Here's how I remember it:
Late 90's
The Mekons were playing at First Ave. in Minneapolis. I don't remember what
they were touring in support of. One of the last songs they played was a
then-new song that had a chorus of "Belly to belly, back to back".
Never being a big enough Mekons fan to know their catalog, but enough to
see them live with a free ticket, I had a good time. I went by myself, as was the case most of the time.
During the entirety of the Mekon's set I kept staring at this long-haired,
bearded hippy playing the balalaika near the back of the stage. The guy
looked really familiar but I just couldn't put my finger on where I knew
him from.
After the band was done I was standing around on the dancefloor talking to some friends when the hippy balalaika player walk past me and it suddenly hit me. I spun around and tapped him on the shoulder. He too spun around and looked very surprised.
I said "the whole show I was trying to figure out who you are, and it
finally hit me; you're Lu Edmonds from the Damned! It would be an honor
to shake your hand!
Lu's eyes widened and he said "No one's called me Lu in AGES, it would be MY honour to shake YOUR hand!"
We shook hands, Lu went backstage, and I went home.
