2008

2008 就在濃煙中若隱若現的煙火秀正式起跑!
2007 整整一年在英國度過；
他鄉生活有苦有樂，
腦海中，想起第一天走出機場那股迎面而來的刺骨寒氣，
忐忑的心情，新鮮加刺激；
20 個月後完成來此的目標，一樣的溫度、還是一樣的心情，
往後要面對的是更大的挑戰和責任；
回想從台中-台北-到倫敦，不只是自己在推自己往前進，
家人的支持和與愛麗絲的相互刺激更是最大的動力!



回想這20 個月的倫敦生活除了完成學業之外，
最近的大事要算是牛津的奇妙旅程了，
在簡單的電話面試之後，開始了畢生第一遭短短六週的外籍勞工生涯，
雖然時間很短，但是刺激很大；
首先不外乎是語言啦，
非常感恩，同事不介意我的菜英文願意為我放慢速度、耐心解釋；
再來是文化，最新鮮的是英國人的飲茶文化，
到不是說有多精深，而是從早到晚都在泡奶茶，一杯接一杯，
ㄧ位女同事還很貼心的記住每一個人的口味，試圖要為大家調配"客製化的口味"!
記得第一次為大家泡茶用舊茶包回沖，還被開玩笑說是"學生行為"!
嘿~ 我可是50% 的客家勤儉血統哩!!

其他還有聽了許多南非同事的故事，
從南非近幾年的社會現象、到他移民到英國這幾年的文化適應問題，
有很多是平常不會想到的議題和寶貴的生活經驗；
最扯的是有次聊到寵物，我問他養過些什麼，他說狗、鳥、貓啊都養過，
也還好麻，沒想到接著越來越扯，
他開始說蛇、豹、虎、大象.... 還說這些動物一但長大之後只好放走，
ㄧ方面是危險，一方面也是食量與日俱增養不起!
只能說....無言以對。

還有一次加班到凌晨，只得去老闆家過夜，
他家在一個離公司約30 分鐘車程的小鎮，只有幾十戶人家，連路燈都沒有，
下車一抬頭，看見的是久違的滿天星斗!
記得上次這樣的畫面應該是數年前去看流星雨吧。



其次的大事要算是看演唱會了!
在5-6 場如夢幻般的演唱會之後，
終於頓悟為什麼在這裡大家把看演唱會當成社交場合，
朋友相約喝酒聊天，把臺上賣力嘶吼的巨星當成背景，
只有舞臺前的一團人隨著節奏上下起伏，他們才是真正的信徒，
大部分的人像是來參加一個巨星演奏的趴梯；
為什麼?

因為這裡天天有巨星登台啊!
Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Korn, Dreamtheater...
還有像我心目中的天團之一: MegadetH 一年之內來兩次的更是比比皆是!
最近的經典要算是Sex Pistols 跟 Marilyn Manson,



Sex Pistols
英國最具代表性的樂團之一，
在各類搖滾一片美國樂團包辦的氣氛下，
他們再度復出演唱可是振奮了本地的樂迷，
班上最老的同學：41 歲的英國人更是奮不顧身的鑽入人群隨著人潮翻滾；
在幾首經典例如：God Save The Queen, Anarchy In The U.K. 期間
還看見不少資深搖滾客跟著嘶吼，眼神相互交流，
可以想像透過那眼神告訴彼此：當年的光輝歲月此刻再度重現!
不必流淚一樣可以感受到那份心中的激動。



Marilyn Manson
雖然不是頭號粉絲，但如此聲名狼藉的曼森要來讓你看，怎可錯過!?
這也是第一次到Wembley Arena
可容納一萬多人的Wembley Arena 果然跟其他在倫敦市區的一般劇場氣勢上截然不同!

曼森從開場的氣氛營造、舞台縱深、道具無不充滿視覺及戲劇效果；
更是無數的歌德信徒全身黑死裝扮，
最屌的要算是一個金髮小妹用沾滿血的紗布圍成的護士裝，
專業程度直比小日本的Cosplay! 可惜沒多拍些照片留念!

唯一的小遺憾是第一次在演唱會遇到扒手，
志偉跟我的包包都莫名的被打開，志偉還被鹹豬手襲臀! 哈~
幸好錢包沒掉，但手機不見了! 幹!
當時一~片~漆~~黑~~ (重慶完啦! )+混亂，也搞不清是自己掉了還是被幹走了，
總之，也提醒我以後得提高警覺才是。



20 個月之後，下禮拜要回家啦!!
彷彿又回到當初的心情：緊張又期待!
之前在語言學校曾討論過Culture shock,
不只是初到異地會面對文化衝擊，
當身處異鄉許久之後再回到故鄉亦是另一種衝擊，
此刻我正在想像那到衝擊會是什麼感覺?

>>>> MegadetH <<<<

Scream, shout, lift the people up, it was a absolutely crazy evening at the Astoria!!
it was my second time to see them, but I didn't feel so exciting like last time,
maybe it's because I didn't stand in the crowd
(also because the people here are really crazy! since I had the experience of Guns N' Roses I think I won't choose stand in front of the stage, unless I'm under a big stress at that moment or I'm crazy as well )
so I didn't feel the strong atmosphere around me,
it was more like a memory, achieved a kind of mission!

Velvet Revolver

不知是老了還是昨晚音響效果不是很好，還是課業壓力太大；
還是我站的離舞台太遠；還是在倫敦看演唱會太容易(如果是這個原因那我就太機車了!)
整晚在半興奮狀態中度過。
我的夢想一一實現，雖然遲了點~但精神依舊!
就像Scott 昨晚一開始說的：
” We’re still playing the fucking rock and roll!!”

Massive Attack

聽覺>視覺>迷幻的演唱會，不愧是天才的組合
數位與音樂搭配的無懈可擊!


Teardrop
Elizabeth Fraser 的歌聲果然是撞擊力十足!
把我脆弱的心徹底感動
最近一次聽到被用在原聲帶是在Prison Break 裡
當Sarah 漫步在海邊掙扎著要不要開個小門給Michael
這時熟悉的旋律響起~~真是直擊我心!

意外的是完全沒禁止拍照!!

GUNS N’ ROSES Hammersmith Apollo 7 Jun. 2006

I would say it was a riot last night

As I suppose “Welcome to the jungle” was the first song that Axl Rose sang

Suddenly, everybody was screaming, jumping and pushing

Before the first song had finished six or seven girls become exhausted, and were carried out by a bodyguard, at the same time I felt almost suffocated, I suddenly become conscious in a dangerous situation.

In the middle of gig at moment, I was aware that I couldn’t move my legs I felt strange and tried to touch my jeans.

Do you know what!

My jeans were down to my thighs! And I couldn’t pull up my jeans, now you can imagine how squeezed in the theatre.

During the special guests “Bullet for My Valentine” who were warming up before Guns N’ Roses, had a man who was already drunk standing by my side he said something to me which I didn’t understand, and said “you’re gorgeous! Give me a kiss!” I didn’t want to get in trouble so I just tried to keep away from him, but he still disturbed the other people and molested a girl who was standing in front of him, people around he tried to stop him but he never stopped.

Finally, somebody called the bodyguard and took him away all the people were shouting and said “get out! Asshole, fuck off! ” to him, cheerful!

When I first clapped eyes on Axl Rose at that moment, my feeling was “What an old guy!” where is the younger and more powerful Axl Rose?

It reminded me I knew them since I was teenage, for me they are not just a hard rock band, but also my teenage memory. My first stereo, I and Ralf sang song in the bedroom, we shared and enjoyed rock music, I met Alice in secondary school...

I thought I would cry when I heard Axl Rose singing “Sweet Child O’ Mine” but I didn’t, I think it’s because it wasn’t the same line up. They were just accompanying singles for Axl Rose the spirit was gone. As an article from the internet said “It's rather like a decapitated chicken - the body keeps on running around, whilst the head rests on the floor.”

However, I still enjoyed this gig and very excited. People chorused with Axl Rose in all the old songs such as “It’s So Easy” “Nightrain” “Mr. Brownstone” “Sweet Child O’ Mine” “Patience” “Live And Let Die” “November Rain” “Knockin' On Heaven's Door” until last song “Paradise City” I sang loudly jumping with people who were around me until midnight. It was a special night for me and it will be an important memory in my life.

One of the most important tickets in my life


Guns N’ Roses UK tour flyer


Nobody cares about copyright they just threw the flyers away


Apollo theatre


TV program interviewing the fans


20 minutes before entering the theatre