Electric David Bowie and Strangelove (Depeche Mode tribute letter

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I was blowing it.  Kevin Fowler sees it all the time, and told me, “You geeked out”.  Yes. Yes, I did.

Now, the second ending to my Geeked Out story. Chapter 37, Lettuce Entertain You, Inc.

Lou Gramm

Are you kidding me. Are you freaking kidding me. I recently did it again. I geeked out. Actually, I screwed the pooch. As I mention in the beginning of this story, Foreigner was my absolute favorite band growing up in the Eighties. I listened to their records religiously after school while doing homework. It was literally Foreigner’s album called, “Records”.

Lou Gramm sang their way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And even though Foreigner still tours, they now tour with a younger, different singer. No where close to the iconic voice of Lou Gramm. His pipes. 

On January 25th, 2025, my dad booked him for a concert in the afore mentioned Payne Arena, in Hidalgo, Texas. He had been communicating with the tour manager and told him he would personally be picking Lou Gramm up at his hotel taking him to the Arena. So, it was understood that he would also be taking him back to the hotel after the show. I was not with my father when he left to pick him up. I wish I was, but I was not. So, I wrote Lou Gramm a letter and asked my dad to give it to him along with a copy of this here book.

Later that evening, when I got to the arena, my father escorted me and my friends to a table on the second floor with a perfect line of sight. Almost dead center looking at the stage. The show did not disappoint. Everything I was hoping for. He sang all the hits he had with Foreigner. As people who were at the concert commented, the show was, Great, Fantastic, Awesome. 

After the concert, he would be taking pictures and signing autographs with fans by his merchandise table. The line was long. I was told to wait downstairs. That when the line was done, we would be meeting him backstage. My dad told me he gave him my book and told me Lou Gramm read my letter. That he wanted to meet me and talk with me backstage. I was acting as if that was normal. It was not. It definitely was not.

The opening band that night was Asia, featuring John Payne. Followed by Lou Gramm. The original voice of Foreigner. I love the Eighties. I went backstage after they were done taking pictures and signing autographs with the public. Now, It was my turn. I was going to have his undivided attention. A one-on-one conversation with Lou Gramm. I was going to congratulate him on his well-deserved introduction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. How I listened to Foreigner every day while doing homework after school when I was in Elementary. I wanted to ask him questions, like what was the first concert he went to? What made him become a singer? Does he play any instruments? Those were my thoughts. My questions. But more importantly, we were going to have a conversation.

We get to the backstage area, and there was a very cool sign that said 

Lou Gramm. In front of it taking pictures already, was Asia featuring John Payne. I followed the heard as a bunch of us were getting in position for a picture with him. As we were getting ready to take the picture, I saw Lou Gramm standing by himself off in the back. We made eye contact, and he seemed to have waved at me. Right then and there I should have gone straight to him to start a conversation, but again, I was following the herd and lined up for a picture. People never stopped taking pictures. A lot of the people taking pictures were working there wearing shirts that said, Payne Arena. And they were taking pictures with John Payne. Funny. After a long while, Lou got up and walked out. I was hoping he was getting ready to take pictures with everyone, but it was already very late, and a few minutes later they were yelling at us to get out. No picture. No conversation. He was waiting to talk with me right when I walked backstage, but I screwed the pooch.

Before the concert, he did sign a couple of guitars, and a few autographs for my MS fundraiser, but I personally could not thank him. He got into the car with my dad, and they left back to the hotel. I got into the car I was riding in, called my father to tell him I was leaving, then hung up. It dawned on me a few minutes later that Lou Gramm was in his car. My dad always answers calls in his car on speaker, so I immediately called my dad back and asked if Lou Gramm could hear me. Somebody said yes, then said, “Hi, this is Lou Gramm”. This is where I screwed the pooch again. Most of my friends know I have a delay with my cellphone. When I talk, or someone on the other end talks, a second passes before they, or I, hear what is being said. So when they start talking again, a lot of the time, we are both talking at the same time. This was happening, so I paused, told him it was an honor speaking with him, wished him well, then said goodbye. I kept it short even though there was so much more I wanted to say. Damn cell phone. I tossed and turned all night. Damn cell phone. I couldn’t sleep. Damn cell phone.  I screwed the pooch. Yes. Yes, I did.