Monday, December 03, 2007

The night I had dinner with the Beastie Boys

Music Monday at Soccer Mom in Denial


I was living in Louisiana in the early 1990's. It was during the height of "Operation Rescue" (snort) going into communities to shut down women's clinics with the intention of limiting women's access to needed health care services.

If, for any reason, you don't agree with that last statement, please leave this blog. I am pro-choice and will not change. Any arguing will be deleted and promptly ignored.

On to our regularly scheduled post.

For their 1992 tour, The Beastie Boys offered to have all the proceeds from their New Orleans concert go towards defending women's health clinics for the upcoming summer blockades. Several groups were offered the chance to staff information tables in the lobby so we could promote women's reproductive rights.

While setting up the tables we could hear the band rehearse. I didn't think much of it. I wasn't a big fan of theirs. I only knew You Have To Fight for Your Right to Party which was a pretty irritating song in my book.

Then, two of the guys from the band showed up in the lobby. They went to each table (there were only a few) and chatted with each of us. Then we were invited to have dinner with them backstage.

I go to the back of this little theater and find myself in a small room with a catered dinner. This guy appears behind me and says "Hi Allison. I met you in the lobby."

To which I reply, "Um, I'm sorry, what is your name?"

He gives me this big grin, as if saying that no one has said that to him in a long time "Adam Horovitz. I'm in the band."

"Oh. Right. Sorry."

We then get pasta and soda drinks. I don't remember much of what was said but recall they were all very kind, thoughtful people.

I returned to the theater lobby to staff the information table. Once the lobby cleared out we were alone at our tables. A roadie came out and invited me to stand backstage and watch the show.

There I was, standing backstage, watching the three guys in the band quietly meditate. Then, as if someone turned a key, they literally sprung onto the stage. I had never seen people jump so high as they did. They went from complete stillness to nothing but balls of energy in seconds.

Then I was offered a pass to the front of the stage. And I danced up a storm.

To this day I still don't own any Beastie Boys. Not even on the iPod.

I do have their signatures on a wall sign. Not sure where it is though...

Got your own melodious tale to share for Monday? Let me know and I'll link to you. Be sure to read Flower Child's tale of tunes, Fourier Analyst's translations of songs to welcome SinterKlaas (who? get over there and find out!!) and Jenn in Holland's masterful combining of gospel music with bath bubbles.

15 comments:

CableGirl said...

Great story. Remind me sometime to tell you about the titme I met Marilyn Manson in a pizza joint in Boston. I'm not posting about it (although, I know I really should get into the Music Monday thing). To be honest, I'm simply too lazy this week. lol

Flower Child said...

I'm not a Beastie Boys fan either - at least of their music. But now that I know they performed for a good cause I might just look them up.

painted maypole said...

wow. a very different image of them than you would get through their music (I was just listening to some of their stuff the other day - on the radio... although I do think I have License to Ill floating around somewhere)

Goofball said...

that's a cool story!

Anonymous said...

Dude. I LOVE the Beasties and I can't remember ever hearing this story before. If you ever find the sign, I'm claiming it.

Fourier Analyst said...

I'm playing with some tunes for SinterKlaas and their English translations!!

Cynthia said...

Holy, my roomate would be so jealous, Batman! What a great Beastie story!

Heather said...

So, what you're saying is they're just people like the rest of us?

That is a pretty cool story to tell!

jodifur said...

great story! And I agree with you on the choice.

The Bastie Boys always cracked me up,, jewish boys rapping.

Jenn in Holland said...

Oh, that's just great! "what's your name?" hahahahahahha!

I am impressed to think the Beastie Boys have something to them. Like FC, I just may have to look them up.

Jenn in Holland said...

Oh, and I played the MM thing too. I am just late to the game.
:)

Goofball said...

cool story.
"what is your name" is hilarious.

Jen said...

I've heard similar stories about "The Boys" - despite their pretty juvenile music, they've done a lot of good over time.

Gunfighter said...

I love the Beastie Boys!

Wholly Burble said...

OK, just went to YouTube to hear some of their stuff--haven't ever heard them before. AFTER hearing two of their works, I must say, the scene of them meditating prior to jumping to the stage is quite a juxtaposed image to the videos LOL.

Great story, and I'm sure their fans will be wild about hearing it.