August 10th, 1996 George, Washington
John, Paul, Suzy, and myself were attending a Sting concert at "The Gorge" amphitheatre. Sting decides to bring up an audience member for the song "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying." Nate decides to belt out the word "Roxanne" to the delight of the crowd. Then Sting and Nate sing together the song from Sting's Latest Album "Mercury Falling."
John, Paul, Suzy and myself look at each other and are dumbfounded. Why? Because we know, that should be me up there since I had been a devout Sting fan since 1983, shortly after the Police disbanded.
Because we were seated so far away (high up in the natural amphitheatre) there was little chance of being picked. So we brain stormed on how this dream could come true for myself.
I was going to the following show at Vancouver's GM Place, therefore came up with the idea of a banner. But what would it say” Please let me sing with you? You Rock? "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" "You'll always be King of Pain." Then like an epiphany, it came to me "I'm So Happy I could Sing." But would I have time before the next night to prepare such a banner? After all we had a six-hour journey back to "Vangroovy."
The show ended with Sting's obligatory "Fragile" from 1987's "Nothing Like the Sun" as the evening spread itself against the sky. I was lying down on the grass taking in the distant sun's just as Sting sung the lyric "For all this born beneath an angry star...” and (I kid you Not), a shooting star passed before my gaze. Although of course a coincidence, it still sent a warm chill down my back.
August 11th, 1996 Vancouver, British Columbia
I drag Paul around while I purchase a pillowcase, and marker in order to prepare my "banner" in the parkade, just prior to the show. "You're wasting your time and we're gonna miss Jan Arden, Man" is all Paul could whine about for my efforts to fullfil this dream. No offence to the talented Ms. Arden, but I didn't care. We arrived to her closing with the song "Insensitive" - ironic, no?
The show starts, and butterflies are running amuck in my stomach, as I know I am about to hold up the banner. Will Sting see it? Will her care? Will he invite me up if he does? Maybe he’ll ask me to leave."
"Mercury Falling, I rise from my Bed. Collect my thoughts together, I have to hold head my head” My cue has arrived and I hold up the banner during the song. The people behind me start yelling "SIT DOWN. SIT DOWN!! So I do. I tell two women next to me of my plan and they politely listen.
Then while Sting plays “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” I decide to hold it up again, annoying some of the audience behind me. A third of me can understand their annoyance, but another third of me doesn't care, and the final third thinks "It's a f&%cING ROCK CONCERT for crying out loud.
Then during an instrumental portion of the song I see Sting see the banner, and then he smirks. He read it, He Read it!! In the words of Homer Simpson "Wahooooooo!!!"
Because I know the set list, I have a rough idea when "I'm So Happy I can't Stop Crying" is coming, so I reserve my third attempt, close to this time. Sting stops the show, explains what he is about to do, and exclaims "I think you're the man...you'd better be good!!!"
I jump up and down, like I've just won Wimbledon. To see our "First Gig" click here.
Approaching the stage, I get instructions from the security people. I can literally feel my knee knocking together as I am about to walk on Stage, and I think to myself "What are you doing? You've dreamed of this, many people dream of this, and you're DOING IT! Make sure you enjoy yourself "and something unbelievable happened. Almost all my nervousness flushed out of me.
Sting talks and jokes and ridicules me in front of 13,000 people, and I loved it. At times you can see looking at the audience in amazement as I see the sea of people looking up at one of Rocks legends and me.
We commence.
Right after, Sting shakes my hand tells me to take a bow, and I am oblivious to the standing ovation until I see the video, months later.
As I am escorted off Stage, it feels like pandemonium as staff surrounds me, one of them stating I'm the best so far, a gentlemen gets me to sign a waiver, and another (I later learned was the producer) yelling "GET HIS NAME!!! GET HIS NAME and number!!!! They do, and I exit stage left. The audience is unbelievable and I feel like a rock star being mobbed by fans. Grabbing me, tugging at my clothes, telling me to "look here" and snapping pictures.
I get back to my seat, and the women beside me have not yet returned from their trip to the bar. Surrounding people ask me to sign things, etc. When the two women return, I tell them of my success, and they look at me like I am crazy, and say "yeah, sure" and without hesitation a dozen people around me yell with enthusiasm, HE DID HE DID!!!! The two appeared drunk so I wonder if they remember that today (or even the next day).
Later in the show a man came up to me to give me a business card. I hope it is a talent agent "discovering me" however it is radio talk show host of Vancouver's Rock 101, and they want to interview me the next day. (I obliged). After the show I still get mobbed and one girl even says to me "Oh my God, I've touched the hand, that has touched the hand of God."
The next day I check my phone messages in Victoria, from a Vancouver pay phone. Low and behold a long lost friend whom is also a HUUGE sting fan and was then living in Scotland, leaves a message flipping out stating "Ross, it's Jeremy, I have just been reading all over the net about a guy names Ross in Vancouver who just sang with Sting! It has to be you, no one else names Ross in BC can do this...." etc etc.
I return home to the island several days later, and as I park, a van slows down, then halts with the occupants staring at me. Feeling slightly afraid, I fear I am about to be abducted, so I rush to my front door. The man then says "excuse me, are you the guy who sang with Sting. Are you Ross?" to which, I reply yes, I am. "We were there, you were great!" This was the first moment I realized the impact this would have on my life.
Several months later, I start getting emails from strangers around the world stating they just saw me on TV with Sting. How? Well much to my surprise, it was video taped and was appearing on TV shows around the world.
I even got one call from an old acquaintance in Ireland who knew what a Sting fan I was, and saw me approx 2 AM Irish time. She went nuts stating "I Just saw you on TV with your idol” What the hell is going on?"
Since then numerous radio, newspaper and TV interviews have come my way including Fox's tabloid show "Real TV" and Canada's MTV equivalent "Much Music” Hell, even a biography mentions my name? My Local radio station “The Q” even gets requests for the version of “I’m So Happy“ with that guy from Victoria”
While my Brush with Fame is one of the most joyous events of my life, it has served as a catalyst for many other positive things, not the least of which is a reconciliation with my brother, hearing from long lost friends, and making new ones. It also taught me that despite insecurities and weariness, chase your dreams. After all it is better to attempt something and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed.
Ross