So she is finally back!!!
It has been WAY TO LONG. I have always been a huge Madonna fan over the years but the last few albums have been fun but lacked the edginess that she previously achieved.
I remember when I first heard Like A Virgin years ago at a friend's place... I think I was about 6 or 7 and knew I was hooked. I remember that my aunt actually bought me my first cassette tape for my birthday of Like A Virgin that year and my poor brother knows many of her lyrics from my constant playing of her music, I think I went through about 4 cassette tapes by constantly playing and rewinding.
My first CD was I'm Breathless and I spent hours dancing around the lounge room pretending to Vogue with a couple of my friends and once again my poor brother knows the lyrics to this song too.
When I was 14 and at High School I remember it was announced that Madonna would be touring to Sydney and being the spoilt brat that I was had my father's receptionist call Ticketek on the day of sale and book 3 tickets for my friends and I. From memory I think our concert was cancelled due to wet weather and rescheduled for November. The Girlie Show was amazing (from what I saw as we were like 4kms away from the stage and she looked like a tiny match stick dancing around with feather boas!).
The following year at High School when studying music we had to do a presentation on our favourite composer or musician and given a list of all these classical composers and at the bottom it listed the option of our choice so of course I chose Madonna. It was about this time that her book Sex has been banned from some bookshops and I decided I would do a presentation and include pictures from this book. Finding a copy of this book was near impossible as it was before the time of the internet and I don't know how many various bookshops I called asked about it and could not locate a copy... one of my dad's smart arse clients suggested that I could call Club X!
It was also around this time that I was starting to question my sexuality and spent HOURS in my room listening to the albums Erotica and Bedtime Stories. Deeper and Deeper is still one of my favourite songs. I just wish I could remember who I lent both these CDs as I no longer have them in my collection.
At the age of 19 I decided that I would save and travel to New York just as Madonna had... I had no idea what I was going to do, I was playing with the idea of being an actor as Madonna had (I didn't say she was any good at it!). Got to New York organised a few auditions for some drama schools and must have been good as I was accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Art, Stella Adler and the Neighborhood Playhouse (why I didn't go is another story!). Had an absolute blast in New York and it was about this time that I met my really good friend Vanessa.
So in 2002 I decided to move to London and happened to land a job managing a theatre in the West End. It was announced in the March that Madonna would be playing in an Australian play called Up For Grabs by David Williamson. Through my contacts I was able to organise tickets for the opening that happened to be my birthday. For some reason unknown to me the play was delayed and we ended up going on my birthday but it was the preview. Great birthday present but it was a very stiff performance by Madonna. I think the entire audience was full of gay men. It just so happens that a very good friend of mine happened to arrive in London and she happened to get a ticket.
The night of the performance ended up being one of those night where you look back and go WTF. After the performance we decided we would go get a drink and chat but as we walked past stage door there was a stamped by her fans and we had to almost push ourselves against the wall to avoid the 300+ people screaming and pushing to try and see Madonna. As we walked to the hotel we saw this little man being pushed by a black man next to a gold rolls royce (it happened to be Jay Kay from Jamiroquai being punched by a bouncer for sitting on his gold rolls royce) as we entered the hotel where my friend was staying we were both asked for ID and walked towards to bar... little did we know we gatecrashed the wrap party for Attack of the Clones!
After almost 14 years in ticketing friends and family always ask why have a stayed in the industry as long as I have... and the answer is simple, so I can get a good ticket to a Madonna concert. She hasn't toured to Australia since 1993 so I have been waiting for a very long time and she better not change her mind this year!
So yes the influence of Madonna on my life has been quite substantial... there are many other moments but I guess these are the only ones I wish to share!
Has any performer had such an influence on your life???
Showing posts with label gay life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gay life. Show all posts
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Saturday, 20 August 2011
What a hell of a month or two...
Who would have thought that life could change so quickly?
One minute you are preparing for a holiday to New York and talking to your grandmother about how when you get back you'll have a drink with her and talk about the adventures. The next you are on a flight back from New York to say goodbye to the same grandmother. Life is quite full on sometimes.
So last month I was on holiday in New York. I had queued for the Alexander McQueen exhibition and finally got to view the amazing fashion of the late designer. Feeling invigorated I I had lunch in the sculpture garden in the MET and then spent the afternoon window shopping. Returning back to my friend's apartment I felt that I would give me parents a call and then call my grandmother. I called my parents and was greeted with a rather somber hello. Instantly I knew something was wrong. I was advised that my grandmother had passed away a few hours earlier that morning. How on earth was that possible? She was meant to be moving into a retirement village and I was going to go visit once I return. I really didn't think this was possible.
After speaking to my parents I knew I wanted to get home. So I called the insurance company, who couldn't get me out. I then called Qantas to try and find a flight home and discovered I missed the flight that day but they could get me out the following day at a HUGE cost. But I didn't care. I just wanted to get home.
The flight home was horrendous. Fine I might have been flying first and business class, but it didn't make things any better. All I wanted to do was be home with my family and try and get my head around what on earth was going on.
Saying a final goodbye is very hard but also a nice sense of closure. Being able to say thank you for the love and support is what I needed, but just wish it had been later in my life and could have had a few more days or weeks with her.
But who would have thought that saying goodbye would bring up a lot of memories about the past and the numerous difficulties that I experienced as a young gay man at high school.
Bullying is such a bitch and it takes years to overcome. It is a shame that it still takes place in high schools all around Australia. The older I become the more I discuss high school life with my gay friends and it seems that we all experienced the same things when young. I wonder if there will ever be a time when young gay men aren't tortured and tormented for being gay?? It would be nice to think that eventually people will be a little more tolerant towards the young gays and lesbians in school.
Anyway a hell of a month or two... maybe a little bit wiser, but definitely a little bit older and have a couple of new grey hairs to prove it!
One minute you are preparing for a holiday to New York and talking to your grandmother about how when you get back you'll have a drink with her and talk about the adventures. The next you are on a flight back from New York to say goodbye to the same grandmother. Life is quite full on sometimes.
So last month I was on holiday in New York. I had queued for the Alexander McQueen exhibition and finally got to view the amazing fashion of the late designer. Feeling invigorated I I had lunch in the sculpture garden in the MET and then spent the afternoon window shopping. Returning back to my friend's apartment I felt that I would give me parents a call and then call my grandmother. I called my parents and was greeted with a rather somber hello. Instantly I knew something was wrong. I was advised that my grandmother had passed away a few hours earlier that morning. How on earth was that possible? She was meant to be moving into a retirement village and I was going to go visit once I return. I really didn't think this was possible.
After speaking to my parents I knew I wanted to get home. So I called the insurance company, who couldn't get me out. I then called Qantas to try and find a flight home and discovered I missed the flight that day but they could get me out the following day at a HUGE cost. But I didn't care. I just wanted to get home.
The flight home was horrendous. Fine I might have been flying first and business class, but it didn't make things any better. All I wanted to do was be home with my family and try and get my head around what on earth was going on.
Saying a final goodbye is very hard but also a nice sense of closure. Being able to say thank you for the love and support is what I needed, but just wish it had been later in my life and could have had a few more days or weeks with her.
But who would have thought that saying goodbye would bring up a lot of memories about the past and the numerous difficulties that I experienced as a young gay man at high school.
Bullying is such a bitch and it takes years to overcome. It is a shame that it still takes place in high schools all around Australia. The older I become the more I discuss high school life with my gay friends and it seems that we all experienced the same things when young. I wonder if there will ever be a time when young gay men aren't tortured and tormented for being gay?? It would be nice to think that eventually people will be a little more tolerant towards the young gays and lesbians in school.
Anyway a hell of a month or two... maybe a little bit wiser, but definitely a little bit older and have a couple of new grey hairs to prove it!
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Just add red wine...
So it is the Easter long weekend and time to do the trek up to spend the time with my family. But this year for Easter I had decided I would get my family to do a few things I like to do. Watch a couple of musical movies and hopefully get my parents to go to the gym... oh boy the later option has been near impossible to complete!
I arrived two days ago and boldly stated that I planned drag my parents to the gym... my mother laughed and gave me a glass of red wine and my father said he cannot work out too hard as he will have a heart attack!
Promptly forgetting the idea about the gym I proceeded to catch up with my family and it was during dinner that I remembered that I wanted to go to the gym the following day and mentioned it again to my parents. My mother topped up my wine glass and told me I was mad and my father then told me he had hurt his back and could only do some light exercise. Laughing at both of them I explained the exercise I had planned for both of them (me bossy who would have guessed?). My mother explained that she doesn't do exercise and only would go only if she could sit on a bike and that was it... she happened to mention she didn't plan to actually make the peddles move! I failed to notice that she filled my wine glass up again and of course I finished it without problem. Who knew it would be so difficult to get my parents to exercise.
Later that night and feeling slightly tipsy we were watching Victor/Victoria (yes playing the gay card got the move shown!) I was on my forth glass of wine and asked what time we planned to go to the gym. My mother with a sly smile said lets see how we feel in the morning. I think during the course of the film had an additional glass before bed and was well and truly enjoying the alcohol fueled buzz.
So waking from my drunken slumber I realised that I had a little bit of a hangover. Walking into the kitchen for breakfast my very clever mother knew that I was in absolute no mood for the gym and asked "what time are we going to the gym?" I replied that let's see how I feel later today. Of course there was no way I was going to go to the gym so my parents were off the hook!
The following day I woke hangover free and walked into the kitchen declaring to my parents that I wanted to go to the gym. Once again my mother whinged she didn't want to go and my father explained he had pulled some muscles in his leg. They explained that they would go but only after lunch.
During lunch my parents went to their wine collection and selected a great bottle of red to have with the meal. Of course once it was open we all had a glass and then finished off the bottle. But the problem with having wine with lunch is it makes you very sleepy in the afternoon. Realising I had two glasses of wine it would not be wise to go to the gym... explaining this to my mother she said "Yes we shouldn't work out after wine and I am not going to the gym if it is full of muscle men!"...
I think it was easier coming out to my parents than making them step foot in a gym!
I arrived two days ago and boldly stated that I planned drag my parents to the gym... my mother laughed and gave me a glass of red wine and my father said he cannot work out too hard as he will have a heart attack!
Promptly forgetting the idea about the gym I proceeded to catch up with my family and it was during dinner that I remembered that I wanted to go to the gym the following day and mentioned it again to my parents. My mother topped up my wine glass and told me I was mad and my father then told me he had hurt his back and could only do some light exercise. Laughing at both of them I explained the exercise I had planned for both of them (me bossy who would have guessed?). My mother explained that she doesn't do exercise and only would go only if she could sit on a bike and that was it... she happened to mention she didn't plan to actually make the peddles move! I failed to notice that she filled my wine glass up again and of course I finished it without problem. Who knew it would be so difficult to get my parents to exercise.
Later that night and feeling slightly tipsy we were watching Victor/Victoria (yes playing the gay card got the move shown!) I was on my forth glass of wine and asked what time we planned to go to the gym. My mother with a sly smile said lets see how we feel in the morning. I think during the course of the film had an additional glass before bed and was well and truly enjoying the alcohol fueled buzz.
So waking from my drunken slumber I realised that I had a little bit of a hangover. Walking into the kitchen for breakfast my very clever mother knew that I was in absolute no mood for the gym and asked "what time are we going to the gym?" I replied that let's see how I feel later today. Of course there was no way I was going to go to the gym so my parents were off the hook!
The following day I woke hangover free and walked into the kitchen declaring to my parents that I wanted to go to the gym. Once again my mother whinged she didn't want to go and my father explained he had pulled some muscles in his leg. They explained that they would go but only after lunch.
During lunch my parents went to their wine collection and selected a great bottle of red to have with the meal. Of course once it was open we all had a glass and then finished off the bottle. But the problem with having wine with lunch is it makes you very sleepy in the afternoon. Realising I had two glasses of wine it would not be wise to go to the gym... explaining this to my mother she said "Yes we shouldn't work out after wine and I am not going to the gym if it is full of muscle men!"...
I think it was easier coming out to my parents than making them step foot in a gym!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)