Box Of Rocks Final

Box Of Rocks, Final

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Chapter 46

Everyone took the two weeks off to catch up on their lives and separate careers, then came back to plan the last show.

The playlist was enormous, but since we'd concentrated on West Coast acts for the concert in California, we decided to do the rest of the country. Since it was the last show, they decided to make it last four hours, with a thirty-minute intermission in the middle of the performance.

Tom Petty made the list. So did The Allman Brothers, Bruce Springsteen, The Temptations, and The Dazz Band; the list seemed endless. Blacksnake, Molly Hatchett, and several other regional, hard-driving bands all made the list. Jaime had played as an opening act for a band called Wild Feathers while he was with his last band, and one of their songs stuck in his mind. after the rest listened to it, they agreed to do Left My Woman because it was made for all the guys to switch leads on. I listened to it in rehearsal, and it was powerful. Al insisted they do an old song covered by a lot of people, 'Hey Bulldog, ' as a nod to Fanny, one of the most successful all-woman rock bands of the seventies, and another song that switched lead vocals. They threw in some punk and grunge, but just a couple. They did a Mavericks song, Here Comes My Baby. We were going to do Locomotion, not the Grand Funk version, but the original. Zelda wanted to do an Etta James song, and Aaron would cover Mack The Knife by Bobby Darren.

Maddie insisted they do 'I Hope You Dance', by LeAnn Womack. It was April's favorite song, and she listened to it every day there at the last. There were so many songs they wanted to do, but time constraints held them in check. It got to them so badly that they decided to add a second show and do songs that had meaning to them, regardless of where they came from.

Mason took two weeks off, promising his artists he'd return to his studio after the last show. However, he and Jon spent a few days working on something they wouldn't discuss. I was the only one who wondered about it because everyone else had their projects and was scattered around the world.

Mason always left his projects behind when he came home unless he wanted to use me as a sounding board. When he did, I'd give him my opinion based on my knowledge, and I was always surprised when he listened. Americana was growing in popularity, but he feared their success was causing fiction. "You see it all the time: a band becomes successful, but by the third album, some take their press too seriously. I wrote 90% of Gutwrench's songs and handled most of the singing, but I always considered myself just part of the group. We would have broken up soon, not over the music but the relationships. Some people can't handle success. I try to help, be the voice of reason, but sometimes it's time to move on, so I give them the best advice I can."

I fully understood his concerns. Part of the time, my job title should be Mother Hen and not Manager. Zelda and Aaron were consummate professionals, primarily through our influence. Maddie seemed a bit erratic lately, but I put it down to the stress of losing her mother and took it easy on her. I knew sometime shortly, I would have to crack the whip and get her to focus. Jaime felt the unease as well, though he rarely talked about it. I was working with a new group, but all they did lately was squabble and trash hotel rooms, so their days were numbered. Even though I had spelled everything out to them, I figured it would still be a shock when I dropped them. It could be a wake-up call.

Everyone came back from their projects refreshed and ready to go. I had a big dinner catered the first night, and we met at the studio. The songs had more or less been hammered out, though there was still some debate. The second show would be an eclectic mix, but no one cared. They would figure out a way to make it flow.

Three weeks later, they were ready. Madison Square Garden was packed, and scalped tickets went for astronomical rates. We tried to short-circuit the counterfeiters, printing tickets with a discernable watermark that turned red to blue when torn. It helped a little, but there were still many steamed people when they found out their eight hundred-dollar tickets weren't real.

Chapter 47

The first show was what we had come to expect, and the crowd never stopped roaring the whole time they were on stage. We had broken a few rules, and Al's full band was with us, as well as the other two members of Titty's power trio and Jon's full ensemble. Three members of Americana were there, scared to death at the volume of people, but calmed down after they started playing. Despite the adrenalin, most of them were in a somewhat somber mood. They looked at each other and realized this was it. Most likely, this particular group of people would never play together again, all at the same time. They still rocked the crowd, having to play four encores, and they were still screaming for more as they left the stage. Backstage was the usual madhouse, with celebrities wandering around. Billy Joel was there, two of The Roots, the lead singer of Mumford and Sons, and a couple of rappers I didn't recognize who were friends with Jaime and Eric Church and many I didn't recognize. I heard they were still partying and playing at daybreak, but we were all in our rooms by then, dead to the world. We roused when our son jumped on the bed, followed by Inga, apologizing for letting him escape her.

We laughed and tussled with him for a few minutes, then ordered breakfast. Mason had noted a few glitches in the sound and the light show and went off to address them. Since we were in New York, the ladies decided that shopping should be a priority. We passed four pleasant hours being fawned on while we chose outfits. I bought some lingerie I thought Mason would appreciate after I got my post-pregnancy shape completely back. Zelda picked a few gowns for her tour, and I forced Inga to buy something her new boyfriend would appreciate. She'd been in the studio when Mason's newest engineer showed up, and sparks immediately flew. We watched the romance with interest, hoping she could find happiness and stay with us. Maddie looked a little listless, and Al wasn't enamored with anything she saw. There again, Zelda had a couple of designers chasing her and hinted they would like to gown the rest of us for public appearances.

Some of the sketches were terrible, but there was some quality. I was included as Mason's wife and manager of most of the talent. They even sent a few suit designs along for the guys. A gold sheath took me, and they already had my measurements, so I ordered it.

Surprisingly, they had it ready in four hours, trying to curry favor, knowing they would have a goldmine worth of free publicity if I got photographed tonight and it showed up on social media. I was four months along, so I got the new hose, a garter belt, and matching panties. The dress wouldn't look good with any bra, so my milk-laden udders floated freely. They still stood tall, so it was not a bad look. Judging by Mason's expression on his face when I made my appearance, he approved. I gently closed his mouth. "You be a good boy, and I'll show you the rest of the outfit when we get home."

I spent most of the limo drive fighting the octopus. He did get a glimpse of my stocking tops and garter straps, which inspired him, I hoped. I kissed him hard before he took the stage. "Knock 'em dead, honey."

Chapter 48

The crowd was at a fever pitch thirty minutes before they took the stage, and when the first chords rang out, the roar drowned out the music. This was nothing new to them; all had earbuds to hear each other and keep the noise out. All of the technicians and those backstage also had hearing protection. It was a safe wager that many attendees would say, "Huh?" often in the next week or so. There were even messages on social media urging them to protect their ears.

The first two songs had a fast tempo; then, they slowed it down with a rendition of Bob Dylan's 'Don't Think Twice,' which used an arrangement Maddie had found on YouTube, performed by the Rainbow Girls. It was Al on acoustic, Maddie on acoustic bass, Titty on snare drum with one cymbal, and Zelda on harmonica. She had to learn to play it for that particular number. Jaime got out from behind the drums to sing 'There Goes My Baby' by the Mavericks, using a full horn section, and then we switched to an instrumental, Hugh Masekala's Grazing In The Grass. They ambushed Mason, playing his greatest hit from Gutwrench, a power ballad he nailed.

To say the least, the mix that night was eclectic. The women's vocals ranged from 'Passionate Kisses' to' After The Show,' a work about life on the road for a female on the club circuit by Romi Mays. Then they did a blistering version of 'Cult Of Personality,' the old Living Color song. Mason growled the words while Maddie and Al did blazing guitar work, leaving everyone gasping.

The show was finally winding down. They had been onstage for three and a half hours, pouring their hearts out. Then they did 'I Hope You Dance' by Leanne Womack. It was April's favorite song. The male/female vocals mix was spot on, powerful, and bittersweet. Then, the stage went dark, and the stage manager told everyone to stand down for a second. This wasn't rehearsed, so no one knew what was happening. A face appeared on the jumbotron. It was April, recorded by Mason just days before she passed.

Her turban matched her gown, and she was propped up in a big chair. Underneath, on stage, was Jon at the grand piano, Mason holding a cello, and Amy from Americana with her violin. None of us knew Mason could play the cello; he learned while he was in the studio late in the evenings.

Using a modified version of the Brooklyn Duo treatment, Canon in D wafted over the speakers as April started speaking. The notes soared over her words in perfect balance.

"Hi, I'm April, and believe it or not, I'm the reason for all this. I still find it hard to believe that an average person, a single mother who worried about providing for her child, caused all this. I went from a struggling parent to the mother of a wildly successful international rock star, achieving heights I wouldn't have believed possible. We were blessed to fall into the company of people who believed in her and guided and helped us become what she is today. I'm particularly grateful to Mason Eldridge, who took her under his wing and guided her like she was a daughter, and for his wife Sasha, her professional mother, looking out for her best interests the way a mother lion would look after her cub.

She paused, obviously trying to draw her breath, before continuing. "I want to think the rest of the band, Alison, Jon, and Tete (she refused to call her Titty) for their guidance. It meant a lot. To my son-in-law Jaime, I want you to know you're a good man. I'm sure the granddaughter I'll never get to see will have the best father ever, and my daughter will be loved all her life.

Maddie, baby, you were my gift from God, my reason for being. I'm so proud of you. I don't know what else to say."

She lapsed back in the chair, then sat ramrod straight. "Most of all, I want to thank you. Your coming out and spending your money is everything. The research you help fund means that one day, a daughter won't lose a mother, a father won't lose a child, and a couple will get to celebrate their golden anniversary together surrounded by generations of family. God bless you all."

The notes faded softly as the screen went blank, but not before showing a picture of Mason at the cello, still playing as twin tear tracks flowed down his face. Maddie had collapsed, completely unconscious, as the cameras panned the crowd, revealing a tearfest of epic proportions.

Five minutes passed when the sounds of a soulful organ were heard. It had a churchlike feel, as the rest of the band joined in, Aaron sang the lead, putting emotion in every syllable. It was No Woman No Cry, a Bob Marley classic.

As they played, pictures slid across the screens. Photos of the roadies, the sound and lighting crews, management, and everyone involved throughout the concerts. Then candid shots of the musicians involved, from Box Of Rocks, Maddy, Jaime, Americana, Titty's trio, and the members of Jon's jazz band. They stretched it out to a ten-minute number, with an extended instrumental at the end featuring Al's guitar work.

As the notes faded, they bid the audience good night. They screamed and yelled for ten minutes before the lighting came back up, and the band started playing. The old Franky Goes To Hollywood song 'Relax' was done in the Moreno G remix. It was fun, poppy, fifteen minutes long, and had a tremendous light show.

It was two in the morning, and they had been on stage since nine. With one final group bow, they left the stage. Management took until four to clear the building. Despite all the musicians and celebrities who had shown up, there wasn't much mingling backstage, and most fell asleep during their massage.

April's message went viral the next day, getting four million hits in 36 hours, and donations continued to set records. They were on the cover of Rolling Stone for the fourth time. The magazine called the concert series the performances of the century, and the last one an achievement that could never be equaled. Mason shrugged it off, saying it was just people wanting to feel good and happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Chapter 49

We all went home and lived happily ever after.

Not really. Real life doesn't work like that. We have had our fair share of success and failure over the years, just like everyone on the planet.

Aaron and Zelda got married; it was almost inevitable. They stayed level-headed and landed in Vega, playing 22 weeks a year to sold-out crowds, using the rest of the time to record, do short tours, and relax. They always recorded with Mason, which turned into a family reunion. Maddy and Jaime would try to time their recording projects just before or after Aaron and Zelda so they could overlap and spend time together. Titty's new trio, Snarky Bitches, went on to record two platinum and one gold record before splitting, amicably, for other pursuits. Al's Latin band hung in for three years before disintegrating due to egos getting out of control. They didn't understand that Al wrote almost all the songs and handled most of the arrangements, and they flopped without her.

Box Of Rocks remained consistent, turning out a record roughly every two years, each guaranteed platinum. Jon had gone back to France, and when he wasn't recording or touring with Box Of Rocks, he and his group were the house band for France's most popular late-night talk show.

Two years after the concerts, Maddie announced she wanted to take a break from recording and do something else. She'd met a successful scriptwriter during her last tour, and he convinced her to come to Hollywood and audition for a film a friend directed. He told her he wrote the part he wanted her to audition for with her in mind. Jaime didn't know the guy well and wasn't keen about it.

He and his wife flew in, surprising Jaime, and talked to all of us. "Look, she doesn't need any more success, but this would be a feather in her cap. You guys can stay in the guesthouse, and even though I know you can afford it, this won't cost you a dime."

He was charismatic and confident, and they agreed. At the last minute, Maddie asked if she could go alone. "Look, it's only gonna be three days, and I know you're neck deep in the Americana recording. Look at it as a way to concentrate on your work."

Then she snuggled in and whispered. "We've never been apart that long before. Think about how horny we'll be when we get back. April will have to stay with her cousins that night, and I don't want her to wake up from me screaming!"

They'd named their daughter after April. She was a cute little thing, just over three now. My daughter was about eight months older, and they were besties. My son was six now, and they irritated him no end by following him around.

She went to Hollywood, read for the part, and did an audition tape. When she returned, she had tons of photos, some of them of famous people. She was renowned in her own right, and the fact that she didn't gush over them made them respect her.

Then, to everyone's surprise, she got the part—three weeks in Wyoming. Jaime wasn't happy. He was a producer for Mason now and had some serious clients that depended on him. Ultimately, she went alone, and when she returned, she was just... different, for lack of better words. They were two-thirds through her latest album, and her disinterest was evident. Mason finally lost patience and chewed her out, telling her to get her head wired to her ass and get on with it.

She responded by writing two songs without collaboration from anyone, one of which detailed an affair. She told us it was about one of her co-stars, and I don't think anyone bought it, especially Jaime. He refused to work on her project anymore, and she retaliated by threatening to fire him. That was the beginning of the end of her marriage. She got another acting offer and left us behind, including her four-year-old daughter.

Jaime was the sweetest, most even-natured man I'd ever met, but he turned to stone. He got hold of the scriptwriter, who didn't know she was in town. The man sighed. "I feel responsible for this; it's just that I thought she'd make a good actress and that she was grounded enough to keep her head. Look, I know people that can be trusted. Do you want me to have her checked out?"

Mason contacted him and told him to go ahead and send the bills to the production company.

Jaime didn't let any moss gather under his feet. He got the best lawyers in the area, with Gwen leading the team. Gwen had moved to our area, and she and her husband agreed that California was getting too strange for raising children. In addition to regular people shopping with rock stars, now there was a movie star in the mix. Her husband was friendly but guarded, so warming up to him took a little time. Finally, it got to the point where he knew most of the neighbors by name, and their son was a baseball standout at junior high and in the summer leagues, playing on the American Legion team. He was in the stands as often as he could be, and the parents finally accepted him as one of their own, to the point where they would warn him if paparazzi were around. She still had an office in L.A. and spent about a week a month there, so she got her contacts on it as well. In the meantime, she had Jaime start getting primary custody of his daughter. She missed her mother terribly, but Maddie never called the whole time she was gone.

The photos and video told a tale of seduction as old as Hollywood, including a video of her having sex with two men and snorting cocaine. Jaime filed the minute he had the evidence, having her served at the studio where she was filming. He recorded every conversation on the instructions of his legal team, and the woman ranting on the phone didn't remotely remember the one we had known for years.

When she saw he sought sole custody, she immediately flew a team of 'security' consultants to bring her baby to her. They were met with our own security detail and county deputies, with attendant paperwork denying them access to her. By then, we had our daycare on site for all our children, including the studio employees. Inga owned and ran the business; now, she also had two children. A newly erected chainlink fence surrounded it, and two full-time guards were on duty.

Maddie's rant was epic, and Hollywood's rags latched on to the story. It got really ugly, and a few photos of her dalliances got 'leaked.' The paparazzi chased her like a pack of dogs.