Fanzine:A Red Rocks Story

From PoliceWiki
A Red Rocks Story

By: shyvixen
Events: July 21, 2008


My story begins on Sunday July 20th with a very festive Nutter gathering at the Table Mountain Inn in Golden. I booked a room at the Inn even though I don't live terribly far away. But I plan on having some drinks and the thought of trying to drive home on dark and winding roads doesn't appeal to me. So I arrive in the late afternoon and check into my room. I'm really nervous, I know most of these people through the forum but we've never met in person. What are they going to think of me? Only one way to find out and I head downstairs. The first Nutter I get to meet is the famous Conroy! Woooo! And then the lovely Larissa joins us. SC.net power-couple sockii and vespapod arrive looking fabulous. A couple of my Denver buddies Sariah and Pecos arrive with a special guest—Jeff Seitz! Jeff is Stewart’s right-hand man, I knew Pecos had invited him but I’m stunned when I see he actually showed up—what an honor! We head into the dining room. Dinner was great and things got even better when PoliceRule and Dive Mistress made their entrance looking tanned and glamorous after their rafting adventure. Just in time for dessert, NancyRose, Dirty Martini, and GinaSuperCat arrive on the scene having escaped the perils of Utah without so much as a hair out of place. The evening was like a version of StewartCopeland.net Live! We close down the restaurant and head outside to talk even more before exhaustion overtakes us and we head our separate ways for the night. Well, except for Larissa and I who head across the street for a nightcap—hee!

I awake early on Monday having had very little sleep and head home. Miss Sparkles the cat is Not Amused at having been left alone all night and lets me know it. After placating her with some tuna I settle down for a nap. Just as I’m about to doze off I get a series of urgent text messages—we’re going to see a sound check! After a few phone calls it settled that we’re to meet at the Red Rocks box office at 4:15. I go pick up my buddy Sariah and her friend Jane and head to Red Rocks. We all gather at the box office along with some other groups who are also going to the sound check. Fleets of vans arrive to shuttle people up the hill to the backstage area. When we arrive, we hike uphill to the stage urged on by a special Conroy “Woooo!”

As I go around the corner I see sitting over on the side of the stage Sting and STEWART! This is the first time I’ve seen Stewart in person. At that moment, I’m not anxious or shy, just profoundly happy. When Stewart spots his peeps he bounds over and is surrounded by his adoring fans. It’s a wonderful sight. Andy comes out on stage with his guitar, Sting picks up the bass and Stewart gets behind the drums. They bring groups of people up on stage to sing with the band. When I hear the opening chords of Message in a Bottle it hits me what I'm seeing. It’s The Police! I’ve loved this band for almost 30 years and I’m standing a few feet away from them as they play. I never imagined I’d ever get a moment like this. I wasn’t expecting to get emotional, but before I know it, tears are streaming down my face.

The Nutters are the third group up on stage. They ask for volunteers to sing, when am I going to get this chance again?? Squee! Sockii, Chatchka, NancyRose and I take our places at the mike...

Sting turns to us and asks what song should they play. What?? I want to say “Can’t Stand Losing You” but I’m too paralyzed. Somehow “Too Kool To Kalypso” gets mentioned. Sting plays a couple of bars and teases Stewart. Stewart mentions he was on Top of The Pops. It’s a good-natured exchange—AND I’M STANDING RIGHT THERE! Sting turns back to us and says, “How about Can’t Stand Losing You?” and I squee! Luckily, I’m too dehydrated to tssst. And here we go! This is the song that turned me on to The Police almost 30 years ago. I’ve been singing this song since I was 13 years old. I don’t need no stinkin’ teleprompter! I sing my heart out. I’m singing my favorite Police song with The Police! I may look like a complete idiot, but it doesn’t matter. I want to hang on to every moment for as long as I can. After the song is over Sting turns to us and shakes all of our hands (Sting touched my hand! My friend Wendy is going to be soooo jealous!) and tells Stewart “Your fans rock, Stewart.” It was a sweet moment. Thank you Sting. I linger for a moment by the drums. I want to say something to Stewart but I just can’t. My shyness has returned with a vengeance. sigh

After we leave the stage some of us have to get shuttled back down the hill to move our cars. After finally arriving at the correct parking lot, I now have to make my way up the Red Rocks Staircase of Doom Part I to get to the Shiprock Grill and meet up with the gang. Luckily, I see the group halfway up the stairs and we all make our way up the rest of the way. The Shiprock Grill is another festive Nutter gathering. I get a chance to catch up with empty and Pluto who I met at the ill-fated Philly show-that-never-was.

Time for the show! I was able to catch the second half of Elvis Costello. I’ve never been a huge fan of Elvis Costello, but he was sounding pretty good and I enjoyed his show. Before I know it I’m hearing ‘Get Up Stand Up’. This is it. And then it’s Gong Time. I’ve waited so long to hear that gong. It’s beautiful. It was a great show. Every once in awhile I stop and take a look at the gorgeous rock formations and stare out at the city lights. A big red moon comes up over the horizon…

I spend most of Tuesday trying not to think too much about the show that night. Trying not to feel sad that this is the last show for me (little did I know!). Trying not to get too nervous about Flag Duty. Trying to write a paper for school—HA!

It’s back to Red Rocks. I get there early and spend some time hiking around the park. It’s so pretty! I kick myself for not coming here more often. Back up the Red Rocks Stairs Of Doom where I meet a very nice English couple that now live in Fort Collins. They tell me about seeing The Police at Wembley during the Ghost In The Machine Tour. I see Dive, DirtyMartini, PoliceRule, NancyRose, GinaSuperCat and Chatchka outside the visitor center. They all compliment me on my Watermelon and Happiness footwear (Pink loafers with green Ralph Lauren Polo Ponies) I have worn just for this occasion.

My emotions are all over the place tonight excited, nervous, sad. I drink about half a beer and eat a few potato chips but that’s all I can handle. It’s time for the show. I make my way down to the 4th row with The Flag in my pack. I am A Woman On A Mission. I am here to wave The Flag of Copelandia and represent SC.net. It’s truly a proud moment for me as a Stewart Copeland fan.

I find my seat and spot Conroy a couple of rows in front of me. I know I’ve got lots of Nutters around me and that makes me feel less anxious. This is gonna be fun! Elvis was great last night but tonight he’s even better! Between sets I chat with a couple of girls from Boulder, the city where I used to live. A lot of folks around me are curious about The Flag. I try to be a good ambassador for Copelandia. Except for the Uptight Couple to my left who Do Not Approve, everyone is very positive about Stewart’s flag. “Get Up Stand Up”—oh god, this is it. All these months I’ve been waiting for this. GONG!!!! And here we go again!

It obvious early on that Stewart and I are going to have Flag issues. There’s a cymbal directly in his line of sight. But I can see him looking for the Flag. What a sweetheart! I do my best, in a non-asshat fashion, of course. It’s all good. The show is INCREDIBLE! Watching Stewart play is the best. They’re all great tonight! Demolition Man rocks again, King Of Pain is vastly better than the night before. Sting comes over to our side of the stage and does a little shimmy, much to the delight over the Boulder Girls. The Boulder Girls are so sweet, they offer to switch places with me so maybe Stewart can see The Flag. It doesn’t really help, darn it! I concentrate on enjoying the show and getting The Flag on the big screen. I know Stewart will see me eventually.

I have to question Andy’s fashion sense a bit (nice, um, blouse?) but it’s ok. And he can go to Idaho as often as he wants, I’m happy to listen. He was getting lots of love from the Red Rocks crowd and from his girl Sally.

Before I know it, it’s over. Stewart finds his flag (Thank you STEWART!). But it’s over and they’re gone. Crap. But I’ve had such a great time. All the way home I keep thinking about how amazing the three of them sound together. Maybe after they’ve had a rest after Tourzilla they’ll want to work together again. Someday. Maybe. sigh

But whatever Stewart decides to do from here on I’m on board. I’m even more of a Stewart Copeland fan than ever before.

I keep thinking back to when The Police reunited in 2007 and announced this tour. I was going through one of the bleakest times in my life. I was in the middle of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and my father had just died (He died the day before the reunion tour was announced). I needed some kind of bright spot in my life and The Police reunion was just the bright spot I needed. The thought of going to a concert kept me focused on getting better and gave me something to feel hopeful about. The things that have happened to me over the last 18 months, the people I’ve met and the places I’ve gone have far exceeded any expectations I ever had. I’m so glad I got to share this experience with all of you. My only wish is that more Nutters could have shared the Red Rocks experience with me.



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