david bowie - outside

released: 1995
label: arista

i went to go and see david bowie while he was out on tour for this album. he brought along the bands prick and nine in nails. i took my then girlfriend. all of this took place in tinley park,il back in 1995 at the new world music theater (as it was known as back then)....

she and i were out lawn and these folks had positioned themselves next to us during prick's set. they were obviously there for nine inch nails because they seemed irritated that they had to put up with some band before their lord and savior,trent reznor,came out. THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL was still a fresh album. admittedly prick were just an ok band in my opinion. i'd given their SELF-TITLED album a few listens but nothing really stuck. they just sounded like a nine inch nails soundalike. they only played for about a half hour and then everything went dark. everyone knew what was coming. the 2 hot topic employees standing next to us sure did. i kept glancing over at them in hopes that some piercings would get snagged. but it sadly didn't happen. and then nine inch nails took the stage and everything went as expected. trent being angry. trent throwing things. trent screaming. it was just a good time. and towards the end of nine inch nails' set david bowie came out and did some of their songs with them....

and then it happened.

the 2 edgy kids standing next to us took a break from their writhings together to look towards the stage. they both had a shitty look on their faces. a look that said "what do you mean you ran out of big pants with too many chains on it that serve absolutely no purpose?! don't you know who i am?! i am hot topic employee!". and they're just looking. and then suddenly the boy's mouth opens and forms these words....

"who's the old faggot on the stage?"

who's.
the.
old.
faggot.
on.
the.
stage.

listen. i don't give a fuck who you are. you've heard at least one david bowie song. be it either "let's dance" or "space oddity" or "changes" or "modern love" or "the man who sold the world" or "china girl" or or or or....

you get the idea.
you've heard a fucking david bowie song.
just you shut your mouth.

so i "accidentally" kicked him in the leg.
he and his lady friend glared back at me.
i stared back at them.
they stood there for a few minutes and then gathered up their crap and wandered off.

and then it was david bowie's turn on stage.
the nine inch nails fellas came out and played a few songs with david bowie and his band.
i'm glad to have gotten to see him at least once before his death 21 years later.

that's a good story,grampa.
now back into the basement with you.
there's company coming over later.

DL