GUEST SPOT # 38 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop

This weeks Guest Spot features SFW's better half, Vidette and her adventure to Hyde Park

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Can’t Stop


I love music. I love it because of its ability to evoke memories and its ability to stir/enhance pretty much all emotions. Whenever I hear this song, it takes me right back to Hyde Park in 2004 to the Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live in Hyde Park concert. I’d heard the concert being promoted on Radio 1 who were offering a short window to purchase tickets – I can’t remember why now but for some reason I wasn’t able to phone for tickets so my wonderful mum made the phone call for me – I have in mind that she spent several hours trying to get through (but this could be my poor memory not recalling properly and she may well have got through straight away) – the story however sounds better if we say she lost a day trying to get these tickets for me. Anyway, get my those tickets she did and even better than that she ended up upgrading to the Gold tickets which meant we were allocated to the section immediately in front of the stage (which given the size of the concert and the extent of people there was pretty amazing). Anyway, we arrived early and got in to Hyde Park as soon as it opened which was some hours before the concert was due to start – which on the positive ensured we could take up positions right at the front but meant there was then quite a wait before any music started (even longer given that the warm up act (can’t remember their name) did not go down well – and they subsequently stopped and walked off after only a few songs because the crowd kept on throwing bottles at them (not me I hasten to add). Anyway, James Brown (who followed) got the positive vibes going again, but it was RHCP that did it for me – from the minute they came on they were amazing. I remember jumping around like a fool with a massive grin on my face the whole time (I don’t get out to concerts much!) The other thing that I remember about this night was the long drive home after the concert to Wales – the concert was on a Sunday night and I hadn’t managed to get the Monday off work – it was the most surreal drive home – which might have been due to the late hour or from being on a high from the concert but I do wonder if it had anything to do with passive smoking from the couple who’d taken position next to us when we arrived and had chain smoked throughout the long wait before the concert started (and it didn’t smell like normal cigarettes!)
If you'd like to write a guest spot, please get in touch, it's great to find out what memories are associated to particular songs & artists.  Also, see our other Guest Posts here!

Comments

Old Pa's Corner said…
Thats is what it is all about! memories, emotion well done Mum..doing what mums are there for...good story Vidette and good choice of song by the boys
Shell Hunter said…
Great choice Vidette, I was totally mad on the Chilis after Californiacation. Have never seen them live either, must have been amazing at Hyde Park!
flycasual said…
I'm so pleased you've finally graced these pages, Aunty V!! Rock n Roll all the way! Throwing bottles at the support band, smoking grass, driving there and back from Cardiff to see your band. Hyde park too, must have such an experience. I'd love to know who that poor band were...Lost Prophets?
Anonymous said…
I've remembered ..... the support band was called 'Chicks on Speed'!

V
flycasual said…
Oops, that's not surprising, still it could have been worse! It could have been Mika!!