July 16, 2005 Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV

by To2bizzy
Well, I just got in from Vegas and man was it great!!

I have to start with our day on friday when we got to the Hilton. After unpacking and getting settled in, we decided to go see what the Center looked like, and see where our seats were in relation to the stage since there were no pictures, and only a drawing of the seating chart. It was a lot different than we expected. Just one huge room with hotel chairs set up on the floor, hundreds of them! And then bleachers on the sides and in back. The stage was pretty small so our front row seats ended up being a little off to the side kind of kitty corner from the stage, but still good and close.

Next we wandered around to see if we could see where Robert would be coming in, in case we could get a glimpse of Robert and say hello on Saturday night before the concert. So we went behind the stage and saw a staircase with the light on. We went up the stairs and ended up in the dressing room!! No one was there, but there were chairs and a couch and three doors to other rooms with chairs and a couch. One room had Roberts name on the door! We went in and it had a chair and couch and a mirror. So it was fun to see where they would be! So we had a good giggle from that one.

Saturday night we went to the concert, but when we went to go inside there was a big line. So we decided to go out front and take our pictures in front of the marque. It was soooo hot! After, we were walking back and decided to pop around to the back to see if Robert and the SS had gotten there yet. There were two guys sitting a ways back from the backstage entrance with things for Robert to sign and looking very hot. So we asked how long they had been there. They had been sitting there for two hours! They had not seen Robert go in, and said they over heard security say that he would be there any moment! So we decided to hang out for a bit and brave the 115 degree heat. (Now my one of the two friends I came with and I, had gotten to meet Robert at the meet and greet in Vegas in 2002, and we vowed that if we went again we would like to give him a gift of some sort.) So this time, we made him a necklace made of African trade beads and morrocan beads and also some Tibetan sterling silver beads on a leather string. So we were hoping to give it to him. We wanted to show our appreciation of his music and introducing us to all the global music.

Next security came over and told us we all would have to leave! So we walked back aways but didn’t leave. The guys that were standing there, asked us if we would try to get their posters signed, so we said we would. Next a black lincoln navigator drove up and out stepped Robert! My friend yelled to him “Robert would you sign a few things for us!” He turned and started to walk towards us and then security stopped him! He looked at us with a disappointed and almost angry look on his face, and shook his head and pointed to security! So we started to walk away when we heard security yelling after us, Ladies! Ladies! Come back! We thought we were in trouble, but instead they were calling us back to meet Robert!! He must have argued with them and had them bring us over! So he signed the posters for the guys first that we had (they stayed back a distance) and then we presented him with our necklace telling him we made it, and where the beads were from and he said “oh yes, I recognize them!” He had a huge grin on his face! Then we told him how grateful we were for all the years of his music, how much we loved the new album! He said thank you, I’m having fun. We thanked him for also introducing us to the world music, to which he replied “oh, like this?” and held up his necklace that he was wearing. The necklace with the black strap and the sterling silver elephant (which is very strikingly beautiful up close) then he proceeded to give us each a close hug and a kiss on the cheek! That’s how sweet he is! He put his hand around the back of my neck/head and pulled me close and hugged me tight and then pressed his cheek against mine and kissed me and each of my friends! Then said he had to go, and thanked us for the gift. We were of course elated!!

After composing ourselves, we went into the concert and took our seats. The security lady came up, checked our tickets, and called another guy over to put a wrist band on us. He told us later during the show if we had a wrist band which proved we had front row seats, we would be allowed to stand up in front of the stage! So right before Robert came out, everyone started moving that way, and we got to stand in the very front of Robert!! Man what a night!! What could get better than this??

The concert was excellent!! They sounded so great!! I’m so tired, but still on cloud nine. This band is so awesome!! They are really a tight unit and sounded great! Robert looked and sounded great also of course. He was right on key, and hit those high notes no problem!! He had on his black ruffled shirt, and black trousers with a flower print on them and black suede shoes. The fan kept blowing up his shirt a bit in front giving nice glimpses. And he did some hip gyrating that was very nice. By the way, his hair is definitely longer, and looks so great, and he does now have a goatee, which feels very nice when he hugged and kissed us. It was kind of soft.

He talked a lot during the concert, and was pretty funny at times. During Black Dog when he was singing the ah ah’s and we were supposed to sing back, we sounded pretty bad, he yelled stop! And stopped the band and asked “what the fuck was that?!” We all laughed and then they started back up, and we were all a little better.

After the concert we went to the Rainbow bar and Grill, (thanks to a little tip) and we were only there for about 3 minutes when we spotted Clive Deamer!! I went up and introduced myself and told him how awesome the show was and how much we loved it! He thanked me. Then I told him how much I loved the new album, and loved the new songs!! He looked at me so surprised and asked, “so you have it?” I said yes, I have it in my car and listen to it over and over, and its awesome!! He laughed and said, oh, so you are a true fan! Not like some others! I said yes, we love you guys! Your a great band, ect. ect!! He seemed so happy to hear someone telling him how great they were and not talking about LZ that he instantly was relaxed and very friendly with us. Then I asked him if we could buy him a beer, as he was drinking a Heinekin. He said why yes! That would be nice! To make a long story short, we ended up partying with Clive until 5:00am! What a truely nice, nice man!! He was so charming and a total gentlemen!! We had so much fun with him and we talked about everything, Clive myself and my two friends. I can’t say enough nice things about him. He’s just a sweet heart!

We also got to meet Justin and Billy breifly in the lobby before they left and talked for a few moments, but they were on their way out to catch their plane and didn’t have much time to chat. Nice fellows though. Again we thanked them for a great show, and told them how much we enjoyed their music and new album.

We were so stupid though, because here we were talking to Robert, face to face, and didn’t even ask for a picture!! We were so caught up in the moment we forgot to ask! We wanted it to be about giving something to him, not asking for anything from him, but we would have liked a picture with the three of us with him and the necklace. He’ll probably never wear it, but it was from our hearts. I didn’t want an autograph, not my style but a picture would have savored the moment.

We did get pictures with Clive, and Billy Fuller though. Justin had to run so we didn’t ask him. It was funny that they were standing in line at the front desk of the Hilton checking themselves out of the hotel! Justin even said, sorry I can’t stay and chat, I have to go get in the long line! I would have thought they would have had someone to do that for them, or do the express check out in their rooms. Too funny! We did hang around to see if Robert might appear and we could ask for our photo moment we forgot to get! But we saw all the band checking out and getting in the limo to get to their plane, but didn’t see Robert. We had asked Clive if they were flying and he said yes they had a private jet. We didnt’ want to bother them though since they seemed to be in a hurry to get to where they were going.

I did tell Clive we hope they all stay together and continue to make more great music. He did say they are already working on new music. Nothing that will happen really quickly it seems, but they are working in that direction. They’ll probably get more serious after the tour is over. We talked about the songs they play, and he said he’d rather play a little less Zep. We told him we’d be happy with all Mighty Rearranger and Dreamland songs!! He seemed happy with that. We also said we’d like to hear Dancing in Heaven live. He said I love that song and have been trying to get Robert to play it! I said well tell him his fans agree with you and want to hear it! He also said they all get along well, and Robert’s a great bloke. And that sometimes when playing Whole Lotta Love reality hits him and he’s like “Wow! I’m playing with Robert Plant!” Too cute!

We also asked him what they do when they are in different cities. He said not to much, mostly hang out in the hotel since they don’t have a car or know where to go ect. We offered to show him around the bay area, and he said that would be great, but I doubt he’ll call. He also mentioned he has gone on a few websites and was disappointed to read some bad comments on the boards from some people who didn’t like the rearrangement of the Zep tunes, and wanted more Zep ect. ect. So I told him to visit this website if he wanted to read reviews from Robert’s and the SS’s true fans! He said he would try to check it out! So Clive, if your reading this, I had a wonderful time and you are truly a great person and total gentlemen!! And you guys Rock!!