I fell in love with Rick Springfield on October 24, 1981. I know, I know...he was a singer and actor who was every girls' dream (well...not every girl...but quite a few!)...but, on that night as I saw him on 'Solid Gold' singing "I've done everything for you..."...he stole my heart! I told my best friend and roommate at the time that we were going to go see him at his upcoming concert at the Rainbow Music Hall in Denver (concert venue...long since defunct). So, I got tickets and his album 'Working Class Dog' (vinyl..which I played til it wore out!)...and we went to this concert in Denver, November 1, 1981! Wonderful. His van drove right past us. Swoon. So, throughout the remainder of that year and into 1982...my love for him grew. I studied the man, bought all of his prior albums, watched him get a Grammy...and awaited the day when his new album was to be released, 'Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet'! The first song was played on KBPI (Rock station)..."Calling All Girls". Great song which I still love. My bf at the time said he was signing that to me! ;)
I soon learned that Rick would be at Red Rocks...August 15th of 1982. I was going to be there! But, would my best friend Jilly want to go too? Yes (God bless her!!!). I then learned the tickets were all general admission...first come, first row! I convinced her to go with me and spend the night there to be first in line for the show! What a good friend, huh? She didn't even like him that much (I don't think?)...but, she knew how much I did!! In fact, look at this schedule of shows from that month and year...no wonder I loved the 80s so much...I would give ANYTHING to get back in time...but, that's a Huey Lewis song :) !
HTTP://redrocksonline.com/concerts-events/calendar/1982/08
So, off we went to Red Rocks in Morrison, CO on a Saturday night in Jill's inherited white Chrysler Cordoba (once her grandma's). We parked and headed up the hill with numerous paraphernalia...sleeping bags, food, clothes to change into. And we schlepped up the steep hill that gets to the stadium. Well...along the way we got tired...so, we stopped numerous times to rest...setting our stuff down along the way. Of course, I had no idea if this was even allowed to spend the night there! But, we got to the top finally and a guy tells us we can camp out...but, on the other side entry way...and that there were others already there. So, we were about 10th in line of getting in...not too bad?! We all got settled in on our hard spots for the long night...when cops come up and say it's illegal to stay there and that we all had to head out! Mass confusion erupted with those of us there...since the Red Rocks guys said we could stay. But, no...we had to all leave and come back in the morning! I guess Jill and I thought we would just stay in the car? We really didn't have a back up plan. So, we grabbed all our stuff and schlepped back down on the other side where we had parked. Most of the other people parked on the side where we thought we were allowed to stay. Here Jill and I were the only ones on this other side and it was very dark (no lighting there at that time) and we were completely alone! I was a little scared...
So, we get to the Cordoba and Jill says..."I can't find my keys!". Again, there we are in a pitch black empty lot at who knows what time of night (i'm guessing around 10:00 but I don't remember...). We couldn't see a thing to even look for them. I said...we have to go back up and just tell them we can't leave...no keys!! So, we grabbed ALL our stuff AGAIN and schlepped back up that mountain...AGAIN (for those familiar with Red Rocks...not an easy climb really!!).
We get to the top and explain to the Red Rocks guys what happened...and they said...ok...just sleep here in the bleachers. I thought...SCORE...we are going to be the VERY FIRST ONES IN LINE NOW...since everyone else had to leave! What a strange twist of luck! I was actually so happy.
My memory fades at this point. Not due to drinking (I didn't drink much then...)...but, I guess just old age. But, we did get front row seats as hoped for! Yea...I got my wish! Front row for Rick Springfield...my idol!
Jill remembers that we changed and laid out in the sun and drank little bottles of booze we brought in! I don't remember that (ok...maybe it was because of the booze!)...or maybe it was because I was soooooo excited for this concert!!
But, as we sat there...I started to wonder how on earth we were going to get home. Remember...we had no keys to her car?? I said we better go re-trace our steps...and also make sure she didn't lock them in the car! So, we found some nice people to save our front row seats (and if they hadn't...they would have seen the wrath of JO!!!). So, we walked down to our car. No keys in the ignition. Good and bad. Where were they?! They could've been ANYWHERE considering all the hikes up and down we took and moving around from one side of the arena to the other...yikes! Still...I said, "Let's think about where we stopped on our walk up with all our things". We kept stopping to rest along the way...maybe she accidentally dropped them? So, we scanned the whole trail. And at one of the last places we remembered stopping was a large rock...and lo and behold...the keys were there! Kind of behind this rock so no one had seen them to pick them up or anything. OMG! Good luck just continued to shine on us! Along with the sun shine that was beating down. Yea...it was all going just great!!
So, we were just enjoying everything now at this point. But, it was a very long day as the concert was not going to start until that evening. Red Rocks policy is that the concert will go on rain or shine...unless it's life-threatening or threatening to the artists. There have been very few times that concerts have been cancelled altogether due to weather. Except of course one that I did attend in 2013...Barry Manilow...but, I digress (that wimp!). :)
So, at about 3:00 on the day of Rick's concerts...storm clouds rolled in. I prayed it would not rain. Well...that didn't work...it didn't just rain...the heavens opened up! There were waterfalls flowing off of the Red Rocks! I wouldn't leave my seats...so, I was drenched. But, we also risked our lives as it was lightning too (of course) and the obligatory Colorado hail soon followed! Wow...was Rick really worth all this? Schlepping, climbing, getting kicked out, getting locked out...getting freaked out by all the rain (not to mention sunburns from all the sun tanning earlier in the day!!). Was it really worth it???
I was so worried that all this would be for nought...so I thought! But, it was not! The clouds soon departed and the sun started to shine! It was one of the notorious Colorado afternoon storms. Once it passed...the skies were blue again and we were in the front row...although unable to get all dolled up (our bags of clothes were soaked)...we were still in the front row! Rick would just have to see his 'wet rat' fans who endured so much to see him! I was about to see him...front row center!!
Greg Kihn, of "Our Love's in Jeopardy" and "The Break-Up Song" fame...opened for Rick. He was great. It was great. Then, Mr. Rick Springfield...Ricky Springfield...in the flesh! 'Working Class Dog' (1981) and 'Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet'(1982) were the albums he played from so...the song list (what I can remember...). 'new' songs: "Don't Talk To Strangers", "Calling All Girls", "Kristina", "What Kind of Fool Am I?", "I Get Excited". Old songs were: "Love is Alrite Tonite", "I've Done Everything for You", "Inside Sylvia", "Everybody's Girl", "Carry Me Away". If anyone is not familiar...ALL of these songs are just great! But, of course...the best for last is ALWAYS, "Jessie's Girl!". The day was complete...and fantastic...and I'm sure Rick saw me in my hot pink top with black polka dots...soaked, no make-up, sunburned. But, I KNOW he saw me... Cuz, he's watching me with those eyes...and he's lovin me with that body...I just know it! Ha...I guess not. I think the real song for me on that day was "What Kind of Fool Am I?"...to sit out...sit in the rain like that!! :)
What a memory...glad I got it all written out before I lose it! ;)
