My fascination with Cyndi began when I heard "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," and saw the video...immediately I fell in love with her because she was different than other artists. It seemed she wasn't afraid to be herself regardless of what anyone thought! From the start I loved her music, style, artistry, zany personna and couldn't resist watching, listening and purchasing everything about her! When she came onto the scene in 1983 I was just 13 years old and it was the beginning of the 80's decade and MTV! What a fabulous time to be a teenager! Then I saw her perform on the MTV New Year's Eve Rock 'n' Roll Ball and that night changed my world...
...the following posts which I will continue to add on from time to time are a history in photos of when I first met Cyndi and the many times hanging out with her since 1984! These early photos were taken with my Kodak Disc Camera!
THE FUN TOUR - SEPTEMBER 7, 1984
SPECIAL GUEST: MAJOR THINKERS
MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILLION - COLUMBIA, MARYLAND
This was my 14th birthday present from my parents...CYNDI LAUPER concert tickets!
MAJOR THINKERS
[Cyndi Lauper's Rocker Pals Just Wanna Have Fun, Too-With Their Own New Album And Video]
Us
7|2|1984
THE BIRTHDAY KISS!
SANDY GENNARO
DRUMS
This is an 8 x 10 photo that SANDY gave me, both he and CYNDI signed it!
This is Sandy's personal ALL ACCESS pass from the tour...you can check out his history with CYNDI here:
JOHN McCURRY
GUITAR
KENNI HAIRSTON
KEYBOARDS
(That's my mother and brother in the picture too!)
JOHN K. (Kay)
BASS
THE BAND
ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER...
THE FUN TOUR - NOVEMBER 5, 1984
SPECIAL GUEST: THE BANGLES
FEASTER CENTER/FAIRMONT STATE COLLEGE - FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA
(Would've been nice if they spelled her name correctly!)
JOHN K. | JUSTIN SEWARD | JOHN McCURRY
(Justin was only 4 yers old and LOVED Cyndi, his mom took us to the concert since I couldn't drive yet!)
PATRICK LUCAS
HAIR & MAKE-UP
&
ROBIN IRVINE
TOUR MANAGER
JOHN K. & KENNI HAIRSTON
JOHN McCURRY
SANDY GENNARO
(THANK YOU Sandy for taking me backstage!!!)
SANDY & JOHN
JOHN K.
KENNI & ROBIN
JOHN K.
I did hang out with Cyndi for a bit which was great, but she had removed her make-up and wouldn't allow me to take any photos...so she signed this gorgeous photo for me!
I had taken this new book along for Cyndi to sign, she wanted to keep the book because it was unauthorized and she hadn't seen it before...of course I wouldn't let her keep it because she had signed it! (keep in mind I was only 14 at the time)!
Eleven years later...
AIDS WALK - SEPTEMBER 23, 1995
WASHINGTON DC
MICHAEL KEATING
B&W PHOTOGRAPHS
After the performance Cyndi greeted fans!
Then she jumped on a flight to Philly to perform at ERIC BAZILIAN's (of the HOOTERS) wedding!
Almost two years later...
SISTERS OF AVALON TOUR - JUNE 21, 1997
(OPENING FOR TINA TURNER)
NISSAN PAVILLION - MANASASS, VIRGINIA
This was an absolutely AMAZING experience...I went to the concert with Cyndi's best friend Howard! We arrived went to greet Cyndi, watched her perform, then went backstage and hung out with Cyndi the entire time Tina was performing (so I missed that) but hey I was spending quality time with Cyndi so what the hell!
I had taken gifts for Cyndi, after all it was her birthday weekend and she was pregnant, so I also took some gifts for her expecting little one!
With JAN PULSFORD & TIPPER GORE
With TIPPER GORE & HOWARD
HOWARD & I
This is a scrapbook that I had made and took it to share with Cyndi.
I've always loved this Janis Joplin-esque photo by photographer MATTHEW ROLSTON and Cyndi signed it for me!
Cyndi wanted us to meet her back at her hotel in DC to perhaps go have a drink or a bite to eat, but it was late, and she was quite tired so once we arrived at the hotel she wanted to tuck in for the night!
In keeping in touch with Howard he sent me his ALL ACCESS PASS for the show at RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL in July 1997!
DANCING ON THE BAY 2001
FIRE ISLAND PINES - FIRE ISLAND, NEW YORK
These photos were taken by my friend photographer MOODY MUSTAFA, I was not at this event but the images are so gorgeous I wanted to share them with you!
Around this time I had to have some surgery and I received this signed photo in the mail from Cyndi!
A couple of years later...
SHINE TOUR - FEBRUARY 11, 2003
SPECIAL GUEST: GAVIN DeGRAW
9:30 CLUB - WASHINGTON DC
CYNDI & My MOM
My friend JEFFERY RHODES came along and he designed these FABULOUS t-shirts for us to wear...Cyndi loved them and signed them for us!
Nearly 11 months later...
AT LAST TOUR - DECEMBER 19, 2003
9:30 CLUB - WASHINGTON DC
About 8 months later...
AT LAST TOUR - AUGUST 3, 2004
SPECIAL GUEST: TAYLOR DAYNE
THE FILENE CENTER AT WOLF TRAP - VIENNA, VIRGINIA 
A few weeks later...
AT LAST TOUR - AUGUST 24, 2004
THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE - WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
A CHRISTMAS CARD from THE LAUPER-THORNTON FAMILY - DECEMBER 2004
About 6 months later...
METRO DC PFLAG's ANNUAL HONORS GALA AND SILENT AUCTION - MARCH 12, 2005
HYATT REGENCY - WASHINGTON DC
With her sister ELEN & I
Mom & I appeared in the DC Gay magazine METRO WEEKLY
About 3 months later...
THE BODY ACOUSTIC TOUR - JUNE 10, 2005
HILTON CASINO - ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
I don't have any photos with Cyndi from this night, but Cyndi allowed me to come into the venue while she was rehearsing and I got to talk with her before she began the warm-up! The live photos are courtesy of my friend BOB SCHILLING.
Nearly 6 months later...
THE BODY ACOUSTIC TOUR - DECEMBER 16, 2005
SPECIAL GUEST: SANDRA BERNHARD & JILL SOBULE
Several months later...
THE THREEPENNY OPERA - MAY 10, 2006
STUDIO 54 - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Cyndi was kind enough to invite my mom and I to this show as her guests!
Me & Cyndi in her dressing room!
I asked Cyndi if she thought it would be possible for her to introduce me to the sexy ALAN CUMMING...and she replied "Honey, you're not the only one who thinks he is sexy!" Then she went and got him to meet us, and he was so freakin' sweet and sexy in person! We had a blast and they both signed my PLAYBILL along with BRIAN CHARLES ROONEY! While I was backstage CARLOS LEON was sitting in front of me, and I was so overwhelmed with everything that was happening that I never realized it was him until we had left! DAMN!
HEART OF THE WESTSIDE CELEBRATION - MAY 15, 2007
THE ITALIAN ACADEMY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
I did not attend this event, however BOB SCHILLING took photos and shared them with me!
BOB SCHILLING & CYNDI
THE TRUE COLORS TOUR - JUNE 18, 2007
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL - NEW YORK, NEW YORK
I was not at this particular night of the tour, however my friend BOB SCHILLING was there and he took these fantastic photos!
CAZWELL
AMANDA LEPORE
MARGARET CHO
BETH DITTO - GOSSIP
DEBBIE HARRY
ROSIE O'DONNELL
VINCE CLARKE - ERASURE
ANDY BELL - ERASURE
These photos from Australian dates
were sent to me by SAMANTHA McWATTERS
BRING YA TO THE BRINK TOUR - FEBRUARY 26, 2008
Palais Theatre - Melbourne, Australia
MEMPHIS BLUES TOUR - APRIL 8, 20011
Palais Theatre - Melbourne, Australia
MEMPHIS BLUES TOUR - APRIL 9, 20011
Palais Theatre - Melbourne, Australia
If you have any photos of Cyndi in concert or shots of yourself with Cyndi, feel free to send them to me and I will happily add them to my page to share with everyone!
Send to:
this is amazing
ReplyDeleteI loved this. It was so amazing to travel through time with you and Cyndi. I've been lucky enough to see her live seven times. I wish I had been smart enough to record my experiences as you have. Brian.
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt, you have the greatest Cyndi photo collection, Christmas card included! You're incredibly lucky. Thanks so much for sharing all of this. It's like manna for us fans.
ReplyDeleteI remember your Shine shirt photos. had no idea that was you!
Would you mind if I reblogged some of the scans? I'll credit you. :)
Hello.
ReplyDeleteI want to tell your blog to cyndi fan of Japan.
Do you please allow?
(^-^)/
My blog
http://cyndilauperjapan.blogspot.jp