As Robert Plant closed out his 2005 Mighty Rearranger Tour, Mike and I hung up our autograph pens and cameras for the year after a three-performance trip to Southern California where we caught the Tonight Show with Jay Leno taping and Robert�s gigs at the Santa Barbara Bowl and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Second only to our epic road trip in 1998 in terms of number of performances, we caught seven shows in 2005 � Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Chicago, Denver, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles (eight if you count the two-song Tonight Show gig). With a hint of defeat still lingering from our miserable outing in Chicago earlier in the month, we headed to la-la land with renewed energy and determination hoping for one last parting shot with Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation.
Evidently, persistence pays as we caught up with Robert in Santa Barbara at his hotel on the beach and the remainder of his band at their hotel in Beverly Hills. On this trip, the only thing I wanted to accomplish was for Robert to sign the picture Mike and I took with him ten years earlier on the No Quarter tour stop in Boston in 1995 � a nice set of bookends to document our ten-year, 45-concert span. It would also be the first time in 45 performances that Mike and I returned to the same venue for a second time, having seen Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes at the Greek in 1999.
So the stage was set. Mike caught an early flight from his newly-adopted home of Lincoln, Nebraska to Denver where I met up with him after the 70-minute drive up from Colorado Springs, and after our touchdown in L.A., our first order of business was to head to the NBC studios in Burbank to try and score tickets to the taping of the Tonight Show on which Robert was performing that afternoon. (After learning of the show just 10 days earlier, my snail mail request for tickets was denied, leaving a last-minute ticket window walk up as our only option.)
We touched down in L.A. at 12:30 on Friday, picked up an ever-so-chic Chevy Classic at the local Avis and immediately headed for a six-lane parking lot called the �405 freeway� on which we inched ever so slightly towards the �101 freeway� parking facility before hitting the �highway 134� stationary automobile display. A couple hours later we arrived at NBC to confirm what we already expected would be the case � no tickets for the Tonight Show taping were available.
But to our pleasant surprise, when Mike asked for tickets to the taping, the man behind the ticket counter said, �We don�t have any tickets for the taping left, but I can give you tickets to the concert instead.� As it turned out, Robert�s performance was part of the Toyota Summer Concert Series and was to be held outside in the parking lot instead if inside the studio. So, under those premises, we could still see the planned two-song performance (one song to be aired, plus a �bonus song� for the studio audience.). We each grabbed two tickets for the show (a functional pair and a souvenir pair) and headed across the street for a nice warm burrito to compliment the triple-digit heat that was lingering over SoCal.
We had been to the Tonight Show once before and got screwed on the guests with post-fat Fergie the Dutchess of York and one of the Ice�s (�T� of �Cube�, I can�t remember which), so we weren�t Tonight Show virgins, but this was shaping up to be a much better experience.
Curious about the priority for the studio audience, we asked a couple of NBC staffers on the protocol for the taping and it turned out that those who had tickets for the entire taping were let into the studio first, and then a couple of minutes later those with just concert tickets were let into the cordoned-off area of the parking lot where we�d sit for about 45 minutes until it was time for Robert to go on, at which point the remainder of the studio audience would be funneled into the parking lot. So essentially, the 40 or so concert-only ticket holders were given the best position for the performance. Mike and I were sure to be at the front of the line and were the first ones into the parking lot as we occupied the two most front and center positions in the standing-room-only setup.
After about 45-50 minutes of exposing ourselves to skin cancer, the rest of the studio audience was ushered into the parking lot and the studio announcers took the stage to tell us what to expect. The band, shuffled onto the stage sans Robert and took their positions. Then Jay Leno came onstage and finally Robert, clutching an Elvis Presley coffee cup.
The band launched into an abridged version of Tin Pan Valley for the taping and then an unabridged Shine it All Around just for the audience.
As we filtered out after the show, some of the Tonight Show interns had a digital handicam and a microphone and asked random fans filing out what they thought of the show. �It was better than Cats! Mike exclaimed into the camera. �I�d see it again and again!�
Both of Robert�s performances can be seen by clicking here.
The next order of business was to get up to Santa Barbara A.S.A.P. Although the drive was 75 miles longer than our trip from LAX to Burbank, it was expected to take roughly the same amount of time. One quick stop to do a radio interview (It�s been determined that Lance Armstrong winning so many Tours de France seriously cuts into my summer hijinks) and we were in Santa Barbara by dinnertime.
We immediately headed over to the palatial Fess Parker�s Doubletree Resort on the beach in Santa Barbara and after a couple of laps around the parking lot, we spotted drummer Clive Deamer making his way into the lobby from his room across the grounds. Given L.A. traffic, the boys probably hopped a jet from the Burbank airport to Santa Barbara as it looked like they had been settled in for a bit. After a few minutes in the lobby, Robert and guitarist Justin Adams appeared and headed towards the bar and sat down for a beer. It was getting close to dinnertime so, we figured the rest of the band was on its way down to meet for a quick drink before heading downtown for some chow.
It wasn�t the appropriate time to approach Robert and since his meatheadish security guard that strictly prohibits interaction with Robert inside of hotels was also milling about, we decided to keep our distance. Shortly afterwards the remainder of the band and the gremlin-like assistant manager appeared. As I was in the lobby, Mike was in a running car outside in case there was a quick exodus.
I casually sat on the couch for another 15 minutes or so to then turn around and spot Mike who had left his post, a victim of boredom.
No more then a minute passed when the entire entourage stood up and began to head for the front door. After they passed by, we headed out the back door to our car, but not before taking note of the red minivan cab that was hailed by the hotel. One by one, Robert, Clive, Justin, Billy, Skin, John, Meathead and Gremlin, squeezed into the van, and presumably headed to dinner.
Exiting the hotel, Robert�s taxi was still in sight six blocks ahead, but we soon fell victim to darkness and the same problem that plagued us in Austin in 1995 � stoplights! After hitting a few of those, we lost immediate sight of the taxi but not before it made a right turn onto Garden street and headed north towards downtown Santa Barbara. After the brief delay, we caught up to the taxi again, this time on the main restaurant and shop-filled drag of State Street. After another right on Ortega, the van stopped in front of the Sage and Onion restaurant a couple of blocks off the busy State Street and the crew piled out and into the eatery.
We then had a couple of options, head back to the hotel or remain out on the town in case Robert and co. headed elsewhere for a few post-meal drinks. We chose the latter and conveniently situated ourselves at the Paradise Caf� kitty corner to the Sage and Onion. An outside table on an elevated veranda provided us with a clear view of the Sage and Onion while we ate dinner ourselves.
Robert got into the first cab and as all three of them pulled out together, we latched on to the back of the caravan. Interestingly enough though, all of the cabs headed back towards the hotel. Based on prior experiences, we figured they were going to head to the hotel bar for a nightcap before going to their rooms to watch their performance on the Tonight Show.
With a now intimate knowledge of the hotel layout and not wanting to look like we followed them, Mike and I made sure to stop short of the hotel, park on the adjacent street and enter the hotel through an alternate entrance that led directly into the bar from the front lawn. By the time Robert and gang entered the hotel, Mike was sitting in the lounge and I was at the bar buying a couple of Heinekens.
The problem, however, was that an awful lounge singer was at the piano vocally butchering his material rather loudly and deterred the boys from coming anywhere within earshot of his performance. So the guys retired to their rooms and our day was over having never been presented with an opportune moment to meet Robert.
The next morning, we weighed our two options. One was to head back to the Doubletree, while the other was to mill about State Street or the pier near the hotel with the hopes of randomly bumping into Robert. With the second one being too unpredictable, we went with the former and headed back for round two.
After waiting for 15 minutes, we remembered how a week earlier I bumped into Robert on the street in Boulder, Colo. after less than five minutes and with the specific objective of doing just that. So bored of sitting around the hotel ourselves, we changed our mind and headed out to State Street hoping to catch Robert shopping or out for a stroll in the trendy section of town.
While driving up State Street, we were reminded of its large area and became rather discouraged about a chance meeting on the street corner, so we gave up and headed back to the Doubletree. Good choice. After a few minutes, Robert appeared from the elevator and stepped outside to the adjacent restaurant with Justin Adams for breakfast. Another woman whom we had never seen before had joined them as Mike and I waited patiently for them to finish. Perhaps this was going to be the best opportunity, late in the morning after a leisurely breakfast in the hotel without any security henchmen in sight.
We tucked ourselves away in a corner of the vast hotel foyer and waited patiently until Robert, Justin and the unidentified woman arose from their seats and re-entered the lobby. Hesitant at first, we stood up and began to walk towards Robert who went directly to the front desk of the hotel while Justin and the woman exited out the front door. Perfect, Robert was all alone. But as he left the front desk, instinct prevented either of us from making a move so we regretfully let Robert slip out the front door unencumbered.
We did follow him though as he headed outside and through some of the elaborate external corridors of the hotel before arriving at the pool where he took a seat next to a waiting Justin Adams and the woman at a poolside table in the shade.
Given the complex layout of the maze-like area that surrounded the pool, Mike and I split up in order to best cover the many exits that were available to Robert when he was through. As far as we could tell, the woman was a reporter and Robert was engaged in some sort of interview. Mike and I kept our distance, connected only by wireless communication.
Mike actually situated himself outside of the hotel and across the street on the beach with a far away but clear enough view of Robert�s table. This position both covered Robert�s potential exit directly to the street and also allowed Mike to enter the lobby through a back door should Robert return from the way in which he came. I positioned myself closer to Robert�s table inside of the pool area to be able to relay to Mike precisely which of the many exit routes Robert took. Most likely, I would be behind Robert when he left, and would tell Mike where to go to cut him off.
A simple plan became more complicated when the meeting approached the two-hour mark. Afraid I was beginning to look like some pervert hanging out at a pool, I had to reposition myself quite frequently to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
Finally, when I was in the least favorable position, far away from Robert�s table, he stood up and began to walk back towards the corridor that led to the main lobby. I instructed Mike to head into the lobby from the back door so that he�d be there when Robert entered. Meanwhile I walked around the entire pool in order to see if Robert chose to go somewhere else instead of the lobby. A brief stop at the men�s room on the way, perfectly delayed Robert�s walk and separated him from Justin and the other woman, again leaving Robert alone. While Robert was in the pisser, I strolled ahead to the valet lot where I�d have a clear view of Robert as he made his way around the corner just to be sure he was heading into the lobby.
As Robert approached us, Mike spoke first and complimented him on Mighty Rearranger, his current band, the musical direction they�ve taken and the overall general favorable impression the record leaves. He commented on how Fate of Nations and Mighty Rearranger were his favorite post-Zeppelin Robert Plant projects and Robert even agreed, �Mine too.�
We showed him our pictures from 10 years ago outside his hotel in Boston after his and Jimmy�s gig at the then brand new Fleet Center. I asked if he remembered the gig as it was the first event ever held there as the Fleet Center replaced the old Boston Garden. In fact, Robert remembered that gig specifically for that reason.
We chatted for a few more minutes and Mike alluded to a comment that Robert made on the Best Buy interview disc that was sold with Mighty Rearranger on which Robert comments how a good friend of his once said to him, �glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever� in reference to Robert�s choice of musical direction and how his manager used to call him �Manic Nirvana� years ago.
He also signed Mike�s Fate of Nations disc as I opted for only one autograph this time.
Finally after a day of pursuit, we were presented with the right moment and we now turned our attention to the gig that night at the Santa Barbara bowl where we managed to score sixth row tickets from the initial Ticketmaster sale.
After the gig, it was down to our hotel in Beverly Hills, one of those circular tower style buildings from the 70�s, perfectly positioned off the 405 to maximize the soothing sounds of L.A. traffic.
We headed to Southern California without tickets for the show at the Greek, and figured we�d purchase some at the ticket window once Ticketmaster released unwanted VIP tickets, or we�d search out some scalpers before the show. Just before leaving Denver on Friday morning however, I placed a bid for a pair in the third row on eBay. At bedtime on Friday night, I still had the highest bid, but it was already at $5.00 below my max, so I assumed that when we woke up in the morning I�d be outbid. To our surprise on Saturday, we found out we had won the auction for third row tickets at $150 a piece. 50% over face value, but still not a bad deal considering what we�ve paid for seats in the first couple of rows on all of our �95 and �98 Page and Plant gigs.
So first thing Sunday morning, our tickets were delivered to out hotel in L.A. by the seller, so the next order of business was to bump into Robert again and also meet the remainder of the band for them to sign our souvenir tickets from the Tonight Show.
We headed to the W Hotel in Beverly Hills where Robert was rumored to be staying. Given the exclusivity of hotels in that area and the likely security situation, we opted for a touch of formality in the form of slacks, shirts, ties, etc� We entered the hotel, and to avoid any uncomfortable loitering, we went directly to the restaurant where we were seated for breakfast.
Fully expecting to be financially gorged for our mid-morning meal, we soaked up the ambiance that was factored into the price. The food was similar to what we would have gotten at Denny�s except I had an $18 French Toast Slam and Mike had the $20 Moons over My Hammy (i.e. french toast and eggs benedict.). Toss in a couple of $4.00 cups of coffee and our $46.00 breakfast was complete.
An hour or so later, we positioned ourselves on some couches near the elevators in the rather vast lobby area of the hotel, and after a little while, Justin Adams popped out of the elevator directly in front of us. Recognizing us from previous encounters, Justin approached us and sat down next to Mike for a brief chat. We complemented him on their first-ever live performance of Somebody Knocking the previous night in Santa Barbara. Justin explained that they were preparing for the upcoming Womad Festival in England hence the inclusion of Somebody Knocking and Another Tribe in the setlist Saturday night. He stayed for about 5-10 minutes and then was off to lunch near the pool outside, but not before he signed our tickets from the Tonight Show.
We continued to wait and eventually the next band members we spotted were Skin and John Baggot as they came around the corner apparently on their way to meet Justin outside. Like Justin before, we spoke with Skin and John for a few minutes and they too recognized us from previous gigs and obliged us with autographs.
Next was Clive Deamer who always seems to be the loner of the group, walking around alone and sporadically as if lost. We stopped him and he signed our tickets, except he opted to be different and sign them on the back!
Finally, Billy Fuller came out and we caught him for an autograph too. He also said he recognized us from the front row at the Tonight Show.
So we now had everybody�s name scribed on our tickets but Robert�s, exactly the same scenario as in Chicago a couple of weeks prior.
Throughout our time waiting, Robert�s security guard came in with a brand new tennis racket wrapped up in a bag, so we figured it was an errand for Robert and he was at some point heading down to go to the local club to smack around a few balls. Not an unlikely scenario as that is exactly how we met him in Kansas City in �98. He was heading out of the hotel with a gym bag and tennis racket for a few sets before the gig.
But since it was nearing 2:00pm, we suspected Robert was already out of the hotel, plus Skin had mentioned that Robert was most likely already out this late in the day.
Curious of where Robert came from, we asked the other two guys who were shutdown by security. Apparently he had just walked up the block, out shopping like we expected, and appeared from around the corner. Our first instinct of heading outside instead of sitting in the hotel would have yielded the elusive final signature, but we apparently were destined to go without � again.
Sick of hanging around, we hung it up for the day and went and saw War of the Worlds instead.
Then it was on to the Greek where we caught Robert�s final U.S. stop on the summer leg of his tour. Notably, we sat a couple of rows in front of Mick Fleetwood, which was ironic because earlier this year when we shared a couple of beers with Robert in Oklahoma City, Robert joked about how he slept with Fleetwood�s wife.
We headed back to the W Hotel for a brief while, and this time we had an offering. When Mike asked Robert about the quotes from the interview disc in Santa Barbara, Robert replied that he didn�t have a copy of the interview and hadn�t heard it since giving it. So, earlier in the day we headed to Best Buy to pick up a copy to give to Robert primarily as a gift, but also to soften up the security guard should we approach Robert in the hotel after the show. It didn�t matter as we again got bored and retired early, calling it a year.
With only a handful of gigs left in the states and Canada this fall, grueling travel schedules for work and Mike beginning his doctorate program in Nebraska, it�s unlikely that we�ll see any more gigs this tour, but �05 will be a year to remember nonetheless.
Prior to this year, our last face to face meeting with Robert 2001, but we made up for it in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Denver and Santa Barbara, meeting Robert five times, sharing a few beers with him, adding to our autograph collection and snapping a few more shots for the archives over the course of seven shows. In retrospect, �05 proved to be the most successful year we�ve had in comparison to others, just as �98 was more successful than �95 and �95 was, well, just plain successful. Using that logic, we�re looking forward to what �07 or �08 may have in store.
Until then,
Cheers!
A.L./M.T.