WXTU had a contest for front row seats and backstage passes to meet Garth. John and I created this banner which hung on the outside of my house and measured 5' x 4'. This photo was taken in darkness with only the flash from my camera...it shows how it glowed in the dark. We did not win and we figured it may have been too professional looking. :( :( :(
Miss you Ron!
Another shot of "the gang" outside the First Union before the concert
Garth Brooks: Superstar turns out to be a man who cares
There I was, sitting in the front row with my tape recorder, notebook and pen waiting for Garth Brooks to walk into the room. I felt myself starting to sweat and my stomach starting to churn, but I still had to wait a while for Garth and Trisha Yearwood to walk through the door on my left and into the press conference room. Oh well, 15 minutes was no wait compared to the last two months. On July 29, I was invited to a press conference after calling GB Management and requesting a phone or a personal interview with Garth. Scott Stem, one of Garth's publicists, faxed me a letter explaining that Garth doesn't do interviews while on tour, but I was welcome to attend the press conference. Well, here I finally was. I was excited but afraid that I would either not be able to talk to ask them questions or would sound like an idiot when my turn came. I began trying to imagine Garth walking through the door so when he actually did, I wouldn't pass out. I looked over my list of questions and recited them in my head, just in case I did get a chance to talk to him. A member of the crew came out and said they were running a little late, but Garth and Trisha would be out in three or four minutes. At that point, I felt like I was the only Garth fan in the room full of journalists, because no one else seemed to experience the wave of nausea that I did after that announcement. Those were the longest few minutes of my life and then, after months of waiting, the door swung open and one of my favorite, all-time entertainers walked into the room. I didn't faint, I didn't even falter because Garth looked like he felt the same way I did - nervous. He was wearing a black NASA jumpsuit and a black baseball hat with "Garth Brooks World Tour" stitched in gold on the front. After presentations from Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell and the political statement he had to throw in, it was time to talk with Trisha and Garth. Because Trisha had to leave for sound check, questions were directed at her first, but no one spoke. It was obvious that everyone was waiting to talk to Garth. Finally, a reporter in the back asked her what it was like touring with Garth Brooks. I didn't have any questions prepared for her, but felt bad that the other people weren't asking many questions. All of a sudden, I felt my hand go up and Trisha looked at me, smiled and said something indicating it was my turn. My lips began to flap and, to me, it sounded like I wasn't making any sense. I asked her if the friendship that seems to be strong between her and Garth made touring easier. I soon found out that this unprepared question would be the best one I asked all night. First, Garth looked at her and twisted his lip up like he didn't really like her, they both laughed and Trisha replied sarcastically, "We get along great all the time." Seriously, she explained it was nice to have a friend on the road because there's always someone she can go to with problems, ideas or to just talk. Then, looking at and directing his response to me, Garth answered the question. He said having Trisha on tour with him gives him someone to talk to at the end of the day. "The things I cherish the most are the relationships," Garth said. Brooks can only be described as down to Earth, friendly and, though it may sound corny, inspirational. Garth Brooks is still just a normal guy. But because of his popularity, he's a normal guy...with influence. For years, Garth has wanted to bring the world together for one day in one form or another. First, he began designing a flag to be distributed to world leaders and be flown on the same day across the planet. That project has evolved into a unity day, he told me, and he would like to focus on that project after his tour is completed. On "One World Day", schools from across the globe would link up "computer-wise" and be able to communicate. Garth said he would like to have it happen in 2000, but said it may be difficult because everyone is planning projects for that year. "There's never a time to give up on it, and there's never a time that's too soon, or hopefully there won't be a time that's too late. In a time when violence, drugs, war and other travesties capture everyone's attention, Garth continues to offer some hope, or at least he's trying. One of my favorite Garth Brooks songs, "The Change" from the 1995 "Fresh Horses" release, I think, describes Garth's way of life. During the chorus, he sings, "And I hear them saying, 'You'll never change things. An no matter what you do it's still the same thing.' It's not the world that I am changing. I do this so, the world will know it will not change me." Since Sept. 8, when I came face-to-face
with one of my favorite performers, my impression of Garth Brooks, the entertainer and the man, has changed. Garth Brooks is an entertainer who cares about more than just himself and his career - he's a man who wants to make a difference. And hopefully he will make a difference someday, because he has the power to do it. Kelly Roncase, Staffwriter, Today's Sunbeam
