My First Concert

Had the cassette, had the all posters, even had a small one of CC in my locker in high school that I kissed every morning.  (Covered in lipstick, as was he.)  Taped the "Talk Dirty to Me" video off "Headbanger's Ball" and wore it out.

Then they came to Erie.  Glory Halleluyah. They opened for David Lee Roth, but hell, I wasn't hanging around for that.  Drove the 1.5 hours, got day-glo green earrings to go with the shirt I was sure I was getting.  

We got there, there were about 4,000 other people there dressed like me, dying to see them.  Even before I started learning the guitar, CC was my axe-god.  I was going to name my firstborn after him. Yes, literally, and my dad talked me out of it.

The show was incredible, especially since it was their first CD and they were opening.  The only song I remember them doing that wasn't on the first album was the "Rock n Roll All Night" cover, that they eventually put on the "Less Than Zero" soundtrack.  (Annnnnd, it's made it to the "Poison'd" cover CD that came out last year as well.)

Since then, I've seen them 4 times.  Well, 3 and a half.  The last time they were the headliners (about 3 years ago, since hair bands are still enjoying their niche), opening for Faster Pussycat, Cinderella, and Winger.  They made it into the third song, "Ride the Wind" and about halfway in, my brother-in-law decided to punch out the kid sitting in front of us and we got "escorted" (a nice way of putting it) out of the venue.  After a $300 bail run/ATM stop, we freed him and went home.  He still owes me the rest of a Poison concert.

 Regardless, seeing them the first time, and it being my first concert, was awesome.  They're still holding strong today as a band, and glad to see them all back together.  CC is still an axe-god and Bret may or may not have a weave, but they'll always be my first and only "first concert" memory.