only sleeping

From velvet night came forth,
Our torch burns eternal,
For Time is but a dream,
and our mischief be infernal.

Hark the electric thunder,
drawn like moths to a Flame,
to a place of Wicked Wonder
. . . And Hollywood be they name.

I was all of 14 years old at the time, and I was suitably obsessed with LA Guns. I mean, c'mon people- they were *the* Hollywood Vampires! They were fans of Anne Rice- even presented her with their gold records *for* Hollywood Vampires, if I'm remembering correctly. Where do you think I first *heard* of Anne Rice, anyway?

And little 13 year old Chris Rice even got autographs from the band.

Yeah, I'm still stuck in nostalgia mode. No, I'm not coming out again, any time soon.

They were sleezy, glam, and they *owned* all of us little vampire-obsessed children in Hollyweird for a brief period in time. And if you looked past the badass attitudes, they were really nice guys, too.

I have been trying to explain to people how much living in Hollywood was like like living on another planet. You were surrounded by people who fell into three catagories: 1- people who were famous, 2- people who wanted to be famous, and 3- people who already *thought* they were famous. Normal people just didn't exist. If you were a part of the bar/club scene, you simply could not go out without running in to someone who was enjoying their fleeting moment of fame...and it was NOT a big deal. How *could* it be a big deal, when even the nobodies had legions of squealing fangirls following them from club to club?

Yes, even a guy who worked at Jack In The Box during the day, could be a rockstar by night, complete with groupies from hell. Only in Hollywood. It is the greatest circus sideshow on earth.

At 15, I got to go to Daytona Beach, and see the guys play during spring break. It's just one of those things that will always stick out in my head, because the weather was horrible...it was pouring down rain, and we were all soaked to the skin in a matter of minutes. But did we complain? Fuck no. And one of the songs that I remember from the set, was "Some Lie 4 Love". Why do I remember it? Because of Tracii splasing in the puddles, Kelly being afraid he was going to get electrocuted, and the way Phil took such great pleasure in belting out those lyrics.

Somewhere south of the border
Headin' for a doll serenade
Taking more than we aughta'
Shakin' off the masquerade

Some lie for love
Some lie for gain
But I lie for you
In the pouring rain

Ya know, we were simple. "But I lie for you, baby- in the pouring rain." And it was really *raining*. Sheesh. By the time the set was over and we went back to the hotel, we looked like little baby mud monsters. But that still remains one of the greatest weeks of my entire life. I was not supposed to be there. I was not supposed to be allowed to go. But thanks to some creative storytelling on the part of my best friend's older brother, we went...we drank more than 15 year old's should *ever* be able to drink, and we created one of the best times I have ever had.

The second best time I ever had? Well, that would revolve around a certain weekend in Las Vegas...and I think I'll save that story for another time.