My First Concert

It was 1981, my father was on a business trip on the east coast. Whenever he went somewhere, especially New York, we knew that always meant he would come back with presents. I will never forget this because he came home with brand new New York Yankee jackets for my brother and I. But this time, he came home with something to accompany it.

After sifting through his suitcase, my father went to my brother and said here you go. My brothers reaction was of pure joy, it was an album from a band that he wanted, Air Supply.

So, I take a look at the cover, and this is what I see:







My first reaction, was what in God's name is this? But probably more juvenile considering I was 6 or 7. I was used to seeing Gene Simmons on a cover scaring the hell out of me or Leif Garrett looking super cool in his leather jacket and gold chains. But who hot air balloon on an album? So, I figure since my brother is responsible for introducing me to Kiss, maybe he is on to something. So I decided to give it a chance.

So as my brother puts the record on, I am holding the album cover and decide to turn it over. The "band" is on the back cover and I notice two things, that two people are named Russell and the Asian bass player named Rex. Yes, Rex.

The first song comes on and it's a soft poptastic ballad. The next song comes on and it's a soft poptastic ballad. Then the next poptastic ballad and so on. Needless to say, I wanted to die.

So a few weeks go by and my Dad comes home with the news, we are all going to see Air Supply at the Greek Theatre. WHAT?!?!?!??!?! WHY?!?! I have been good! So in my typical fashion, I said I am not going. Well...probably not. I probably started yelling and crying and saying something mean to somebody, but really, I wanted nothing to do with this.

So the months went on, the album was played more and more and I became more and more depressed. Then, a glimmer of hope. My brother and I as always watched Solid Gold. I always paid special notice to the black woman with the long black hair. What a hottie. OK, back to the point. So as we watch, we hear that the singer of Air Supply got into an accident and broke his arm. I was thinking, maybe the concert would be canceled!!!

But it wasn't and off to the Greek we went. Probably making immature comments until show time, we sat down in our seats. The opening act was a comic. Quality. At least it was not Player or Orleans.

So the show starts and all of sudden you hear the screeches of girls going ape shit. The Supply goes probably into one of their hit songs which who knows what it was. All I know is a female fan in front of me brought two candle sticks and held them up the entire night. I would have loved to have been with this shmuck before she left. Got my keys, purse ahh yes, candles.

The highlight of the night though was when they played their current hit song, Making Love Out of Nothing At All. The song starts, the female population have probably wet themselves the moment the classic piano intro started. On a black screen behind the band, comes out a frolicking lasered unicorn.

Can somebody tell me that their was a band meeting for this?

Graham Russell: Hey Russell, what do you think this show needs to spice it up? Fire? Extra lights? Tapestries of our album cover?

Russell: How about unicorns???

Rex: You had me at corn.

So to this day, I am always jealous when people say their first concert was something classic. I let them know mine was Air Supply and Laser unicorn.