June 18, 1988: A Quick Journal Entry

June 18, 1988…a very memorable day for me. The Depeche Mode Rose Bowl 101 show! I still have the ticket stub, although I can’t find it…I apparently hid it in a really, really secret place. I’ll get it eventually! However, what a day, Wire, Thomas Dolby, OMD, and my favorite band of all-time…Depeche Mode in one event! My seats were on the floor right in front of a big wall of whatever it was…lights, sound, etc. Without knowing it…that day was the end of “the 80’s” for me. I can’t explain it, but from 1979 to 1988 was my coming of age, and the music of that era, became the soundtrack of that period…and I guess that’s how it works for everyone. I was there with my best friend, ironically enough, and just enjoyed the event. Things I can remember, getting the t-shirt, watching Thomas Dolby, can’t remember the set, but I remember making a mental note to myself saying, “remember…you saw Thomas Dolby.” OMD was great I can still remember the opening to Enola Gay, again, can’t remember too much of the set, but I do remember that. Wire, I remember nothing about them for whatever reason, but they were there! I remember the pre-DM food fight as the sky started to turn a bit darker, I can still remember seeing a Coke cup silhouetted in gray against the sunset blue of the sky. I often wondered later, if the cup actually hit someone or if it just fell to the ground without leaving a mark? I’m pretty sure someone got nailed by the cup, but I guess I’ll never know. I myself did not throw anything, however, I know my head was on a swivel making sure I didn’t get nailed…and I did not get hit. Next, I remember the anticipation of DM hitting the stage…the excitement as “Pimpf” gave way to two snare shots and “Behind the Wheel!” I remember the rain/drizzle during “Sacred,” that was intense and somewhat spiritual for me. It was a great “classic” Depeche Mode set list; however, I can’t remember much of it…I know I heard it, I know I experienced it, I know I enjoyed it, but I can’t remember much of it…lol. However, what I did remember was the emotions of it, the passion of it, I think that was the last concert that I went to and was just screaming, jumping up and down, and so deeply passionate about. I’ve seen more shows and had memorable moments, being blown away by Matt Belamy of MUSE and being blown away by OMD, again, in 2013…but it wasn’t the same. I’ve even been in a Depeche Mode tribute band or two and had the privilege of deconstructing, studying, and “emulating” those concerts, but even then although a passionate experience, it didn’t match the pure excitement of “being there.” By the time I had gone to those shows and been in the tribute band scene, I had grown as a man, gotten my career off the ground, and was changing from an pragmatic idealist with the future ahead of him…into the pragmatic cynic I am today, lol… So, June 18, 1988…was a day and event that I would say was a “1648 Treaty of Westphaila” moment or a “transformative” experience as I was changing from a young adult into an adult, the music scene was changing, and I embarked on the journey to turn my childhood, teen, and young adult dreams into realities during my 20s and 30s… Hello, and thanks for listening to my podcast For years, my mission has been to foster a community around engagement, unique takes on interesting stories, and conversation. If you value what I do, please consider supporting me. I've started a GoFundMe to cover my production and operational costs, including those pesky social media fees. If you can’t contribute to my GoFundMe, I get it, but you can help me by subscribing to my account or sharing this particular story with friends and family that you think would appreciate it. Your contribution, big or small, helps me keep going. Thank you. GO FUND ME