I came to realize that I would probably given the opportunity to meet my favorite celebrities once I am no longer go crazy over them. Point proven upon Jozan (Johan+Zizan) at the Lawak Ke Der 2 showcase, Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda when I attended Living Things concert, Alessandro Del Piero at Soccer Aid 2014 (will talk about that later), BSB In A World Like This concert (also, later).
I didn't get to meet Sofi Jikan yet simply because, as I wrote this, I am still obsessed with him. I hope in near future when I'm all over him, I'll get the opportunity to do a selfie with him.
So, Jared Leto of 30 Seconds To Mars was one of my item of obsession. However, it was just a short term crush which lasted for a year. If you wanna know who Jared Leto is, he's an Oscar winner 2014, played numerous movies and dramas; My So Called Life, Urban Legend, Lord of War, and the upcoming movie Suicide Squad 2016 (played as The Joker).
And believe me, I did not see this coming. I mean seeing him in person before the concert. I bought the VIP package where I could meet and greet him with the rest of the band, Shannon Leto & Tomo Miličević .
And believe me, I did not see this coming. I mean seeing him in person before the concert. I bought the VIP package where I could meet and greet him with the rest of the band, Shannon Leto & Tomo Miličević .
Before I go further on how it all happened, let me give a little brief on the band 30 Seconds To Mars. Some described them as an emo band, some says they're a gothic band. I'd say that they're an expressive American Rock band. They express their ideas, give words of encouragement and spread love through music. And they bring out a brand new cult through music and their fans, the Echelon, I am one of them.
The VIP meet and greet package was bloody expensive, but what the heck! I bought them anyway. I came early to avoid traffic, because I assume I might be surrounded with energetic and ballistic fans. The difference between Malaysian fans and the Western fans is that Malaysian are cultured, polite and courteous people when in concerts. But on a daily basis, we're still not as chivalrous as the British.
We (The VIP fans) were taken to a room somewhere way down the basement and waited. I studied the room and noticed that I was the only Asian in the room, an awkward feeling kicks in. I was neither nervous nor bored. In fact the rest of them in the room were as calm as me. When Jared, Shanon & Tomo came in, I'd expect screaming fans. No, they were professional enough to just say "hi" to the band members and not trying to become the hoard of bandits as I expected. I learned that these fans have been in a Meet & Greet session many times before, so meeting them was like meeting an old friend.
The Meet & Greet session allows you to ask questions to the band, but I didn't. I was either tongue-tied or I simply have no brilliant questions to ask. I could just ask them what are their plans 30 years from now? Or, ":I have a cat, Jato named after you. What would you name your pet?" But I just want to stare at Jared Leto's blue eyes and admire him.
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| Me with the band: L-R Tomo, Shanon, me and Jared |
I can tell that they had better Meet & Greet sessions in London because they couldn't just stop talking about it. The photo sessions with the band was swift. Did I not tell you some of the VIP fans were as old as my aunts? No kidding. They were even more excited than us, youngsters. Some of this aunties insisted Jared to sign on her shoulder. What the fuck was that? You expect that's gonna be tattooed? Perhaps. She might have them straight to a tattoo parlor and have it embedded into her skin.
So yeah, I was fortunate enough to be in the first row to see everything.. Despite, the pushing, shoving, jostling, I managed to stay resilient to my spot. Overall, it was a fun first experience concert in overseas. I can now 'check' my bucket list.
City of Angels, ignore my katak voice.
