You Always Remember Your First Time

The Stories Behind The Songs

You Always Remember Your First Time

 

We met Mary on a Thursday night at the Whiskey on the Sunset strip in Los Angeles.  It was the spring of ‘90. I had just flown in that morning to visit Devin for a long weekend. He had recently relocated to L.A. because he wanted to be closer to their thriving music scene. It’s what most musicians did if they were serious about their music careers, and Devin was definitely serious about his. He moved by himself, while the rest of the band stayed back East. It didn’t stop them from touring, all he had to do was jump on a plane home and jump in the van and they’d be off and running. He just wanted to have a presence in Los Angeles since it was the major music capital at the time.  And besides that, he was single; the other guys had committed relationships back home.   

He had been in L.A. a couple months prior to me coming. He had a roommate that he had met in San Diego while touring the west coast. This would be my first time meeting Andrew.  We hit it off right away because, coincidentally, we all shared the same birthday, year and all. It became a running joke that we were the same person in 3 different bodies. We were so much alike.   

I had never been to the Whiskey before, but I had always wanted to go. Considering that Van Halen got their big break at the Whiskey, I wanted to see where their history was made.  Everyone knows how big of a Van Halen geek I was.  So Andrew & Devin took me to the Whiskey.   

We were kicked back at the bar when we were approached by a slightly tipsy redhead. She was gorgeous.  She looked like a Victoria’s Secret model. It’s funny to think about it after all these years because I can recall it so vividly in my head.   

“You guys look like you’re famous”, was her opening line to us. We were dressed in our rock & roll best; long hair, eyeliner, and biker boots. You wouldn’t be caught out any other way.  We were all trying to make a name for ourselves in the rock scene. She asked if we were in a band together. Devin told her, “No, we’re all just good friends”. She shot back, “Are you guys gay?” And without missing a beat, Devin replied, “Why don’t we go back to your place and I’ll show you how gay I am.”  We shared a laugh.  She smiled at Devin and you could just tell that he pushed the right button with her. Devin had a great sarcastic wit about him. It didn’t stop me from flirting with her just in case I had been mistaken.   

Devin had always been quick witted. He was definitely not shy when it came to talking to the ladies. After all, he was the consummate entertainer. He was mesmerizing to watch live, like a magnet to the eye.   

Our first encounter with Mary was short and sweet. She inquired if we knew any drummers. She had been looking for a a drummer for her band, Ivory. I’m sure she was hoping one of us was a drummer. But Devin and I were both singers, and Andrew was a guitarist. They were both newly transplanted and I was just visiting, although I was seriously considering making the jump to L.A. at the time.   

We exchanged some flirtatious pleasantries and then she left us at the bar to make her rounds. She had lived in L.A. much longer and she knew just about everyone.  But that was not the last we would see of Mary. 

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One of the great things about music is that it lives on forever!!”

— Dodd Michael Lede