Rita's Reflections: Concerts make memories with friends, family

I was ecstatic when Larry surprised me with floor tickets to see Fleetwood Mac’s World Tour for our 36th wedding anniversary in October 2014. While waiting for the concert to begin, young girls were walking around dressed like Stevie Nicks. I wanted to be Stevie in high school, but I could never pull off her ethereal and gypsy vibe.

Kid Rock was in the shadows. Stevie introduced him as the son she never had after he snuck up behind her and surprised her. Watching concert footage of that night on YouTube, Larry and I fondly remember we were among the sold-out crowd at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Tom Petty was so drunk walking on stage, he dropped to his knees, then laughed until he finally gained his composure. After that first hiccup, he didn’t sound inebriated and put on a great show.

Larry and I have been to several Pat Benatar concerts over the years. Our grandkids wake up to Pat’s music on days Grandpa gets them ready for school. Pat stated awhile back that she will no longer perform her chart topper “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” to call attention to the plight of battered women. I admire Benatar’s social stance on it now for how it could be interpreted.

We didn’t see Bob Seger until late in his career. He sounded just as awesome as we had hoped he would. We were disappointed when we saw George Strait in concert after waiting so long to see him perform live. His voice wasn’t as strong as his backup singers. Sitting in the same seats at the same concert, his opening act, Jody Messina, sounded loud and clear.

We were given last-minute tickets to see Hall and Oates. They were excellent. Huey Lewis and the News put on great shows. Our friend Mo is a big fan of Huey. Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 Born in the U.S.A. tour was a hard concert to score tickets. Tina, a family friend, camped out all night so we could see “The Boss.”

Mom Zorn and I saw Reba McEntire at the Lucas County Fairgrounds before she became just Reba. It was Jane’s first concert. We had a blast together. At another Reba concert with my friend Karin, I saw a woman carrying Reba’s son, Shelby, around before one of her shows. Nobody believed me it was him until it was proven later it was indeed Shelby and his nanny.

One evening at Pine Knob, while sniffing lit doobies waiting for The Doobie Brothers concert to begin, I spotted a member of Kiss walking around the crowd with a guy I didn’t recognize. Again, nobody believed me when I said it was Gene Simmons. It wasn’t five minutes later it was announced over the loud speakers that the unmasked singer was indeed among the stoned, I mean happy (clueless) crowd. And no, Gene Simmons is not related to Patrick Simmons of the Doobies. Or Richard Simmons the exercise guru.

It was a shock when Tina Turner passed away in May. I was lucky enough to see the multitalented singer at The Palace over 20 years ago. Lionel Richie put on an awesome show before Tina arrived on a lift and panned out over the audience. She moved and danced like someone much younger. Tina did 121 shows on her Twenty-Four Seven Tour from March 23, 2000, to Dec. 6, 2000. She was in fabulous shape. Her energy was amazing. And those legs! Wow!

Oprah was at the concert. She talked with Tina the next day on her talk show. I couldn’t help feeling giddy knowing my friend Linda and I were in the presence of the fabulous Tina. She became a legend in her own lifetime after years of abuse. Tina Turner was an inspiration to a lot of women. Myself included.

Rita Wyatt Zorn is a wife, mother, grandmother and lifetime Monroe County resident. She can be reached at 7.noniez@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Rita Wyatt Zorn: Concerts make memories with friends, family