#icby

October 1981

Maria and her friends were getting ready to go to this Def Leppard concert that was playing at a venue not that far from where they lived. They weren’t really huge fans, except for Maria. She had bought their second album High ‘N’ Dry when it came out and found On Through The Night in the record store somewhere after she got into them. She had memorized every song. She knew all the band members names and what they played, too. Even though they were just starting out, she had high hopes for them. She just had to see them live. Her friends were coming along just to get out of the house, unfortunately. They weren’t that interested in rock music, they liked the electronic bands that were out.

Gag me, that’s not real music. She thought. At least I don’t have to go to this alone.

The girls got into the small midnight blue car that Maria’s father supplied, but the problem was that she was too young to drive… only by a couple months. She pulled her denim jacket tightly around her to keep out the frigid, October air. It didn’t help that the jeans were also ripped every which way. She pouted as she climbed into the backseat and let one of her friends drive.

Once they got there, they got their tickets checked and preceded into the club. Maria’s heart was pounding so loud, she could hear it in her ears.  This is something she’s been waiting for months, and it’s finally happening. She dragged her friends to the floor in front of the stage. She wanted center, but everyone was crowded there so she moved a little off to the left. She thought they were all good looking; it didn’t really matter to her where she stood. Maria was in the third row, mere feet away from the stage and her idols. She was practically bouncing. When she turned around to express her excitement to her friends, their faces said it all. I won’t bother them, then. As she slowly started to face forward again, that’s when the lights went out and everyone started to scream. They opened up with On Through The Night.

During the whole show, Maria jumped and screamed and even cried. To her, this was the best day of her life; seeing her favorite band play. One song after another, she belted the lyrics out and banged her head; her friends long forgotten.

The band had finished a couple hours later, taking a bow and expressing their thanks. As they came back up to scan the crowd one last time, Rick Allen, the drummer, nudged the band’s lead singer, and pointed at a girl a couple rows from the stage with light brown hair who was clapping while turned around to look behind her. Joe had had his eye on her all night; he watched as she sang every word and swung to the music just a few minutes ago. When she faced forward again, she looked up and saw that her favorite band member, Joe Elliott, was staring at her already. Her mind froze and her mouth went dry, but she still managed to smile at him. Joe smiled back as he walked off the stage with the rest of the band. Once he got backstage, he stopped one of the roadies.

“Hey John, can you do me a big favor?” He asked looking back out to the crowd as they started to empty out the venue.

Meanwhile, Maria had to remind herself to keep breathing. Joe Elliott not only smiled at her, but he had been staring at her before she even looked at him. Excitement had run through her but then doubt started to sneak its way in. He wasn’t looking at me, she thought, it must’ve been the girl behind me. Either that or he thought I was someone else. Maria was finally able to move as the crowd began to disperse. She found her friends a few rows back with a couple guys with weird parachute pants and ‘Flock of Seagulls’ hair and started to walk towards them.

“Oh my God, that was the best show of my life!” Maria squealed. All they did was stare at her and mumbled appraisement while then men seemed much less interested. I really need to get new friends. Suddenly, as she was about to stroll away, some man with spiked orange hair approached her from in front of the barricades by the stage.

“Hey, you with the severely ripped jeans!” At that, she spun around and instantly became worried. The man jumped the barricade and jogged up to her, handing her a laminate that read “Def Leppard, High ‘N’ Dry Tour ‘81, Backstage Pass” in bright pink letters. She couldn’t believe it.

“If you would come with me, I can escort you backstage so no one gives you a hard time.” He stated, looking at her with a questionable look.

Maria then looked back at her friends, they didn’t seem to care about what was going on, so she bit the bullet and accepted the pass.

“Hey guys, I’ll see you at school. Just bring my dad’s car back and tell him I got a ride.” She said to them as they shrugged and walked away. She looked back at the man before her and nodded her head. He then helped her over the barricade and made their way backstage.

The guys of Def Leppard were hanging around drinking with some girls, waiting to get the ‘okay’ for them to leave the venue. Joe looked around nervously and each time a woman came up to him, he just ignored them. He was waiting for one person in particular. The door to the lounge opened and his head shot up as the girl he had been waiting for, stood in the doorway. Joe stood up and walked over to her, introducing himself.

“Hello, love. I’m Joe Elliott, the lead singer.” He smiled and took her hand, bringing it up to his lips as he left a light kiss and let it drop.

Maria stood stunned at the sight of Joe in front of her. He was a foot taller than her, slim frame with tight chocolate curls and those beautiful oval eyes. God, she must look like an idiot.

Joe thought her shyness was adorable. She seemed like a big fan, and the fact that she let herself go to the music earlier, knowing every song, turned him on. He brought her over to where he was sitting and offered her a drink. Maria finally got the courage to tell Joe how much of a big fan of Def Leppard she was and he wanted her to prove it, so she ended up singing a poor rendition of Answer to the Master. Everyone cheered drunkenly and she blushed.

As they were talking, Joe looked around to see everyone making out with someone. He felt a bit left out, for once, but he just knew it would be worth it soon enough.

All the guys chose their women for the night and were making plans to head back to the hotel. Joe didn’t have to do much, he took one look at Maria and she nodded. Everyone piled into the limo, Joe had put his arm around her securing her. Maria, at this point, still couldn’t believe this was actually happening. Now it was certain that she was going to Joe’s hotel room, and it’s very obvious what happens after. She suddenly became self-conscious and worried about what he might think of her nude. She had no worried about her clothes and how she presented herself; she was just afraid that once the clothes are shed, he wouldn’t be able to look at her. She was terrified of rejection.

While Maria was trying to gather her thoughts, all Joe could do was stare and lick his lips absentmindedly.

“Aye Joe, why don’t ya bloody kiss the girl already?” Pete slurred from the other end of the limo. After his suggestion, everyone agreed and began to chant in unison. Joe tried to hush them, but soon enough gave into the peer pressure and kissed Maria.