It
has been a real pleasure to read everyone's reports on their own personal JUKESTOCK
memories although I can imagine a few non attendees might be getting just a little
frustrated reading about it by now. The music was just amazing and as I sat at the airport
unwrapping all my CD's I felt a certain guilt that I had spent so much money and had
enjoyed such a great weekend while so many out there were less fortunate.
There was something special about the weekend that you just don't get form an ordinary
gig. You usually go out with a few friends to see your favourite band, some willing to see
your choice others reluctant participants. Have a beer before the show and after if you
are lucky get a few more and discuss the night’s entertainment. But it is not often
that you can indulge yourself so fully for a whole weekend, share so many stories and
views on music that all around you love and enjoy. This for me was the big difference and
the one factor that made the whole thing go so well.
I did the trip on my own hoping that I would not be standing around like Billy no Mates
all weekend. The name badges were great, as soon as you saw one you knew that there was
someone who you could talk to, and I don't think I found anyone who would not talk music
with me at any time.
Being from England helped because as soon as you spoke there was the immediate icebreaker
oh you are form the UK. A few others saw the nametag and said ah Neil I've seen you write
on the Digest. And I too recognised names and said hello, it took me until Saturday night
to meet the wonderful DanniGirl. Mind you I was trying to find a Cher look alike, funny
how you paint such bizarre images isn't it. How I didn't meet Sly till Sunday night I will
never know, because quiet she is not!
Over the weekend I met many people but in particular a small crowd of us began to hang out
together The "Britstock Crew". Not an elite closed shop just a group who could
hang out together enjoy a few beers and do a couple of site seeing visits together, no
rules of entry no barriers.
We had a great time and were the last out the Bar each night with some pretty heavyweight
tabs to settle. Mike "Stato" Saunders and Dave "Maram Beach" Percival
were in the Bar when I got to the Hotel and could always be counted on to have a pint and
a Yarn. Mike soon met, after 15 years Mile "Smokie" Wilson who shared the Bus
ride back to the airport and a couple of hours in departures. By the end of that Mike had
Promised to copy about a dozen CD's for me and between us we had designed a LAN based
sound system.
On Sunday six of us went down to Asbury Park to pay homage. It was a sad sight and oh so
cold. We walked along the boardwalk and took photos. Some young guy came up and said who
the hell are you lot. Didn't he know "we were with the Band". Tim "the
Taxi" Boman gave us a tour round the area and we rushed back to see LaBamba.
Paul "Yueng Ling" Kraemer and I did another late one on Sunday, (he says he
doesn't during much usually!) And Monday we all started to say goodbye. Jo and Richard
from Leicester had left early Sunday to miss the storm and I began to worry I might just
be stuck in NJ longer than I wanted. Over breakfast I gave Maggie a serious listening to,
boy can she talk! She told us all about setting up the weekend and I told her then that
along with Jane and Debbie they had done such a great job, could it be any better?
And one last mention to Jeff "The Generous" Jennings who gave me one of the
Harps he had won in the Raffle, Thanks mate.
I had a great weekend, met many great people (too many to mention here), drank too much,
slept too little and sang out of tune to every song I knew, and a few that I didn't.
Oh, and one more thing, I sang with
the Band. But that's a long story for another day (if you want to hear it). For me it was
as good as it gets.
Thanks to you all
Neil |
