Tag: Keith Richards

Stay cation at the Four Seasons

Describe your most memorable vacation.

In 2005, I was living in Los Angeles, and the Rolling Stones were doing their Bigger Bang tour ,to which I had tickets. It was common knowledge that they would be staying at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills. I decided that I would spend 3 nights at the same hotel in hopes of catching a glimpse of the band, and I was not disappointed. The hotel itself is gorgeous, and the staff was top-notch.  At the time, they offered a spa package that included 2 spa treatments with a 3 night stay, and I took advantage of the manicure/pedicure and the in room massage the 2 days prior to the concert. I had just had my 40th birthday and was intent on treating myself to some, much needed pampering. Room service for breakfast and lunch and dinner in the hotel’s restaurant, which had the best food!  It was in the restaurant for lunch that I got to spend a half hour discretely watching Keith Richards  while he ate. That evening, I took the book I was reading, James Ellroy’s American Tabloid, to the lounge and settled in, looking up any time someone walked in. It was there that Ronnie Wood walked through with his wife in tow. But it was on the day I checked out,the morning after the concert, at the Staples Center, that it finally happened. I actually caught a look at Mick Jagger in the elevator! Unfortunately, he had tight security, and I wasn’t going to get on the elevator with him, but the doors opened on my floor, and there he was!   I checked out of the hotel, hopped into my little red Miata, and drove past the tour bus on my way out as the CD was blaring out the song, Sympathy for the Devil.

All in all, it was a very satisfying experience and worth every penny spent.

For every musician out there, I present the legendary, iconic, some would say the best guitarist with a career spanning 6 decades this year, Keith Richards, making a mistake in front of thousands! Enjoy. And don’t be so hard on yourself.

Mick Jagger laughing while singing is perfect! Why everyone didn’t just follow Ronnie, I will never know. What a great moment. So funny.

Thanks for the Satisfaction

I’ve been griping a lot, and I did say I’d blog about some things that inspire me. On that note…

 

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction was the number on song on the day I was born. I guess I was destined to be a fan of the Rolling Stones.

I remember one New Year’s Eve in my teens. I was alone at home, feeling very lonely and unwanted. I laid on my bed, drinking a mickey of Lemon Gin and listening to the 45 of Paint It Black on repeat for hours. It helped me to think that I wasn’t alone in my darkness. To this day, if I’m feeling depressed, Paint it Black will help me through my feelings.

The first time I fell in love, the Stones were there too. Wild Horses was the soundtrack to the exact moment that I realized I was, indeed, in love. I was kissing my boyfriend. We both pulled apart, noticed the tears in each other’s eyes and said, I love you.

The first time I drove a convertible with the top down Mick and the boys were there. Route 66 blared from the speakers of my 1971 Cadillac. I felt freedom and joy.

Beast Of Burden was playing the first time I had sex. Ever since, I get randy as all get out when I hear it.

The Stones have been there for all of my most important firsts and many of the moments in between. I was lucky enough to have seen them live once in my life and hope to do so at least once more. I look forward to sharing the rest of my days with the most poignant, fun loving, controversial, sexy, dark, life affirming and satisfying bands in the history of rock and roll.

Thank you, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brain Jones, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman, Mick Taylor and Charlie Watts for the Satisfaction.