b-line shoe disaster
This was the latest in a long line of really obscure memorabilia I picked up.

Being a lanky git, I became quite accustomed to being smacked in the head by the DMs of passing crowd surfers in the mosh pits of various gigs, because the difference in height to other gig-goers makes you a highly susceptible to this form of attack. After a while, I worked out ways of plotting my revenge against those naive folk who attempt to crowd surf, revenge consisting of removing their shoes lobbing them back in the direction from which they came. After a few years I became adept at the art of redistributing the crowd-surfers' footwear.

So, imagine my surprise when, at an 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster gig at the Louisiana in Bristol, the lead singer had a go a crowd surfing. He cruises past me, giving me just enough time to remove one of his Adidas. Shoe in hand, I had to get a train back to Cheltenham cos I had a lecture the next day, so I left the gig.

But I couldn't find the train station. So, I found myself wondering around Bristol, very lost and slightly drunk, clinging on to The Lead Singer from 80s Matchbox B-Line Disasters' shoe.

I managed to make my way back to the gig, only to find the now single-shoed and highly dissatisfied Lead Singer of 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster hanging round in the bar. It turned out it was his only pair of shoes for the entire tour, and I gave myself up and reunited him with said footwear. He was quite grateful, if not a little suspicious.

Probably the single best bit of obscure memorabilia I've ever had, even if I couldn't keep it.
( krang, Fri 5 Nov 2004, 23:35, Reply)