After the success we had in Hartford sneaking backstage and hanging out with Jimmy in his dressing room, we headed back to Boston fulfilled. The ease with which we accomplished our mission motivated us to try the same thing before the show two days later at the Fleet Center. Knowing that the likelihood of getting backstage again, this time in a bigger city, was slim, we arrived in Boston without too many expectations of ourselves. This time, our mission was to meet Robert. Do that, and we�d call it an all-around successful year.
So fast forward to October 23, 1995, the day of the show in Boston. The Fleet Center was brand new, and in fact, the Page and Plant show was going to be the first-ever concert held in the new facility which had just replaced the legendary Boston Garden.
The layout of the Fleet Center was radically different than that of the Hartford Civic Center and it looked as though we would have to try a new plan. On the backside of the Fleet Center was a ramp that led upwards to a second story loading dock. It was long and isolated, so any attempt to enter the facility that way would surely be met with resistance. But what the hell, we tried anyway.
As we got to the top of the ramp, we entered a garage-like area that was not guarded by anyone of importance. We entered the nearest door and found ourselves in a quasi-backstage setting. Inside, there was a separate glass enclosed cubicle that essentially was the security control center of the facility. A handful of men sat watching television monitors and computer screens that relayed images from security cameras through the Fleet Center. Seeing that, I was amazed that we entered undetected.
Shortly after entering, we were interrogated by a security officer. Remembering our conversation with Nigel Eaton a couple of days earlier, we told him were trying to figure out where to pick up our backstage passes that were to be left by a member of the band. It was definitely a lie, but a valiant attempt at a cover.
I guess we couldn�t complain after Hartford and actually getting into the Fleet Center, so we now turned our attention to plan B. Our only chance of meeting Robert would come after the gig was over. Remembering our encounter seven months earlier in Austin, it was looking like we�d have to tail the vans again.
As the final notes of Kashmir closed the show, we made a bee-line for our 1985 Plymouth Reliant rental car and assumed our position near the base of the loading dock ramp where theoretically the band�s transportation would be departing.
After the now customary hour-long wait, a van emerged from the garage and pulled onto the street. Learning our lesson from Austin, we got directly behind the van, not wanting a red light to spoil our chances. After a few turns, we found ourselves on the freeway heading toward a different section of town. As the van exited the highway, it was evident that it was heading into the heart of downtown Boston near the Faneuil Hall marketplace.
The van stopped in front of the Bostonian Hotel as Mike and I scrambled to find a legal place to park. No dice. The parking situation in downtown Boston, especially near a popular tourist area, didn�t lend itself to a wholly legal outcome. We pulled up on the sidewalk and ditched the car in between a couple of nearby buildings where there should have been an alley and reluctantly entered the Bostonian.
The van that we had followed had brought back most of the band, but not the key players. One inside the hotel, we talked a little with keyboardist Ed Shearmur and bass player Charlie Jones to pass the time until a second van arrived.
Finally, when it did, Jimmy and Robert walked in the front door. Just like in Austin, Jimmy headed straight for the elevator without talking to anybody. Robert, on the other hand, went towards the bar looking for a drink. Unfortunately for him, the bar was closed. He searched for the nearest hotel employee to make sure that was the case and when a staffer told him it was shut down for the evening, Robert responded with a emphatic �The bar�s closed?!�
Disappointed, Robert headed towards the elevator and got in before Mike and I could approach him.
It was time to reassess our plan. It was obvious Robert was in the mood for a drink so we suspected he�d eventually come back down and head out to one of the local bars in the area.
Meanwhile, Mike and I headed out to make sure our car hadn�t been towed. Relieved that it wasn�t, we hopped in and pulled it out onto the street where patiently waited, hoping that Robert would come out.
Nearly an hour passed and Mike was getting anxious, convinced that our opportunity had passed. Not wanting to give up, I assured him another 15 minutes would be wise.
Our perseverance paid off when Robert emerged from the hotel with a couple of guys who we assumed were part of the road crew. We jumped out of the car and walked up behind the trio as they headed up the block.
As we got closer, we made our move.
�Excuse me Robert,� Mike said.
Robert turned around and Mike and I introduced ourselves and told Robert where we were from. Mike went on about how he was a classically-trained voice performance major at Arizona Sate University and just to prove it, he launched into a nice rendition of Danny Boy.
Impressed, Robert responded with a compliment, �ah you have a nice edge to your voice.�
After a few minutes of chit-chat, we asked Robert for his autograph and a picture with him. He gratefully accommodated us and the rendezvous quickly came to an end.
So, in two days we had a private backstage meeting with Jimmy Page in his dressing room and got some photos with Robert. All in all, a hugely successful trip. I think this was officially the beginning of our obsession.
A.L./M.T.