By Lenny Giardino and Tim Flihan
Often times, Genesis Fans speak of the spiritual experience of the band. Whether the music, or a chance encounter with a band member, it resonates for a lifetime. One of the best things about Positively Genesis is the people we meet, and the stories we hear to validate how important the band is in music history. Every now and then, a story comes to our Facebook Page or Blog that deserves to be shared with a larger audience.
This story is set in Utica NY 35 years ago. A chance encounter from our friend on the page Tim that is a testament to generous actions by a body guard and Peter Gabriel that one loyal fan will never forget. And when you completed the article, you may ask yourself, what happened to that jacket?
In 1982, I had the opportunity to provide personal security to Peter Gabriel as he walked through the crowd at the Stanley Theater in Utica, NY. I sort of cleared the way. It was my first- time backstage for any show up until that time so I had some access. Before the show a young guy and his girlfriend came up to me while I was waiting for a ride on King Street behind the historic building.
The Dude had on a Jean Jacket with the album cover from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway embroidered on the back. If you don’t know what that is, sorry, but it was really cool. Anyway, he saw the lanyard with my pass he asked me if I could get Peter to sign it. I told him I would try after the show. I had no idea if I could, but if I could I would. He left and I went back inside and hung out. I was good at that.
That afternoon I walked through the tunnels underneath the theater which was how we got from the ratty old dressing rooms to the back of the Stanley. They come out in the basement underneath the front lobby and into the Men’s bathroom in the basement. For a geek like me I loved the behind the scenes stuff. This was going to be memorable.
So, it’s Showtime and we walk through the tunnels, Peter and the band complete with drums and their faces made-up followed me blindly through the labyrinth beneath the huge crowd anticipating their arrival. Then we get to the door which opens directly into the restroom, which was currently occupied by at least a dozen people at. It’s not every day you see Peter Gabriel and his band, in complete regalia with drums, come out of the wall in the restroom where you were anxiously trying to relieve yourself and quickly get back to your seat. I wish I had a camera. The look on the collective faces was priceless. We proceeded to march up the ornate stairwell which led to the inner lobby passing stunned fans as we briskly passed them on our way to the rear entrance. The lobby was almost empty by this time as people had only recently scrambled to get to their seats as the house lights dimmed. The anticipation was palpable. It was there that we opened the door and the sold-out Stanley turned their collective heads as the band pounded the drums which were beating behind me as we marched through the stunned and roaring crowd toward stage. The Rhythm was haunting. The Rhythm of the Heat. The lights and fog were surreal. Then as quickly as it started my job was done. Now I could relax and enjoy the show which was more of an event then rock concert. That whole experience was like I was a member of the band. All eyes were on the band as they paraded trough the crowd and I was right in front of Peter. For a couple of minutes, I knew what it felt like to be adored by the fans. Not me, I was not the focus of their attention, but I was so close that I felt it. It was a feeling I will never forget or be able to replicate in my simple uneventful life.
After the show I escorted Peter and his team to a room at the Motel next to the Stanley It’s gone now, torn down years ago to make room for a parking lot. On my way between the Motel and the theater, the young man and his girlfriend that I met prior to the show flagged me down. They had been waiting for the hour or so since the show had ended. They once again asked me if I could get the jacket signed. I could see that this whole experience was a spiritual one for them. On top of that it was the nicest jean jacket I had ever seen. So, I took the jacket back to the room and Peter signed it. I had worried he would be reluctant, but he was gracious. As a matter of fact, after he signed it he passed it around to the other people in the room and commented how nice it was. It seemed like I was gone for hours, but it was only a few minutes until I brought it back to the rightful owner who was overjoyed when I gave it back to him. He was thrilled to death. He was a true fan. I always wondered what became of that jacket, there was no way that coat would have been neglected or lost to time. I am positive he would have insisted that some sort of reverence be given to it, because he was a fan, I always thought of myself as a Genesis/Peter Gabriel super fan, but that night I felt small. This was a true fan. Someone who cherished the moment.
I last saw him and his girlfriend sitting on a retaining wall between the theater and the motel, on that cold rainy October night. I thought he was crying, but it may have just been the misty rain. I like to think he was crying, because it was a culmination of love which brought him to that moment.
I have often wondered what had happened to that jacket. Where it was. Was it displayed? Was it worn? Where is it?
It has been over thirty-five years since that night and I still fondly remember it like it was yesterday.
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