Defying ALL odds, I got the word this afternoon that I WILL be singing with Iron Maiden (along with about four other fans) on "Heaven Can Wait" at their show at the Forum on 2/19/08. (See my previous blog entry for details of the show.) I've never performed live before, but I'm an outright ham--VERY outgoing--so this should ROCK!!! I'm playing "Heaven Can Wait" endlessly until I know exactly when to come in on the chorus. I've also been asked to "represent" by wearing a KNAC.com t-shirt, which I will happily do. There will be pictures--I'll post the link (or perhaps the actual pix) once it's happened and the pix are up. I'll be the big (but short) chick with long blonde hair! LOL I'm SO stoked! Being onstage with a major band, even for one song, is a fantasy I figured wouldn't be fulfilled now that I'm in my late 40s. But, hey, never say never! I did convince a close friend who I often attend concerts with (and who loves Maiden) to take the day off work and come along, so I'm all set. The tickets should arrive later this week! Wish me luck, and lend me a bucket in which to carry the tune! LOL Peace from one HAPPY tigress, DreadTigress

Hey all! I'm ALL excited because yesterday I was informed that I had won tickets to a special, one-off, www.KNAC.com -sponsored, 10th anniversary (of KNAC on the internet, after leaving the LA airwaves) Iron Maiden concert, to be held at the Great Western Forum in LA on Feburary 19! Iron Maiden is flying over from England especially for the concert, since their lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, IS an airline pilot (really!!!), and they are friends of KNAC in a BIG way. They're bringing their own (LARGE) plane-load of people and equipment for the concert! (KNAC is my favorite internet metal station, I've been listening to them from nearly the time they came online as well as previously when they were on the radio, and I did BEG for tickets when I entered the contest, since I was broke after flying home from SoCal to the Midwest for both my high school class reunion in October and for Christmas/my folks' 50th wedding anniversary, so I couldn't afford tickets. I'd told my DJ friend at KNAC all this during his shows, called The Vault (Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific time) the last few weeks, too, so I'm thinking he pulled some strings. ;-) "Philthy Phil" rang through when I was on another phone call, being exquisitely honest about having just received a package that the sender had already written off (earlier in the day) as being missing in UPS-land, as there was no record of it on UPS.com--it was listed as "Billing Information Received" for over a week, but nothing further. So, Karma rewarded my honesty with astonishing speed, I thought, for calling to report the package as having arrived--I managed to catch them before they sent out a replacement (which would have been free to me, so it saved them considerable money), so they gave me $10 store credit for calling in to report it. All in all, not a bad day! Not bad AT ALL!!! There's a slight chance that, as one of the KNAC winners, I *could* be invited onto the stage (One or more of the KNAC winners will be!) WITH Iron Maiden to sing, "Heaven Can Wait," which is a song I don't know well, so I purchased the song online and am practicing it so I know it by heart by the 19th, just in case! LOL (I'm NOT shy AT ALL--I ran a concert hall that seated 4,000 MANY moons ago when I was in college, and announced the bands as well as ran security, saw that the bands were comfy in their dressing rooms, and often set up or helped set up lights and sound. The thought of performing in front of 40,000 people doesn't intimidate me any more than 4,000 did, so I REALLY hope I get chosen. (Please wish me luck and send me good vibes!) I've always wanted to be a rock star, at least for a night--hasn't everyone had that fantasy, at least if they haven't lived it? Heaven help'em if I get chosen to sing! Umm, did I mention I can't always carry a tune? ROFL!!! With enough highly amplified band thundering behind me, and Bruce Dickinson on-key, I *think* I'd be ok, but it'd be hilarious and I'd very temporarily be famous...or infamous!) Now I have to decide who I want to invite--someone who would REALLY enjoy seeing an old-school Iron Maiden concert, as this will be a "retro" concert in honour of the "good old days," with some perks like good seats and *maybe* getting to meet the band. Anyway, I just thought I'd check in with some happy news! Peace and Love (and happy tigress chuffs!), DreadTigress