So the other day found us face to face with the incomparable Ms. Joan Jett and, as we're driving today for something like 9 hours, I find myself with a little time to share some of the experience with you. First of all, things did not start out smoothly between us and her. When we got to the venue, which was in a town called Eufaula, Oklahoma, we discovered that the dressing room that was to be ours had been taken by someone named Joan Jett, so we were a little bit pissy about the prospect of having to stand around outside in the hot, sticky, sucks that was the day there. Fortunately our hotel was nearby so we were taken there by a runner at the venue to cool off for an hour or so before we needed to be back to do our set.

When we got back, the crowd was just starting to fill in as we were about to go on, and a very nice fella named Keith let us have access to his bitchin' Airstream trailer he had parked behind the stage. This Keith fella was so nice, he showered us with gifts, (the highlight of which were these awesome guitar straps his brother makes, which you will now see on my bass guitar) and let us bask in the glory of his air conditioned trailer while we waited to hit the stage. During our show I noticed some of the "cool kids" watching us from the side of the stage. Turns out this was Joan Jett's band, who are all fans of the mighty mighty Supersuckers and ONE of them happened to be the amazing Mr. Tommy Price, drummer extraordinaire, keeper of the Big Beat, who you may remember from being Billy Idol's drummer back in the day. We used to worship his drumming back in the 80's and I remember auditioning drummers for my old glam rock band using the "What Would Tommy Price Do" creedo for our hiring. So it was fantastic to meet him after our set and to hear that he was a fan? Wow, it just doesn't get much better than that.

So then there's Joan, who we first see backstage, kind of yelling at her monitor man about how her in ear monitor "isn't f***ing working!" so it doesn't seem like the most opportune time to approach her and ask for a photo together. But then, she turns around and sees us standing there and she's all grace and smiles. She actually seemed happy to meet us and when I asked her if I could have a photo with her, she happily obliged.

Her set was chock full of hits. You forget how many popular songs she had until she starts running 'em down. Of course there's the obvious, "I Love Rock-N-Roll" and "Bad Reputation" but there's also "Do You Wanna Touch", "I Hate Myself For Loving You", "Crimson And Clover", "Cherry Bomb" and so many other great ones. She did an awesome version of the Replacement's "Androgynous" which came off as much more of a statement in her (tiny) hands. (She's really small, I think my boy Quattro probably out-weighs her. And he's eight!)

After the show, I waited outside of her (our) dressing room like some star-struck fanboy for her to come out and sign a couple of things for me. I was waiting with a guy who said to me, "So, this is what it feels like to be on the other side, eh? I'm usually waiting for you to come out and sign something and here you are waiting with me for one." Pretty humbling stuff. But it was all right, we didn't have to wait very long and when she came out, she was just as gracious and nice as you'd ever want someone to be. I told her how she stole our dressing room and she looked just shocked. She said "We always get two. You can come in and hang out if you want to, though." So, all was forgiven and, even though I didn't take her up on the offer (we were about to leave) I had her sign a couple of CD's - one to Quattro, who she asked if he was playing any instruments and I told her that yes, he plays the guitar and the drums, all at the age of 8 and she seemed pleased by this information, and one to my unborn daughter, Elvis. When I asked her to sign one to Elvis she looked at me kind of funny and said, "Elvis?". I then told her that it was my daughter's name and she lit up, saying to her manager, "Did you hear that? He has a daughter named Elvis! Isn't that a cool name for a girl?"

Yes, yes it is cool and so are you, Joan. I hope that our paths cross again soon.

So that's the Joan Jett story. Before she left, she gave me a big hug and said "let's do this again sometime". Something that I intend to hold her to because, after all, we both love rock-n-roll now don't we?

And so do you, I'm sure, so keep your eyes peeled for all the latest Supersuckers and Eddie Spaghetti action right here.

Thanks for your time,

Eddie Spaghetti, Rock Guy and eternal Fanboy.