mambojoe

The first time was backstage at a show in New Jersey – late 90’s. My best friend knew the people working the sound booth. When the show ended he took me near the booth so he could say hello to his friends. They slapped backstage passes on both of us. We went into a reception room and waited with radio contest winners. We waited about an hour, but the whole band came out and signed stuff for us and we’re very friendly. I think it was Simon, however, who cracked a joke about the radio contest winners, saying with a smile, “Do you even know who we are?”

The second time was following the Radio City show in New York – Wild Mood Swings tour. Somehow we got word about the bar that Robert was going to after the show. We went to the bar and Robert came in soon after with a small entourage. I remember sitting at the bar and seeing him in the men’s room with the door propped open by photographers who were taking his picture while he fixed his hair in the mirror. My friend and I (same friend from the 1st event) waited in our seats at the bar because Robert had to pass right by us to get back to his table. As he passed by, we told him how great the show was. He signed a CD insert for me which I still have to this day.

I had the opportunity to perform in a tribute to The Cure in the Miami Hard Rock Cafe in 2002. Our band, The Japanese Babies, played 4 songs, one of which I got to sing lead vocal on.

Just returned home today from Charlotte, North Carolina – the home of Lowe’s Speedway. With a driving insructor in the passenger seat, I drove 15 laps at Lowe’s. NASCAR cars do not have speedometers, only tachometers. Mine reached 4000, which is pretty low by racing standards, and approximately 130 MPH.
Driving the car was challenging and a little hair-raising, but very exciting, and I would consider doing this again someday.
I drove with the Buck Baker Driving School.