Dead Flowers

I met my Swedish friends in the spring of 1994 at the Sticky Fingers Cafe in London, England. As it happened, they were in London doing the same thing I was: visiting some major Stones sites and had stopped at Sticky Fingers for a bite to eat. Needless to say, we hit it off from the start, and spent the next few hours talking about the Stones, the sights we'd seen, and getting to know each other. I soon found out that they are as nuts about the Rolling Stones as I am!

The one place they hadn't yet visited was Brian Jones' grave. I told them all about my visit, and mentioned the yellow roses I had placed on his grave. I urged them to try to make the trip and gave them detailed instructions on how to get there. Too soon, it was time for me to go, so we exchanged addresses and said our goodbyes.

Back home about 10 days later, I received a package from Sweden. Inside this package was a letter, some photos - and a small picture frame. Inside the frame were a few petals from those yellow roses that I had placed on Brian's grave! The "dead flowers" came full circle. This is one of my most treasured mementos!

We kept in touch by phone and mail for the next year, exchanging gifts on birthdays and holidays, and talking about our Stones. The European leg of the 1995 Voodoo Lounge Tour was to begin in Stockholm Sweden on June 3rd, and my friends asked me if I could come to Sweden to see the concert. Of course I went!! Seeing the Stones in Europe was awesome enough, but we also stood front row, something I'd never before managed to do! The icing on the cake was seeing this concert with some of the BEST Stones fans in the world! What follows are some pictures from that 1995 trip to Sweden, including my friends who have become more like family.

UPDATE! I returned to Sweden in June 2003 for the Licks Tour. Please click here to see new photos from that trip.

On a stopover on my way to Sweden, this was a welcome sight in Amsterdam!	Enjoying a beer with Marianne on the porch of their beautiful home.

Hakan and I in Stockholm.	Marianne and I in Stockholm.	Tickets for the big show!

Hakan and Marianne at their guesthouse.	My "sister" Marianne and I.

On the way to the concert.	Marianne and I, near her home.	The Voodoo "Lunch" Cafe in Stockholm.

Stones fever in Stockholm!	Hakan's friend took this picture of the stage.

2003 Licks Tour: Sweden

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