DWT at Staple Center
Our member Lunar Larry sent us an essay on his Drowned World Tour experience. You can see below some of his “visual” memories of that concert, while to read the story he wrote just click on Full Article below.
Madonna & War
by Larry Gene Goss Jr. AKA Lunar Larry
As a kid I studied Madonna’s videos and especialy her tours. I was 11 when Blond Ambition was aired on HBO. I had to secretly watch it at my friends house becuase I heard it was ShOcKiNg and a little naughty. Of coarse i taped it and would watch it over and over. I noticed that it was her last show and it seemed very well oiled and greased. It just flowed on its own. I knew when I grew up and was able to go to a madonna concert I would want to go to a last show. Well then the Girlie Show came around… I was 13 and still not old enough to travel to it on my own. The years past I grew older 14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22 FINALLY madonna was going to tour again it was called the Drowned world Tour. Her first date in LA would be on September 11th 2001 @ the stapels center. Also her LAST SHOW would be performed in LA. I was really excited I wanted so much to see the last show but knowing the Tickets would sell fast I was ready to get my tickets for any night I could get. I stood in line at or little town PORTERVILLES ticket master , with only four other people. I got my 3 tickets to the SEPTEMBER 11th show…I was a little disapointed that I was not going to see the last show…But I was HELL-A- HAPPY i was going to a Madonna show.
Spetember 11th morning came finally and I woke up to my MOM watching the news. I was seeing Air Planes crashing into the World Trade Center. I was in a daze as they crumbled to the ground I was sickend & scaired. My mom said that most likley the show would be canceled. I didn’t want to believe her …I mean even if the WORLD was ending I’d still go see MADONNA. Well… my mom was right the show was canceled. After seeing all that horror on my screen I really wanted to be cheered up…But there was no MADONNA show. Well a few days passed and The USA was very much in shock. Every one was sciared of war or simply being in a large building…it was very uncomforatble time. A Phionox rose from the ashes when Madonna announced that she would have a make-up date for us SEP 11th show peeps. And it would be her LAST SHOW of the tour. It was perfect it was like it was meant to be this way.I really need somthing uplifting and this was it…I was tired of seeing the footage on TV being shown over and over again. It was time to start smiling again.
When I arrived at the Staples center there was kind of a magic in the air…or was it fear of bieng bombed , I don’t know. My seat was in the very back center front row. an actually great seat. I was sitting next to a guy who I could tell wasn’t a madonna fan …he was here for his girlfriends. Looking down from this seat I could see Jack Nicholson with his girl Luara Flinn.When the show finaly started and Madonna came out on stage I was so into it. Here hair was so cool It was vey curly like blond ambition style.Her outfit was diffrent than usual she was wearing a american flag for her half skirt.She sang unbelievably.Im very critical of her singing and my god she blew me away.While singing Impressive Instant she laid on her back as she usually does but this time one of her dancers stood on her stomache to spook her and he did …she jumped up and giggled.That would set the tone for the rest of the night.When she said FUCK OFF after Candy Perfume Girl everyone cheered it was like a comment to the terrorist.The part in were she lap dances a man in Beatifull Stranger …it was her Husband Guy Ritchie…It seemed like the audience didn’t even notice…there wasn’t much of a cheer form the crowd. But I cheered and so did the dude next to me…when I cheered he cheered when I stood up and boogied so did he. I was like his his Madonna tariner…he was even really into the show.During secret she talked about how this was the last show and begain to cry when it was time to start the song she gave that look like in truth or dare…when she said “why did I do that”…it was very touching.She gave a great speech about love and the craziness thats going on in the world today.At the end of Paradise Not For Me the dancers spit out the glowing mouth peices to the audience. During the Open Your Heart intro the dancer was wearing a Lakers jersey.After the fighting part of the show were she usually shoots her evil man….She lowered the gun walked up to him and wraped her arms around him in a loving way…and they sank beneath the stage…her first Anti War statment.On what it feels like for a girl she was surpirsed when she noticed the male dancers were doing the part for the girls this time.She just smiled hugly while tangoing with her men.While singing Holiday they teased her by breaking down the song with Like A Virgin.Madonna was so full of energy through the entire show…for examplke the opening number Substitute For Love…where she usually just kinda stood and sang…at our show she was so loose and grooving and dancing at any chance she had.Her singing was awsome.AWSOME.
Well after it was all done I was so proud of her. I just had a couple things that bugged me. THIS SHOUD HAVE BEEN THE SHOW THAT WAS FILMED. It ruined the DVD version forever.It is only 65% of performance compaired to my show.So my only hope was there would be News crews .Our concert was a anti war stament…Unfortunatly the press was not there at all.I havent even seen a picture of this show.This was the greatest Madoona show in history…and the most ingnored IMPORTANT performance of Madonna’s entire journey..I know that this is a show that Madonna holds special in her heart…and Im very extatic to be apart of it…thanx Madonna.