I just wanted to take a bit of time to remember all the wonderful high points I had during the North American tour. I hope others who were lucky enough to attend will share as well.
I was fortunate to be able to attend 7 Scorpions concerts in total - Reno, Mt. View, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Toronto, Montreal and Columbia, Maryland. I was at the first NA show and the last one too. I ended up missing the New Jersey show, but I tried...I really did!
Anyways before I start rambling - I just want to thank the Scorpions for returning to North America once again. I think the USA has a special place in their hearts for many reasons and for the Final Sting - they came out with a full on sting that many like me will never forget. So thanks guys for returning to us for a short time, it was very much appreciated!
Speaking of thank yous - I cannot believe all the amazing people I met during my travels. Some who I don't know their names but I have very good memories of just their enthusiasm and energy. Of course I have luckily managed to stay in contact with most of the fans I met and I hope that they will be long term friends for years if not a lifetime to come. Thank you to everyone for being there to support the Scorpions and to talk with a crazy purple flag carrier across the country.
Okay - I only know one way to do this and it will be by each show.
Reno - How exciting to be at the first show of the NA tour! You never know what to expect, will they make it or will they flop? Well yeah, of course they didn't flop! Meeting all the FOSers for the first time at the bar - I didn't know what to expect but man what a fun bunch! Too many names to mention but thank you for making me feel so welcome. The show was incredible! Even Pawel came out and jammed with us during Tesla. What a great way to start the tour - lots of energy and emotion for me. There were a few technical problems - sound wise but I was too busy to really care!
Mountain View - Special call out to gsantana for all his help that night - thank you! This concert did not have an actual catwalk, just a very mini one but not with people around it. The venue is one of the top venues I have been too - for not having a pit area that is. Great sound, people were a bit more drunk than the night before. It was one of those magical nights where Rudy threw me a pick and I missed it - he noticed and then handed me another one. Great memories before and after the concert - glad to see people who didn't think they could make it in the audience rocking along with me!
Los Angeles - Got to meet my friend Kathi that I had not seen in over 20 years and just reliving all those Scorpions moments. Delphine and her friends (gosh I'm terrible with names but you know who you are!) got a good laugh at my terrible French accent I'm sure. But when someone stole my camera - all of these folks were there to support me when I felt like I got kicked in the teeth - I cannot thank you guys enough. The show itself ROCKED - the LA Crowd was a bit less moving and grooving than in Reno of San Francisco but when you look at the crowd and everyone is singing along then that's all that matters.
Las Vegas - Something about Nevada water must make people go crazy! They surely did for this show. Got to meet up with new friends and even made some other new ones too. The band seemed to be energized - I think they love that town and the crowd fed on the excitement. Vegas baby! Need I say more?
Toronto - Hard to say this - but my least favorite of concerts because of the stage height. I was in the best spot (in front of the catwalk) but couldn't see the guys up on stage unless they were near to me. The band looked very happy though - I met a couple of nice people but unfortunately we didn't share contact info. There was such a great energy though - but the heat was exhausting - it was just too hot to go too crazy!
Montreal - The place was packed and the crowd couldn't wait for the band to get onstage. I met some good and not so great people, but all was forgotten by the time the band came up on stage. I felt like I was special during the concert (Well I would like to believe so anyways) and just didn't want it to end. The guys seemed to be laughing at me and that made me laugh at myself. I realized just how funny I must look to them!
Columbia, Maryland - Wow - talk about an effort to get there and I was tired! But I got to meet up with Scott and a lady named Lisa who was there with her 14 year old son. We got along immediately! While the lower point were the terrible people next to me - the Scorps actually changed a song on their set list and played In Trance - it was beautiful - it caught me off guard! I was hoping for something different but I didn't think it would actually happen. It was great to hear Klaus say "You never know if this is the last time..." that gave me such great hope that they might find their way back here.
All in all besides the couple of yucky things that happened - these concerts went beyond any expectations I could of ever had. To some people these are just concerts and will never understand the energy behind the music, the interaction of the band with the crowd and just the emotional rollercoaster we as fans feel we are on. It is a beautiful ride and I'm not ready for it to be over yet!
I just want to thank everyone who I met (and I hope to meet again) for becoming my friend so quickly. For through the Scorpions music we have found a kinship and a bond. It was an absolute pleasure and I still cannot believe I was able to do all of this and still live to talk about it!
Thank you to everyone - it was an experience of a lifetime that my credit cards will not forget about it anytime soon! (Heh)
,surely your credit card is not happy 
But it is what it is and I guess you didn't ask the right "clique" of folks, yeah? 
