We Will Rock You

by Erin Bagby on November 10, 2009

As the newest, youngest member of the Javelin team I still get a little starstruck around celebrities. My first encounter was in March of this year while executing Bacardi B-LIVE at Winter Music Conference. The team still teases me about going a little crazy when I saw Bridget from The Girls Next Door and P Diddy. So imagine my excitement when I learned I would be traveling with Donna to NYC for the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden! Fortunately for me Donna was pretty excited about these legendary performers too, so at least I wouldn’t be as embarrassed when I saw Bono and (internally) flipped out.

Each day we made sure to be on site the minute sound checks started, and we didn’t leave until the last artist left the building. We were there to manage the Bacardi Lounge, which turned out to be the best celeb spotting location. We laid eyes on Aretha Franklin, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, Bono, John Fogarty, Tom Hanks, Fergie, ZZ Top, Steve Van Zandt, Annie Lenox, Patty Smith, David Crosby, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, James Hetfield, Billy Joel, Glenn Close, Penn Badgley, The Imperials…just to name a few.

I can’t decide if my favorite moment was watching sound check for U2, Black Eyed Peas and Mick Jagger, or leaning on the stage while Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel performed, or seeing Simon and Garfunkel back together again. It was a once in a lifetime experience I’ll never forget. The photos below aren’t the best, but they’re mine, and I share them with you.