Blue Eddie (by Nina)
"I can find pain in
everything I see." Eddie Vedder
Milan, Italy, 13.11. 1996
Eddie, whats the color
inside of you?
"It's blue...just
like your eyes...
People say blue is
a sad color, blue is for sadness...
I feel blue...but
I feel happy...
it's right there...
between my stomach and my ribs...
I love this color.."
I just returned from
my trip to Milan and this was the trip I will remember until the rest of
my life...
I don’t think
I will be able to express what I feel inside me with words... but I am
going to try for each and everyone of Pearl Jam fans out there...
My God, it was amazing..
I met Eddie Vedder in person...
I met the Eddie Vedder...and
it happened something like this...
we were there very
early, so me and my friend were one of the first people who got in and
we wanted to have the greatest view on the stage...because it was very
early all the people were sitting down and we sat down too...
I was so excited and
had so much fun the whole day...the trip was awesome, we met so many pearl
jam fans and other people who went on their concert...
well after a while
I started looking around and I saw a man sitting next to me, he had a very
strange hat on it was covering half of his face...
so I couldnt see his
eyes, just his chin...he wore a pair of old black jeans and blue corduroy
shirt...I dont know why he drew my attention...he just sat there, watched
the stage ....
I started looking
at him...and he suddenly raised his head and looked at me... ohmygodohmygod
this was Eddie Vedder...
we stared at eachother
for a while...
then I smiled at him
and looked away....
I told my friend that
Eddie is sitting next to me, alone...he was just sitting there... she was
like yeah right...hehe...and I called his name...
”Eddie?” He looked
at me, smiled and said:
shhhhhh...
I smiled back
and he moved closer to me and started talking...It was amazing...he gave
me hand and I held his hand...it seemed like I held it for hours...we talked
about everything that came on his mind...
he was in such a good
mood, singing along on REM record that played in the background...showed
me Michael Stipe’s and all his friends phone numbers that he keeps in his
Casio watch...
.I asked him about
certain songs, thanked him for coming here and thanked him for everything
that he and his bands gave me.
He hugged me and said
I was most welcome...also my friend was talking to him
and the funny thing
was...noone noticed that there was actually eddie Vedder sitting in the
audience, I mean the hat was a good cover, but for someone who knows what
Eddie Vedder looks like...that shouldnt be a problem..... people were passing
by... noone saw him...
he signed my T-shirt
and my friend also took a picture (he didnt see that thank goodsness)...
I asked him questions
about his song, he explained the story of Red Mosquito...he said that to
him that is a sad story...it carries a lot of pain and that the mosquito
is actually life itself... and how it affects us...
I asked him if he
reads poetry, he said he doesnt, he said he doesnt read much...and then
we discussed what a pity that is...
that there is too
little time left to do all the things one wants to...
I told him he has
a lot of fans in Slovenia and asked him why didnt they come there...and
he said...that they want to make this tour short...because they all have
busy lives
at home in the States...he
said Jack has kids to raise and he himself has a lot of laundry to do,
hehehe.. that was funny...
we talked about the
ticketmaster and what kinds of problems fans have right now to get tickets
and that really upset him...he said that he doesnt wanna think about that,
because he cant do anything to help
us...and then i thanked
him for doing what he did... :) And I could see the smile on his face,
he put his hand on my shoulder and said...well, thats the least I could
do...
also my friend asked
him questions...my god, it was amazing..
His nailes were painted
silver...I asked him why was that...and he gave the most simple answer...he
said...
”You know...when I
looked at them...I think theyre made of steal...I have a feeling they are
stronger...look there is a place when I hit the strings...no color...and
see, the nails on my right hand are longer...on my left hand I have short
nails...they look strong don’t they?!”
Now I know that
everything that Eddie does, he does it with a reason...
when we were
talking we had a hell of a view on stage...Eddie started talking about
the problems with security and how does he feel on stage lately...he just
couldnt stop talking...
he said that every
night he has a word with security and that tonight he has a good feeling
about everything and that whoever tries to stage dive will be removed from
the concert immediately...he said there is enough water for everyone and
told us...
actually he gave us
some advice on how to avoid the hype during the concert...then he said
about something the stage being his office and the rest of the place...hallways...he
said he is trying to be a good boss...
I asked him if he’s
happy on the stage...and he said:
”Naaaaaw, I only play
for money”
Hehehe... yeah right!
He was also asked
a question where does he see Pearl Jam in the future...he said...he cant
see into the future...
he said he cant even
promised he’ll be back after this tour...he said a lot of things can happen...good
things...bad things...but then he smiled...
I told him that
my fave song was Yellow Ledbetter and I thanked him for writing it...he
smiled at me and said...
my pleasure...we havent
played that in a while now...maybe tonight it’s the right time...I’ll see
what I can do...
and he played it at
the end of the show...it was amazing...
He stayed with us
until 8pm, thats over an hour... when the people started getting up, he
said that he better go now, because he has to talk with the band before
they go on stage...he hugged me and said:
“Take care...and have
a great time tonight...this is going to be one hell of a show....”
Then he gave us a
hand and left... I still cant believe what actually happened...I dont think
I ever will be able to describe how I feel inside right now...
Eddie is one of the
nicest and smartest persons I have ever met in my life...
He seemed so small
and so vulnerable...his voice has such a charm...
oh and what a voice
that is...when he sang along to REM record...with his amazing voice...ohmygod...
he kept telling me
how much he loves this record...he knew all the songs by heart...
he sat so close to
me, that I felt the warmth of his body...I dont think that at that time
I realized what is really happening to me..
Eddie, thank you for
everything...thank you for being what you are and for sharing your life
with us...
words can not describe
what that evening meant to me and Spela, I never thought that something
like that could actually happen to me...
you changed my life
with your music and your lyrics...
you opened to each
and everyone of us a space where we can breathe and share emotions...
thank you for your
care, thank you for your smile and the warm look from your eyes...
I will treasure
this moment forever in my heart...
it was nice meeting
you Eddie, thank you for coming...
I only wish we could
make you smile too...
He came on stage 5min
after he left...sang a Who song, Kids are alright and it was so beautiful...I
was one of the few people that knew the lyrics to that song...most of the
Italians dont even speak english...
but the audience were
great...Band was in a good mood...maybe Stone wasn’t...he didnt smile much...Eddie
did all the time...Mike’s solos were excellent, Jeff’s bass playing was
as good as always...
there wasnt any jumping
on the stage which surprised me a bit...Stone and Jeff switched places
and instruments once, it sounded good, hehe....
I missed Lukin, Black
and Mankind...I really wanted to hear these songs...but we got Nothingman
and all the great songs....maybe i’ll get to hear the rest in Budapest...
I told Eddie I was
coming and he said...that that show will be something special...:))) Goody...I
told him....all Pearl Jam’s shows ARE special...
He smiled and said....naaaaaaw....
Hehehe, modesty, hehe...
Oh HE didnt talk much
during the concert, but was happy all the time...
Eddie, you dont
know how happy you made me and 3 more people who got to know you that evening...I
never even dared to dream about something like that would happen...
With each and every
minute that passes by I remember more, I remember your movements and all
the looks on your face...Thank you Eddie, thank you with all my heart...
I love your smile...
I love You! Nina
(nina.grasic@eunet.si)
“ I can watch how
this people do their job on stage from here, hehe... “ Ed Vedder
Hail hail...
God, it was amazing
once again...
we came to budapest
very late, like 5pm and the show was suppose to start at around 7pm...
well we only had the
time to get out TEN CLUB tickets and we were looking for a ticket window
like crazy...we have never been there before, so we didnt have a clue where
the ticket window was, so we checked out every glass door...
and We saw something
that took our breath away...
there were Stone,
Mike and Eddie sitting on the desk and talking and laughning...
we were all like WOW
and came closer to the door and waved...and they waved back and smiled
at us...it was amazing...:))
I wrote a “thank you”
note for Eddie on the bus and I wanted to give itto him just in case if
I see him...
well we stood in the
first row throughout the show and suddenly someone from their crew came
by and I was like:
Excuse me...are you
Jerry...could you give this note to Eddie and he was like...”ABSOLUTELY”
Also people from Bugs (mailing list) gave them emails and some other
things... :)) Well the show was awesome...it was even better than in Milano
(setlist)
They played 2:30 hours:
Who you are, Dissident, Glorified G, Lukin, Mankind (I was one of
the few people yelling Stoney! Stoney! Stoney! MANKIND!!!!!!! MANKIND!!!!!!
all the time, heheh) , Alive, Even flow, Rearviewmirror, Off he goes, Present
tense, Long road, I got ID, Porch, Jeremy, Once, Animal, Betterman, Red
Black White (or whatever), Hail Hail, Corduroy, Habit, Daughter, State
of love and trust, Immortality, Tremor Christ, Leaving here (with
the fastbacks) ....
I think thats all,
I hope I didnt forget anything...
Eddie didnt talk much...at
the beginning of the show he said
“You promise you’ll
be good tonight?”
And we were all like:
yeeaaaaaaa .. Stone and Jeff and Mikey (damn he looks good now) were
all in a great mood, I was yelling Stone all the time and was right
in front of him and he looked me a couple of times and smiled at me (and
what a smile that was)
I was yelling MANKIND!!
MANKIND!!! all the time too, hehe and LUKIN!!! Got to hear both...
Well Eddie seemed
to recognize me:)) and you have no idea how good that made me feel...when
he was singing HAIL HAIL he came close to me and pointed on me while
singing..
”I refer to
those in love yeah”...
maybe he did it because
there was this guy standing close and Eddie thought we were like together,
hehe..in love...well
it was amazing...what can I tell you...
Stone’s MANKIND kicked
ass, he is so cute!! :))
Fastbacks sounded
better than in Milan, they came on stage later on and helped Pearl
Jam singing Leaving Here, it was sooooooooooo amazing! I love thi
song!!!
After the concert
we went back to look for Pearl Jam to that glass window where they
apparantly had wardrobe...
well YES! YES! YES!
There they were...Jerry came out, I asked him if he gave that note
to Ed, he smiled at me and said: “of course...”
Then we asked him
(there were just like 7 people) when are they coming out...he said
that very soon, because they have a flight to catch...
and he gave Tinca
the thing Ed plays his quitar with :))))) He is such a nice guy...
Unfortunately we couldnt
wait therelong, because our bus left at midnight and it was way past eleven...
:((( Otherwise we would have seen the band....
But like I said, their
music means much more to me than anything else in the world...
so thanks Vedder
for making Budapest rock, it was great, probably one of the best European
shows so far....Now I need my sleep.....zzzzZZZZZzzzzzzz...
Btw, I met some people
from BUGS...
Sophie, she is really
nice and Vojko from Croatia :)))) My day was really perfect!!
I love you, Nina
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