July 1, 2007 (Detroit, MI)

Today, I went back in time, and it took me 6 hours to get there. And close to $1,000.

I was on MySpace a few weeks ago and saw a Google ad link to the Psychedelic Furs (the scary part is that a web application knows what I like and have a propensity to click on). Apparently, this alternative rock band was gearing up for a new tour—thirty years after their biggest hit. Good for them.

Let me back up a step and explain to you the importance of the Psyche Furs in my life. They, along with The Cure and Siouxsie and The Banshees, were my favorite music groups prior to discovering rap music in 1980. And, how I discovered rap was: I went to a Psychedelic Furs concert at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1980, and Grandmaster Flash and The Furious 5 were the opening act (along with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band—sans Bruce). Ok, I’m going to let that sink in for a minute.

Flash and the Furious Five opened for one of my favorite rock bands. That moment, right there, defined a tremendous moment in hip hop. I fell in love with a culture, a music, and a people. That defining moment eventually led to a Master’s degree in African-American studies, studying the teachings of Dr Molefi Asante, my attraction for the Black Nationalist Movement, my love for the Nation of Islam, and my starting Rap Coalition 12 years later-- making a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of rap artists, producers, and DJs. All from a fucking concert. That’s the history; now back to yesterday.

So as I was surfing MySpace, which I never have the time to do, I saw a link to my favorite band from 27 years ago. The link took me to a ticket site which sold me one ticket to the Psychedelic Furs concert in a suburb of Detroit on July 1, 2007. It was the fist date of their new “Colonies Tour” with some group that never mattered to me thirty years ago, called The Alarm.

I booked a flight, a hotel room, and a rental car since the venue was a 45 minutes north of Detroit on I-75, and I live 45 north of Atlanta on I-85. The irony of spending a thousand dollars on one night was not lost on me. I chuckled over the fact that thirty years from now, I will be booking a ticket to a Young Jeezy concert long after his fan base has forgotten him. LOL. And, get this--thirty years after discovering a band that has brought me so much happiness, and I live in a world where no one I know would have any interest in coming with me—how ironic is that?

So, off I went. to a concert that was packed with other 40-somethings and 50-somethings, reliving their youth. I never felt so old in my life. I made a mental note to go home and slash my wrists. There were a ton of folks wearing Rolling Stones tour t-shirts (apparently they never miss a live show from any of the aging rockers). I couldn’t help but laugh when just prior to The Furs taking the stage, the venue played AC DC’s She Shook Me All Night Long, and the crows went nuts, just as they would have in the late 70’s. Today we have a similar song playing in the ATL club scene (about sex) affectionately called Dump That Dick Up In That Ho—a 2007 version of a song about fucking.

So the four fifty-something year old members of The Psychedelic Furs took the stage and it was like going back in time. I’ve been to enough shows in my life to know to call ahead to find out what time the act I want to see takes the stage—fuck that opening act shit, when I could be eating dinner or watching hotel reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond. Please consider this when you are offered the “opportunity” for 20 Grand, to open for a known act like Snoop Dogg-- no one shows up for the opening acts.

I had an awesome time. I guess the other 40-somethings there did as well because the place was packed. And after all, where else can we go to feel like we are 16 again? Other than the incredible mid-life crisis that this caused based on age issues, it was well worth the flight to Detroit, with the drive up to Auburn Hills to see one of my favorite bands from the 80s still rock. The only difference between then and now is that I can afford the t-shirts at the concert, and no longer need a fake ID to buy a drink at the concert.