The AxL Whistle Conquest – Secrets of a Concert Fanatic

Months ago, when I realized I would be seeing Guns N Roses from the 5th row at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, during their 'Not In This Lifetime' tour, I developed a strange notion and hair-brained scheme to nab a very special souvenir from the show.

How and why this notion even developed in the first place has me confused, because the idea just popped in there! Maybe it was the specter of the tour title itself? Or old concert footage I've viewed in the past? In the end, I created a challenge in my mind and I knew I had to follow through with it.

-- THE PREP - THE PLAN - THE EXECUTION - THE RESULT--

The Prep - Everybody knows that during the song 'Paradise City,' AxL sings his intro, and then blasts a stainless-steel whistle which he usually throws into the crowd. One lucky person gets one unique souvenir. I guess I was feeling lucky, but I knew I would need a plan, and a big-ass sign!

I had also determined that AxL really doesn't do Facebook, but did use Twitter occasionally, as I witnessed with my very own eyes' as AxL was tweeting one day about rescuing an animal. He would not have some publicity hack doing those chores, right? Also, I figured social media would have to come into play at some point in this wild-haired quest. I would prove myself correct in that assumption.

The Plan (Plan the Plan - then Work the Plan) - A couple days before before driving down I-35 for the overnight trek to KC, I made a trip to the local Rochester, Minnesota Hobby Lobby for some vital materials, armed with a 40% off coupon and a pocket full of change. (That's all I had after the ticket price!)

I knew the sign would have to be LARGE, READABLE, and within limits of what NFL stadium gate rules allow. I wanted it to look NICE too, because that's what we do here in Minnesota. Be NICE.

The Execution - On the morning of June 28th I blasted out a tweet to @axlrose saying "See You at Arrowhead," and attached the two images above. I had no guarantees that he would see them, but I had to execute the plan.

Near the end of 'It’s So Easy,' AxL jumped-up onto the riser at the front
of the stage walkway and got a good glimpse of my sign. Previously, I had held it overhead during the opening song a few times so that he could read it. Again, near the end, he pointed an index finger at me and flashed a wry smile. I knew right then and there he would return with the coveted whistle after 25 songs, 2.5 hours later.

The Result - The moment of reckoning was now here. Slash lays down the signature riff to 'Paradise City' while AxL rushes to the riser and delivers the opening lyrics. He then jumps down, pivots, and moves to the right side of the stage where he is met by a stagehand who placed the coveted whistle in his hand. AxL then races back to the riser, finished his intro lyrics to 'Paradise', and then wound-up and threw the whistle directly at me.

I intended to use the sign as a back-stop of sorts, to stop the flight of the whistle. I envisioned it sliding down the face of the sign and landing gently in my awaiting left hand. However, Axl's throw sailed high. I jumped, but was an inch too short. The souvenir landed in the hands of the dude right behind me. After I picked myself up off the row of empty chairs behind me I sprang to my feet, smartly shook the hand of the lucky bastard, and wished him well. My girlfriend offered him money for the whistle but he declined.

Despite the well laid plans it was not meant to be. 'Not In This Lifetime' would ring true.

-‘Train Wreck’ ~ Z-Rock Weekends

( Follow me on TWITTER: @trainwreckradio. I’ll always follow-back!) \m/\m/

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! \m/\m/