Brush With Blackness

"Remember that time I met Joan Jett?"

That's how I'll tell the story anyway.

Not often ya get a chance to see a pioneer. And when it's a woman, a LEGEND, I mean, I gotta bring N&D along, right? Wildflower Festival 2023, we're heading to Richardson!

So, we go, we find our place in the crowd, we rock. Joan Jett does her usual pretty good show (I've seen her before), including all the hits we came to hear...

I Love Rock & Roll

I Hate Myself For Loving You

Crimson & Clover

Bad Reputation

Do You Want To Touch Me

Light Of Day

Cherry Bomb

Everyday People

And she's all the Joan Jett attitude we came to see! That smiling promo pic above? Nope, that ain't her. I'm not sayin she's angry. Not sayin she's mean. She's... punk.

After the show, we're walking back to the car which just happens to be parked near the backstage area. We have a chance to cross the street, but I see a big bus up ahead and tell my crew "Na, let's stay on this side until we pass the bus." Glances exchanged.

    Them: whatever Dad

    Me: ya never know

As we pass the bus, I jokingly look at the tinted windows, wave and shout "Hi Joan!". N&D eyes roll. Then, I look up ahead and notice a group of 6-8 people exiting the fence behind the backstage area. This is where we need to cross the street to get to our car. I glance at the group of people again, looking closer...

"Hey, that's Joan Jett right there!"

Jenny, N&D look, prolly skeptically at first (ahem, whatever Dad), just as Joan Jett rounds the corner as is headed right at us. Not skeptical anymore! Not sure what to do, the three of them start crossing the street, like Joan Jett isn't headed right for us. what???

"Wait! Let's get a picture!"

I whip out my phone and my best polite schmooze voice (I've done this a few times), look right past the handler leading the way (I've been that guy, ignore him, go straight to the source) and catch her eye.

"Joan, can we get a picture? Real quick?"

I even motion to N&D. (kids, nobody says no to kids, right?)

She looks at me, scowls... and just keeps walking.

❤ BLACKHEART all the way!  ❤

To be fair, the handler did offer the sympathetic/standard "We can't stop here" on the way by, but that was it. No photo.

So, did I meet Joan Jett, or did she blow me off? Yes, and yes. Same thing. And it was perfect.🤘

A photo would've been cool though. 🤷