If you know the song that the title came from, I think I love you. AND I'm really really really tired, so I'll respond to messages/fave sets tomorrow night! Sorry! <3
Story:
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I slam down another Miller Lite and look at the band on stage, wondering exactly what the hell makes them so special that 350 kids will cram in here on a Tuesday night and bang their shaggy, spiked or mohawked heads to every song like they’re witnessing the second coming of Jesus. Fu.ck homework, right?
So do they have a gorgeous lead singer like The Stranglers or Regina and the Reddies? No, they have a six-foot-six beanpole who looks like Mr Potato Head in drag. Do they have a cool stage show like GWAR? Nah, they rarely even face the audience. Are they innovative like the Talking Heads? Yeah, right. They write three-minute, three-chord blasts of noise about school and cars.
But in spite of [or perhaps because of] all that, we love them. The crowd goes apeshit as Johnny Ramone bangs out the last chord in “I Wanna Be Sedated” and Mr Potato Head clears his throat.
“So guys?” The crowd cheers. See, this kid only has to say “so guys?” and it’s like he’s promised to buy them all a new car. “You may be aware that Tommy’s not with us tonight. He had something, um, come up.”
“Yeah, that something probably just came up Rita Skyy’s poop chute,” says Regina, draining her beer. “Like we don’t all know why he’s not here. Seriously, that guy’s such a manwho.re.”
It’s true. And God only knows how he manages it - while he might be a step or 10 up from Joey in the looks department, he still has a fair way to go before he catches up to, say, Paul Simonon. Hell, Paul SIMON’s got a better chance at doing the Blitzkrieg Bop in my lady parts than Tommy. But clearly he – and the dozens of girls he scores – feel differently.
“So, uh, we got a replacement, just for tonight. I’d like you guys to meet… Elvis Ramone!” He gestures toward the drumkit and a guy with shorter hair than the rest and wearing black shades steps forward.
“Hey guys, how ya doin’ tonight?” We give the new guy a loud welcome. “Wow, thanks, that’s really cool of you. So this is gonna be our last song, we hope you’ve enjoyed the show!”
He takes his shades off and wipes his forehead.
Oh my God.
“Sh.it!” I grab Sammie and Regina’s arms and point. “That’s him!”
“Who?” asks Sammie, more concerned with the progress Sid’s hand is making up her skirt.
“That Burke guy! He’s drumming for the Ramones.”
“What the fu.ck? Man, I wish I hadn’t said no when they asked me,” says Jim Reddie. “Look at all the love he’s getting.”
“Well, jackass, maybe that’ll teach you to have shot-drinking contests with Bators and Chrome,” replies his brother. “Those guys fu.cking BREATHE alcohol.” He walks behind Sid and flaps Sid’s arms. “IIIIII am the porcelain goooooddd!” he howls. “Repent before meeee!”
Jim looks like he’s about to repent all over his clothes. He runs to the bathroom, just as the last song ends.
“Hey, guys? I’m gonna go backstage and see if I can find out more about this Burke kid. See you round.”
I walk backstage, where the Ramones [and the one sham-one] are packing up their stuff. I did some speed before the show, so I’m feeling pretty confident. I walk up to Burke and squeeze his buttocks.
“Hey kid, you feel like being my hunk o’ burning love?”
I have to point out that when I’m not, um, under the influence, the likelihood of me ever a) going up behind a guy I’ve never met and groping him, and b) using a line like that is similar to the likelihood of me getting off with Jim Morrison. And he’s been dead for eight years. But right now I’m flying high.
He turns around and smiles. “Hey, you’re that chick who sang with the Reddies last week, right? I remember you.”
Wow. Cool. He actually remembers me. “Yeah, that was me. Was I so bad it left a lasting imprint on your memory?”
He smirks. “Yeah, you were terrible. Actually, I have no idea what you sounded like, ‘cause I was too busy being distracted by those blue hotpants. Our singer’s got the same ones, but I gotta tell you, I think you look better in ‘em. But don’t tell her that, she’d kill me.”
That’s right, he’s in that blonde girl’s band. “I’ll try not to. Although right now I don’t know who she is, so you have nothing to worry about.”
“Oh. I’m in Queenie and the Kings. I’m a King.”
Yes, you sure are. And I’ll polish your sceptre any time. “Hey, I went to school with that chick. But she wasn’t called that then. Her name was Deborah – guess that wasn’t very rock ‘n’ roll.”
He laughs. “You’re not wrong. But my name’s a thousand times worse. I’m Clement. Or Clem.”
“Hey, that’s a cool name. I don’t know anyone else called that. And I’m Kristal, but most people call me Kris.”
“Oh, I know. I remember Regina introducing you, I’d been hanging out to find out your name all night.”
I can feel myself blushing.
“So anyway,” he says, “Me and the guys have gotta jet. But can I call you sometime?”
Wow. It’s been quite the few days for guys asking me that – first David Robinson from the Cars, then David Johansen [he was high, but still], now Burke. I’ve got a date with one David tomorrow night and I’m hanging out with the other one the next day, but after that my week’s pretty much free. And this guy is attractive.
“Sure.” I write down my number on the back of a matchbook and hand it to him. “Are you coming to the Talking Heads show on Friday night?” [After which I had originally planned to add another David – Byrne – to my collection, but maybe that’ll have to wait].
“Yeah. Actually, we’re supporting them. So I guess I’ll see you there? Come backstage whenever you want.”
He smiles and walks off. Oh baby, you better believe I’ll come backstage. And I’ll talk so much to *your* head [the smaller one] that “come” might be the operative word.
Now, where did I put my emergency supply of plaster…
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