UPS was on strike. Because of this, we had a delivery to make in Chicago. For two boxes, we showed up seven hours before the show. The company closes around 3:00 and the show started at 7:30. Since we didn't know where we were going, we started early and got there around mid-day.

With some time to kill, we strolled the streets, ate some great American fast-food, and sat by Lake Michigan. A cop car drove up just to ask if we were drinking anything. As it rolled away, I told my two companions, "It's the long hair. It get's 'em every time." They laughed, but I knew it was all too true. My long hair has shown me many prejudices in people.

I've read about people on the net meeting the band members with what they called "backstage passes" ...taking photos, having autographs, etc... When I won the backstage passes from Megadeth Arizona, I figured that's what "backstage passes" meant. For this reason, I was prepared with two cameras, a good pen, the tickets, and my e-mail that said I was entitled to backstage passes.

After standing in line for fifteen minutes, security frisked me at the door. There, they noticed the case slung over my shoulder. I couldn't take a camera beyond that point. I thought, when I bought the tickets, they said it was okay. I thought it was recording equipment that was not permitted. I must have heard wrong. The two people I came with stood idly by as I was told this horrifying news. I motioned for Randy, the driver, to come over and give me the keys to put my belongings back into the van. As I was doing this, there was a lady in a side room that asked what was going on. When she was told, she said she could hold my things for me. She was saying it would be a dollar for one camera... then two dollars for the second... and finally three bucks for the carrying case and the cameras. At that point, I just shook my head and said, "give me my stuff, I'm heading back to the van."

Once past the frisker with e-mail still in hand, I asked several security guys how the backstage passes work, and they didn't know. I waved around a print-out of my e-mail I had received from Megadeth Arizona which congratulated me. I was told, "The security is sub-contracted..." and wasn't informed as to where the band's tour manager was. I never spoke with him. The letter I received said to ask for him if I ran into problems. I had to talk to at least five people before I got my VIP pass. Then, to top it off, there was only one pass!!! I had problems. I was informed I'd be getting two passes. Once I asked the right person, the guy checked to see what the pass gave me access to. He came back, in a couple minutes, and told me I had complete access, except for the stage itself and the dressing rooms. He also explained that this was a fairly small concert hall meaning, essentially, "It's not like a 'Meet-n-Greet' pass. You're not going to meet the guys or anything. You might get to stand beside the stage."

I kept asking around about where I could go and where I couldn't. Before the concert, I was told, by the one person who helped me, that I could get next to the stage which was barricaded and guarded by security. As he said that, he was walking down a special set of stairs, guarded by security. He said I was also permitted to go up there. Right before the opening act, I asked if I could go up. The lady stated, "They're still eating up there." I took that as a "no."

Act One

After the lead singer of the opening band ran around the side of the stage, I asked security at the barricade about getting next to the stage. Security said, "no, you can't." I never did. Around this time, the guys I came with were saying, "Man, Data, we're REALLY envious."

I had enough wits about me, after my first Megadeth experience, to bring earplugs. For the Misfits, the opening band, I jammed the earplugs in and watched as these people flung themselves into the audience and floated above the crowd as though they were standing on unconscious fans sprawled out on the floor. It was a genuine circus act. Though entertaining, I can't say how I'd rate their music. It was Megadeth I came for, and Megadeth I aimed to see.

As I mentioned earlier, there was a balcony section that security guarded. As the roadies were setting up for the main act, I was allowed access. At the top of the stairs there were a couple rows of fold-down seats, like they have in movie theaters, to sit in with cushioned comfort. They also had a couple rows of those rugged, boarded, fold-up, rigid seats like the rest of the theater has. There were a couple tables set-up. I'm not sure if there were free refreshments or what, but that much didn't interest me. I was seriously bummed. This freaking pass was worthless as far as I was concerned.

The Performance

So, there I was with my "VIP" sticker plastered on my shirt, in a cushioned seat, overlooking the stage. Most people stand or bounce around near the stage anyway... they don't even WANT to sit. I'm thinking, "this is what VIP means?"

There was a guy from some Chicago radio station that said something about recording live, and then he introduced the band. The crowd roared to life as the band was introduced and quieted quickly as the band broke into "Holy Wars... the Punishment Due."

I noticed some flashes right away during the performance. Man, that made me mad someone else got a camera by security. They lit off more than a couple snap-shots too. In some respect, I was also overjoyed security had been outsmarted.

The performance was pretty much like the first time I saw Megadeth at the Aragon. I took out my earplugs and was amazed to find no constant humming of the speakers. They got their sound system set up better this time. The sound may have had something to do with the recording of a live CD...

After "Holy Wars..." they played "Wake up Dead" and "Sin."

Before they did "Hangar 18," Dave was looking up at the balcony now and then as he told the crowd, "if you get the opportunity... and you're talking to me as you see us around, don't come up to me about Area 51 and stuff because this isn't something I want to discuss. (he pointed back to the drums) IT'S NICK!" I thought that playing "Hangar 18" was really cool because of my entry to get the backstage passes. It mentioned "Hangar 18" as being the likely place Vic was hiding...

Megadeth went on to play:
Reckoning Day
Almost Honest
Use the Man
A Tout Le Monde
In My Darkest Hour
Angry Again
She-Wolf
Sweating Bullets

I'm not sure at what point it happened, but near the end, the concert hall was HOT! I was sitting in a chair and started sweating. Just when I got to wondering what the guys felt like on stage, Dave stepped away and came back without his shirt. They played one more song and then the rest of the crew followed Dave's lead.

The crowd sang along to Trust

Before "Symphony of Destruction" Dave was saying this was the original version and the first song the band wrote together. He said to listen to see if you notice anything different from the recorded version. I thought it was extra long in the solo part. It was refreshing to hear Dave playing more solos.

During "Peace Sells..." they got to the solo and faded into "F.F.F." and came back to finish off "Who's Buying?" The crowd sang along to "Anarchy in the U.K." at Dave's request. Though they didn't get the words from the very beginning, but we managed to be SCREAMING LOUD!!! ...I started to wonder if taking the earplugs out was such a good idea, but it wasn't the band. It was the crowd.

Sneaking Away

After Dave said his usual, "You were great, we've been Megadeth," I waited around a little bit thinking the guys would come up and meet us. Many people left, but more were sticking around in their seats and out on the fire escape. I don't know how long I waited, but I decided I needed to get a shirt from the show. Upstairs, the floor wasn't bear seeping slick like the lower level. It almost took me by surprize.

A lot of people were still squirming to get out of the theater. Many sweat stained bodies rubbed up against me as I slinked along at a snail's pace toward the T-shirt displays... By the time I got my $25 T-shirt I figured, "I have no idea how late it is. We still have a long trip back home. There is no guarantee I'd meet the guys if I went back into the balcony." I recalled the guy telling me, "You're not going to meet the guys or anything." So, without meeting the band, I sauntered to the van with shirt in hand, where Brian and Randy waited patiently.

Road Home

I found out, in the van, that Randy had some guy put out a cigarette in his back. Randy turned around to look at the guy, and he stared back saying, "I don't know who the hell YOU are..." and then started patting out Randy's back. Randy also had some she-wolf bite him in the face after the girl's boyfriend bounced off of him. We took him along to the concert because he's a big country fan, and his brother, Brian, wanted to show him what a real concert is like. I don't think he came out with a great impression overall.

Rattled in "The Rattler"

Before the concert, I wrote asking if "passes" meant two people. The kind folks at Megadeth Arizona wrote, "It's for you and one other person." That wasn't on the e-mail I went to the show with. I apparently took the wrong e-mail with me. I know this part was screwed up by someone. I thought it'd be a problem because there were three of us. Little did I know that only one would actually get... whatever it was I got.

Once home, I wrote to the Megadeth mailing list about my experience. Here are the responses I got:

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Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997
From: Jeff

I have been backstage for about 10 concerts and they are all different. Usually, with just an "after-show" pass, you have to wait around after the show and if the hired security aren't completely dumb, they will alert the band's production manager and you'll be escorted back after a half hour or so (but I have been to concerts where it took over an hour to meet them).
If you had a pass which said "VIP" then you can go just about anywhere except the dressing room, it varies a little with each band. With a VIP pass you just have to show security, and if they aren't too dumb, you will be able to go just about anywhere... tell them to go and take a look at the posters up in the back which explain each pass. Each band usually has about 10 different passes and what each one means is usually posted in the back for the crew to see.

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Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997
From: Tim

...they had everyone sit in the balcony, and the band came out to us.....you weren't supposed to have any cameras or things to sign...but some people did anyway. i remember Dave wouldn't sign the cover of youth because of the babies. they had us sit every other row, and the guys walked through the empty rows.......shook everyone's hand...and held little 30 second conversations....it was really nice, as was everyone in the band....no problems at all

Draining the Essence

So, be prepared to stick around a half hour to an hour after the show in order to meet band members, should you be lucky enough to get a backstage pass. If you don't have the pass until you get to the theater, make sure you have proof you deserve them. Also, realize that you may need to tell them exactly how many you are supposed to get. Be adamant about seeing the tour manager should anything else go wrong. Take some earplugs just in case the sound system is buzzing.

Even with the extreme heat in the complex by the end of the show, and the confusion about what a backstage pass is all about, not feeling like a "VIP," and all... It was still worth travelling four hours to get to the show. We even got a little lost on the way home... it was fun all the same. They played excellent. Dave played more solos than I remember him doing last time. The speakers weren't constantly humming, like the first time, and my ears aren't ringing in the aftermath for three days. There's little fallout from the barrage of metal. I must say it was great, but hardly close to what I expected. I'm just left with the feeling that backstage isn't what I thought it'd be at all. It's more like, "Where's Backstage?" than "Where's Vic?"

I think Brian thoroughly enjoyed the show, Randy didn't, and I fall somewhere in between.