I'm a lucky soul. I've been fortunate to have lots of run-ins with the band before they disbanded and while I was a dedicated fan. Here is a summary of my experiences:

4/14/94 - SP was on their Siamese Dream tour and came to Salem, VA close to JMU where I was attending college at the time. I had just gotten into the band. I snapped a nice pic of Billy from up close. After the show my friend and I went back behind the venue and after a while the band came out and talked with the small congregation of fans. I got my first sleu of autographs. There was a roadie with a videocamera recording and I thought nothing of it until I was watching Vieuphoria about a year later and realized I was IN IT! Some footage from that night is seen after 'Mayonaise" when Billy is talking about fame. There is an annoying blond lady kicking in slow motion. The back of my head can be seen in a circle of fans talking to D'arcy. I'm wearing a sky-blue shirt and I have a 90's bowl cut hairstyle standing next to my girl-friend who is wearing a purple and white plaid shirt.

1/5/96 - SP was playing their MCIS mini-tour and after being away at college, totally missed the tickets going on sale for their performing at the 9:30 Club. The tickets were scalp-proof - SP made people show ID's to prove they were the ones who bought the tickets. I was desperate and on that afternoon I drove down to the club hoping a radio station would be providing coverage and giving out tickets. When I pulled up a van was just pulling into the back alley. Out jumps Billy and a crew member for what I'm presuming was a soundcheck. I approached Billy and announced that I'm a big fan but I have no tickets for tonight's show. Expecting to be ignored, Billy instead motioned me to come closer. He asked me how many tickets I needed and I said "two." Billy then instructed his cohort to take my name down and to put me and my friend on the band's guest list! I wasn't able to go backstage that night, but I was able to see the best SP show ever and have a nice guest list ticket as a memoir. Thanks again, Billy.

7/9/06 - SP now playing their MCIS arena tour and came back to DC area. I went on 7/9 and 7/10 but had terrible seats. On 7/9 I learned WHFS a local radio station was holding a contest for front row seats for the people who were dressed as decked-out in the radio station's colors purple and orange. The morning after the first show I went to the fabric store and bought purple and orange fabric for my friend and I. We fashioned a hideous costume and painted our bodies half in purple and half orange. Needless to say we won and upon being escorted to our front row seats, Virgin reps then surprised us with backstage passes! This is where I got more autographs, and this night (7/10) was particularly poignant, because it was the last show that Jimmy played for, before the Melvoin incident 2 days later.

1/30/07 - I had volunteered to do some marketing research for James and D'arcy's record label, Scratchie Records and for that I was given a backstage passes for my friend and I at the Richmond, VA show. Billy wasn't feeling well after the show and didn't come out to do the meet and greet, so I only got to talk with James, D'arcy and Matt Walker (Jimmy's replacement at the time.) It was nice because I guess Matt Walker's family lives near Richmond so I got to see him enjoy the company of his family backstage.

1998 - I camped overnight to be able to be first in line for tickets to the Constitution Hall Washington, DC show during SP's Adore-Era charity tour. I got second row center stage. During the show D'arcy threw one of her bass picks out into the audience and it literally landed on the top of my head.

2000 - My cover of "Rhinoceros" which I did for my friend's sound production final exam at JMU landed on the Ghost Children Tribute CD. You can hear it here. http://www.act4.net/ghostchildren.htm

just wanted to say i agreed with your reply to Billy's blog post 100%. nice to know there are others that feel the same way.

hey if you still got any i will buy them no problem. please email me at jsalari@hotmail.com if ur interested.

you really are a lucky soul! lol. I've only been a big fan since summer of 2005, and i'm a poor alaskan so I can't get to any shows, which really sucks. I really hope i get to see them on this tour! Seriously. I'm very jealous, especially about the '96 one where you got guest list tickets. I would've freaked! - innosense