So it seems you guys like it the best when I tell embarrassing stories about myself. So here’s one of my top 5!
Yes this next story should be it- but pathetically it’s just the back story…..
When Jonny and I met, his ‘Lie to Me’ album had not yet been released. He was a kid playing tiny venues. (Maybe I’ll write the insane story of how we met later). After that, we kept meeting up all over the country by coincidence. We’d both be working in the same state on the same day. A few months later he asked if I’d come out to New York to be in his ‘Missin Your Love’ video and see his New York City show. My mom and sister came with me because I was only 17 at the time. We shot the video then drove to his show. In which he happened to be opening for Aerosmith at Madison Square Gardens, which he had failed to mention!
Now, lots of you guys don’t know me but, I hate large crowds and huge spaces freak me out. And Aerosmith is my favorite band in the entire world. The thought of meeting them freaked me out. But I didn’t say anything when we pulled into the venue, which was a series of underground catacombs. Figured I could hold it together and play it cool. NOT.
He pulls me from the dressing room to ‘show me something’. We walk up this flight of stairs and we are standing center stage. The place is empty and Jonny says “I wanted you to see what your grandmother saw” (back story-My grandmother was a concert pianist and she played Madison Square Gardens a few times). Yes, sounds so sweet but it completely freaked me out! How do people get in front of crowds like this and not pass out!! The chairs were empty and I couldn’t handle it! I ran back down the stairs and told him I needed to leave. I told my mom I needed to fly home. This world was just too much to handle. I had met a guy playing the small Hard Rock Cafe and overnight he’s in Madison Square Gardens!
They calmed me down and convinced me to stay for a little while…..over the course of the night I completely mortified myself in front of Steven Tyler (Long Story) and then the whole band for that matter. Steven had told Jonny to have me wear a pink dress and he would surprise me by bringing me up onto stage to dance during the song “Pink”!! Fat Freakin Chance!!! HAHA. Anyways, the night left everyone talking about me…in a ‘what an idiot’, kind of way.
Now for the embarrassing story:
Fast forward a few years, Jonny was opening for Aerosmith again at the Hollywood Bowl, down the street from me. I had heard that Steven asked Jonny if his girlfriend was still freaked out over him. I figured I would skip out on the night. Better safe than sorry. But Jonny assured me that I could come backstage once Aerosmith was already onstage and that we would leave before they got off stage. Sounded easy enough. No way of embarrassing myself…
I watched Jonny, who was amazing and when Aerosmith came on, marched myself back to the dressing room. I knew everyone in the room except for two guys, who were visiting. We were all chatting it up. One of the ‘newbie’ guys started doing Austin Powers imitations to me. I was wearing knee high glitter white go-go boots (Don’t ask) and he was calling me a fembot. We were acting out scenes and I ended up on his lap, ‘in character’ of course!
All of a sudden we hear a ton of people outside the dressing room. I peek my head out and there is a party going on right outside the door. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston would have been blocking my way, had I walked out! Just a ton of famous people hanging out…no big deal. Then Aerosmith ran in to cheers. Oh crap! I had been talking so much I didn’t realize the show had ended. Typical me! Apparently Steven had asked Jonny earlier if I would be there (while laughing)!!! Oh no, I couldn’t embarrass myself in front of not only him but now a huge group of famous people!!
The 2 ‘new guys’ (who I had been sitting on one of their laps don’t forget!!) asked what the problem was. “I freak in front of musicians. My brain stops working. Not new bands just the 80’s bands I grew up with.” etc. etc. etc. “famous people scare me” blah blah blah.
The gentleman that I had shared his lap, says he has an incredible idea. He is wearing a huge trench coat…I can get behind him and walk out of the venue with the trench coat around us both. So ridiculous, I do it! We hobble through the party and out the back door to a van. Who knows what people thought!! The guy had a hunchback and four feet! Jonny, his band and I get in the van. The 2 guys get into a car. We are all going to meet up for sushi. “See you there” we all say and pull out of the venue. “I LOOOOVE that band!!!!” one of Jonny’s band members says. “ME Too! Aerosmith is my favorite!!” I said. “Not Aerosmith…Van Halen”, “I can’t believe Haylie was sitting on his lap”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????? I had just told Van FREAKIN Halen I was afraid of 80’s rockers and then snuggled in under one of their trench coats!!!! Can’t I ever just act normal!!!!!??? I instantly got ‘sick’ and needed to be dropped off at my house!!! 🙂 I couldn’t face them again at the restaurant!!!!
Now have some fun with that and be proud you are not me!!!:) Just know this is not even close to the most embarressing story which will follow soon!