At a show in Gainesville Florida, we got to the load-in and there was a beautiful dark haired girl hanging out near the stage door. Julie was a student from the school that was sponsoring the show that night, and she was extremely friendly. After some interesting small talk, and her patiently waiting for me to unload the truck, I asked her if she was going to the show. She didn't have a ticket but she'd like to go. I offered her a backstage pass and a seat (sitting on a road case next to me) on stage for the show. She gratefully accepted.
She was standing at the load-in when the trucks rolled up.
She was sniffing all around like a half-grown female pup.
She wasn't hard to talk to, looked like she had nowhere to go.
So I gave her a pass so she could get in to see the show.
She hung on my every word that afternoon, watching my every move. She wanted to know everything about my job, how the monitors worked, what the mixing board did, everything. We were really hitting it off, she was attractive, intelligent, and she really seemed to like me! The show started, and she sat very close to me for the
whole show. I got her one of our contractually mandated 144 Heinekens, which she gratefully accepted. I expertly mixed the monitors that night; half showing off for Julie, half hoping the band would notice this babe sitting at the board with me.
Well I sat her down right next to me while I got her a beer.
While I mixed that sound on the stage so the band could hear.
At the end of the show she was asking questions like, "What are you doing after the show?" and "Where are you guys staying tonight?" I figured I was "in". About then the show ended and the band was filing past us, headed to the dressing room. She nudged me and asked for an introduction to Steve Smith, the drummer. nbsp; "Sure, hey Stevie, I'd like you to meet my friend Julie." "Hi Julie", Steve replied, "want to party with the band?" nbsp; "Sure, Let's go", her words struck deep into my heart like a serrated dagger. I never saw her again.
The more I watched her watch them play, the less I could think of to say.
And when they walked off stage, the drummer swept that girl away.
{Chorus}
Well I guess I might have known from the start, she'd come for a star.
Might have told my imagination not to run too far.
Of all the times that I've been burned, by now you'd think I'd have learned.
That it's who you look like, not who you are.
But Rosie you're alright - you wear my ring,
when you hold me tight - Rosie that's my thing
When you turn off the light - I've got to hand it to me
Looks like its me and you again tonight, Rosie.
So we went back to the hotel, just me and my constant right hand companion, Rosie.
As humiliating as the whole incident was, the final insult came the next day at sound check. Steve (who was having a contest with Jamie to see which one of them could attain the highest "body count" during the tour), came up to me and said, "Hey Karl, I want to thank you for Julie last night." "With all the girls I've been with, she was THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD." "She was wild, hell, she was into things I can't even describe in the English language." "Thanks again buddy."
I didn't eat any dinner that night, for some reason I had no appetite.
By the way the Jackson Browne "Running On Empty" album was a great tribute to "The Road" and to his road crew. We heard after the tour he decided to take a long hiatus, and laid off the entire crew. So always remember, Karl's Road Rule #2 "Never work directly for a band."
Rosie - copy; nbsp; Jackson Browne amp; Donald Miller - Recorded live at Saratoga Performing Arts Center Saratoga NY (All rights reserved) Jackson Browne is available on Electra Records
This is a representative sample of the book "Roadie A True Story (at least the parts I remember)" and is the exclusive property of Karl Kuenning copy; 1998.