SOAD n' RHCP
11/15/03
Hollywood Palladium
Written by Angela
We are the epitome of good luck. This adventure proves that statement. There's no shame in saying
that Sheep Mafia adventures are predictable, and its good that they are. Something horrible will happen,
and we'll worry, complain, and cry. In the last minute, it will all be resolved and we'll have a grand time.
Well, here's how it went down. The place: Hollywood Palladium. The event: Red Hot Chili Peppers and
System of a Down benefit show. Rosemary called me the week before the show and told me she was going
to ask John from SOAD for tickets, but when she called his answering machine was something along the
lines of "If you haven't called me in the last six months and you're calling for tickets, don't bother..".
Knowing that a lot of people would want tickets from him, Rosemary decided to auction for them on
ticketmaster. We got the 2 tickets, and we found out Lori could come too, so Rosemary bought another
ticket off eBay. The drive to Hollywood seemed like forever and the anticipation was heating up. It was
raining when we got there, and us, being too cool to carry jackets, were freezing. Lori picked up her ticket
from the eBay guy which wasn't that cheap. We went to eat at Togo's and on returning to the Palladium,
Lori noticed that her ticket wasn't in her pocket. We retraced all our steps but couldn't find the ticket. If
this event were to magically work out, it would probably cost us many adventure points. We came to the
conclusion that someone pick pocketed her. Yep, because there is no way that the ticket could have fallen
out of her pocket. I only had about $40 on me, and that couldn't even buy ½ of a ticket. We lingered
outside for about an hour until we came to out last resort: calling John. He said he would meet us at will
call. When he walked out, the crowd did not seem to recognize him at all- he's the only norm looking of
SOAD. He persuaded the will call people to give a ticket to Lori and we thanked him a million times. As he
was walking back, he said "that was one bullshit story", referring to Lori having her ticket stolen, it really
happened.
On entering, the security checked for cameras and such by patting us, which really tickled. For such big
bands, the venue was small, lucky for us. The opening band was crappy- a few old grampies rocking out
on an organ/keyboard. Before SOAD, John Frusciante from RHCP played a solo for about 20 mins. SOAD
opened with 'Civil War' by Guns n Roses really well. Being easily harmed by the slightest poke, I decided to
stay on the side lines. Rosemary and Lori went in the pit. During this time, while I sitting around the VIP
entrance, I spotted David Spade, and followed him to the beer line. He was really nice and funny. It was
weird, like John, no one knew who he was. I told him how Just Shoot Me is one of my favorite shows. I
didn't have a camera so begged him to take a photo with me if I saw him again. I reluctantly left him to
find Lori and Rosemary. I failed, and went back to my corner. After 2 songs, Lori came back, exhausted.
If you can't take the heat Lori, stay out of the kitchen. She said it was crazy and she felt like she was going
to die or puke. I was really depressed that I didn't get a photo with Spade, but as Lori and I were walking we
saw him again, and we took a photo! It was all very quick and hush hush. We wondered how Rosemary
was doing, dead or alive. During Aerials, Kirk Hammett, guitarist of Metallica, played with SOAD. It was
great. After SOAD, Rosemary came back soaked in sweat and half dead. She could barely stand up, and I
tried to stay away from her, but she kept rubbing her sweaty skin on me. "That was the most intense show
I have EVER been to", she said. I was glad I sat out with all these scary people, I'm sure I would have
broken something. Unlike Rosemary, Lori and I have not been to a mosh pit training course.
After SOAD played, it was RHCP's turn. It was less intense, but it was still an awesome show. During the
set, Johnny Ramone came onstage and played one song, with a big frownie face. I think it is impossible
for him to smile - like a disease or something. (Sheep Mafia Photo of Johnny Ramone) After RHCP, the
crowd was expecting an encore, or an explanation of why Metallica didn't show, but there was nothing.
Everyone got mad and tore down the walls and set the building on fire. Kidding guys. We left peacefully.
We were desperate to find some entrance to backstage. We looked for about 30 mins, but there were
security guards everywhere. In the parking lot, we found that the gate was partially opened and we slipped
through. We saw Daron's assistant near John's car so we asked to follow him to the backstage party. Right
when we got there, we saw Serj (lead singer of SOAD..gasp) and asked to take a photo with him, but he was
really busy and said he would be back in a moment (we know what that means..). We couldn't believe how
lucky we were to be here, and just at that moment I hear a huge tear. Rosemary who had just spotted
Daron (bug eyed guitarist from SOAD) in a king's jersey, tore my pocket out of excitement. We expected
him to be really weird, and he was. What was so nice was that he actually talked to us. He would bring up
random topics and we would all laugh and talk. Unfortunately, Rosemary's bro was here and we had to
leave. So we were the ones to end the conversation with Daron, who knows how long it would have been.
When we left Daron was standing with a drink by himself, looking for someone to talk to, it was all very
sad. We spotted Shavo who no longer was doing beard tricks (funny beard guitarist from SOAD), and had
to take a quick photo because his dad was there. Sounds familiar? At Ozzfest, he also had to "make it
quick" because of a family crisis. I just realized that we have met Shavo in all, four times: Ozzfest, house of
1000 corpses premiere, warped tour (haha not really "met"), and this moment. We quickly scurried on a
caravan to take photos and hopefully find some memorabilia to sell on eBay. We're kidding Daron, we
would never do that, please don't hit me (which he almost did). Lori and I took some free hats. Rosemary
took some pizza. We never met Serj, but that'll happen another day, fur shure.
