While we still in the midst of filming “Days of Rage” in London, Marty O’Brien called with a hastily organized photo gig. The Triple Threat Tour we’d worked on was doing a special gig at the O2 Arena for the BBC and HBO in the states. And we’d be doing all the photos again. Beyonce`, Rihanna and Tigress would be on the bill again and there was a promise of “unannounced special guests” on the show too. For some reason, Marty kept that a secret even from us. Very un-Marty, if you asked me. But I wasn’t complaining; my entire time in London had been spent at the flat with the film’s star Jennifer Aniston and the studios’ London rep Beth. Which saved the studio money, and the benefits of being around the two of them had been quite nice as well. Chris was doing quite well too, he’d hooked up with one of the production assistants so I didn’t see much of him on days we weren’t working. I learned long ago not to ask too many questions about his hookups, and he rarely asked about mine.
Beth was turning out to be quite fun to be around, and not just when her sister Sophie was there too!
Chris and I met at the vast 02 Arena complex the morning of the show for the soundcheck and to go over logistics with Terry Carter, the English promoter. Even with all the chaos going on around us, Terry was cool. He’d been promoting shows in England for many years, so something like this was nothing for him. Marty and Terry went over what to expect and let us in on who the guests would be. Fergie was expected, and possibly Mariah Carey. One of them was this British singer I’d never heard of but was apparently quite the rising star there, Pixie Lott. She’d be joining Rihanna during her set. Marty was quite proud to get her on the show, he’d just made a deal to bring her to the USA to open for Tigress’ on their upcoming tour, so he was positioning her to be his “next big thing” with lots of promo appearances planned. Marty had pulled out all the stops to make sure “Pixie” got first class treatment. Like I said, she was already a rising star in Britain, but he figured the more press she got with the American market, the better. Chris and I couldn’t help but snicker at calling somebody Pixie, sure it was a stage name and all but it just felt weird to Yanks like us. And Marty was starting to get a little annoyed at us.
“Alright, I’m glad you’re getting’ a laugh out of this, I’ll remember it when I’m choosing tour photographers.” He said with mock-seriousness.
As we were leaving the Arena, as if by chance, Beth and Sophie were waiting outside by Sophie’s car, a blue Ford Focus convertible.
“Hey Jim!” they yelled.
“Looks like you just got a ride somewhere nice.” Chris said.
“Oh, well, they’re just, uh…” I stammered.
“Friends?” he said with raised eyebrows.
I could only nod in response as they walked over.
“Yeah…wish I had friends like that.” He replied wistfully as he walked away to the sexy redhead standing by an equally cool looking Jaguar.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked after getting a sweet kiss from both girls.
“Sophie works for Terry’s company, she gets me into every show here, cool, huh?” Beth said.
“I can clearly see the advantages of this arrangement.” I said with my best professorial tone.
They both laughed like schoolgirls.
“I’m so cool…” I thought to myself.
“So I hear that Pixie Lott’s gonna be on the show.” Beth said
“Don’t know anything about that.” I replied.
“It’s true.” Sophie added in a weary tone “She’s all wacko about that.”
“I’ve never heard of her.” I said.
“You’re kidding? Oh my god she’s so cool!” Beth said excitedly
“Come on Hollywood, we’re buying you lunch.” Sophie said as she led me to the Ford and we were off. Beth was playing Pixie’s CD as we drove along and giving me all the details about her. Not bad, I thought. And both wanted to know any gossip about Rihanna, I had to wonder if I should tell them about my fling I’d had with her during the American tour. After what I’d already done with them, I doubted anything would faze them. They’d probably enjoy it for all I know.
The night of the show was definitely the biggest affair we’d ever been a part of. Beth and Sophie drove me there, looking incredibly sexy in matching miniskirts with glitter accents that showed some serious legs. There were paparazzi photographers everywhere and plenty of stars too. But these were of the English kind, so the names’ meant little to me. This was one of those rare moments when I had to look around and wonder if I was really here. Chris reassured me like only he could;
“Get your ass in gear Hollywood! We gotta a job to do!” he barked.
The show was something else! Everyone involved had radically changed their set lists for this show. Which was good, my theory was when you see the same show night after night, the pictures begin to suffer. Rihanna and I hadn’t seen one another in a few months. And a lot had happened to her since then, according to the tabloids. She had even fiercer looking guards around her than usual. So there was no way we’d have any kind of meeting like before. Like Chris said, I had a job to do.
Chris and I headed into the backstage areas for extra gear and saw Marty there.
“Hey boys! I’d like you to meet Miss Pixie.”
Pixie Lott was there with him and several other assistants. She was quite pretty, I had to admit. She had golden blonde hair and warm brown eyes. And a killer body that had definitely spent lots of time either in an elite dance studio or a gym. She was definitely showing it off too, in a glittery tank top and blue jeans.
“Hi guys, I’m Pixie.” She said with a cute accent
This was one time that Chris didn’t play super salesman. To my surprise, he was the one stammering for a response.
“Hi, I’m Jim. That’s Chris, my boss. We did all the photos for the American tour.”
“I know, Marty’s quite the promoter for you guys. I can’t wait to see your photos tonight. I’m just so nervous about Rihanna…what’s she like?”
“Oh, she’s cool, great lay…I mean LADY!” I said quickly correcting myself.
Chris was practically standing behind me now like a shy child.
“Uh, you know there’s some friends of mine who’d love to meet you, maybe later?” I said.
“Oh, I’d love to meet them, bring them to the after-party.” She said cheerfully as she looked at Marty.
“You got it, guys.” Marty said “I’ll tell Terry…come on my dear, it’s showtime.”
And with that, Marty and Pixie left.
My, oh, my, she had a nice ass!
Chris hadn’t said a word the whole time, a first for him.
“Well, you were in fine voice tonight, should I wind you up for the Q&A?” I said.
“L-l-let’s get going.” He said.
Once in a while I get the upper hand with him, and it’s always nice!
Rhianna’s set was even better than I recall. She looked incredibly hot, as usual. But there were few, if any, glances toward me on stage left snapping photos. I turned around and there was Ms. Pixie waiting for her cue to join her onstage.
“Hey, do I look OK?” she asked nervously.
She had the same outfit on when we met, but the jeans had been traded for a pair of tight black bicycle shorts that looked painted on and thigh-high leather boots. It took all I had to not totally drool over her, she looked so hot.
“Wow…you look great!” I said.
We then heard Rihanna talking onstage.
“Alright London…I’m gonna bring someone up here for my next song…give it up for…Pixie Lott! Come on, girl!”
She hesitated momentarily, then looked at me and smiled as if to say “wish me luck” then quickly dashed out onto the stage, waving to the screaming crowd. Then the two went right into Rhianna’s song “Shut Up and Drive”, Pixie’s song “Mama Do” and a cover of Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation”. They sounded great together and played off one another in an “I’ll show you” kind of way. I can only imagine what Beth and Sophie were thinking. I hadn’t seen them since we arrived, they followed me into the backstage area for a minute then apparently went to their seats.
Once Pixie had finished her mini set with Rihanna, she walked offstage and immediately went for me, giving me a big hug, much to my surprise.
“Oh, my god! That was so awesome! I can’t believe I did it!”
“Well, you did.” I replied, still trying to understand why she went for me and not Marty. After all, he was the guy bringing her stateside.
Pixie was quickly swept away by Marty and reps from her record company. She looked over her shoulder at me and waved as she was led away.
