28th September

Today we decided to get to Brixton earlier, unfortunately we can’t leave Luton until 9:30am due to the peek rates are extortionate to London.

7:30am I woke up and had breakfast

7:45am I started to apply my clown make up (again) because although I had got my invite to the after show party, I had to get one for my brother. Plus today is being filmed.

9:00am I am finally ready to leave the house and head to town. We get on a bus into town and decide to avoid disapointment we would buy an O2 sim card. Unfortunately our phones turned out to be locked, so plan B was now in effect, we buy a cheap O2 phone.

9:45am The train to London arrives, we get on.

10:15am Arrive in St.Pancras, and we head towards the Victoria line to Brixton.

10:50am We arrive at Brixton Academy and join the queue, in the queue are these lovely people some of which are in this picture (although not everyone i.e. Emilie, but I think she took the photo). These guys were so much fun to queue with and felt like a family. The guy in the middle is Nick and one of the girls, lets call her ‘Rachel’ thought he looked like Brian Molko, but was too shy to ask for a picture with him, but Michael (the tall guy with his tongue out) just went up to him and called him over for a photo or 10. Although they thought he looked like Brian, I think he looks more like the guy from HIM. Oh well. Needless to say time passed much quicker with these guys around.

6:45 The doors opened early, I don’t know why. But it didn’t seem to matter if we had an O2 phone or not, I don’t think they even checked properly, but the boys and girls were split up at this point which gave guys a bit of an advantage because we were outnumbered at least 10 to 1. Still when I got into the main room, I couldn’t get onto the barrier, but I didn’t mind I’m tall enough to see. We kept in our little group on the left hand side of the stage (Brians side), I was on Stef’s side last night so I was happy. Little Fish came on at 7:30, and Evaline at 8:30 just like the night before, as did Placebo. The set was the same as before but now I was with a group of people, and I didn’t have my camera with me for the second night I had a hell of a lot more fun (not that I didn’t have fun the first night but now something magic was happening). During Ashtray Heart and at the very end me, Lynn and Stephanie were throwing our own confetti in the air, despite Placebo being very kind and supplying us with theirs. I think it made them smile as they were taking their bows.

They were filming this night, and the Trigger Happy Clowns were out in force. It was a great sight to see so many people all so dedicated to this one, fantastic band. Music is truly a unifying force which this night proved. We all managed to stay together past the pushing and the shoving. It was beautiful.

When the gig was over we had all met up outside just by where we had spent most of the day queuing, and when we were all together we went to the after show party. When we got there it was pretty quiet, but it was filling up steadily as the gig goers made their way in. The music was good, the company was better. It wasn’t long before Stefan Olsdal made his appearance behind the DJ booth, and it wasn’t long after that when a swarm of fans crowded round trying desperately to get his autograph. He kindly obliged them, but I just left him to it (for awhile) and danced with my friends. 

When the crowed around Stefan thinned, I guiltily made my way over to get him to sign my ticket (which had been slightly damaged from all the commotion at the gig but oh well), he was very nice about it and thanked me for coming. It was only a little later that I heard that it was the last Placebo gig in the UK for around 2 years, which made me sad, but it also made this night that bit more special. So we danced, and we drank and we were merry. This merry infact: 

and oh erm well this merry too:

haha I love Michael (below), he rocks. He came all the way from New York just for this gig. And I love Lynn (above) she rocks too, in fact all my new placebo friends rock and I love them all (in the words of a drunk no less).

Steve Forrest, Fiona Brice, Bill Lloyd & Nick Gavrilovic made their way up to show their faces around the party for awhile. Here’s a photo of me and Fiona (although the woman in the background doesn’t look pleased)

 

We partied hard, until one by one we had places to go and Stefan had long gone from the DJ both, although I think some of the Evaline guys were still around (I think) I left around 4am. It was time for the night buses. One from Brixton to Oxford Street, and one from Oxford Street to Kings Cross, simples. Then there was the long wait for the 5:22 (first train in the morning) back to Luton.

What a night, what a day, what a couple of days even. But the Placebo related fun didn’t end there. Not quiet. See my next final chapter of this Placebo extravaganza soon (if anyone actually reads this).

P.s. special thanks to Michael, Amandine, Emilie, Stephanie, Lynn, Rachel, Marijo, Monique & everyone else for making the second night even better than what I thought was an untopapble first night!!

P.p.s an extra special thanks for all photos in part 3 courtesy of Emilie, Amandie & Michael (if I used someone elses photo as well give me a shout and I’ll correct myself)

To see what happened next see Part 4 (After the After Party)

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Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3, Part 4 (After the After Party)