Sylvie and the Golden Camel
After the disastrous experience bringing Tom to see Motorhead, the next time they were in Hartford, though I got Tom and Sylvie’s boyfriend Robin, in to see the show, they were not invited backstage. Sylvie, now grown enough to go with me to see Motorhead, and I were delighted to be with the band backstage. I was sitting at the table in the green room with Lemmy, where he sat reading. I noticed one of his many rings and he took it off and gave it to me to look at more closely. As I slipped the ring on my finger, he began taking each ring off and handing them to me. One by one, I put the rings on my fingers. When I had the last one on my hand I said ”Oh, I’d like to take a picture of them!”
As I focused my phone to take the picture Lemmy slid his fingers into mine. It felt, somehow, poignant and meaningful. It was one of those times that, saying nothing, he imparted the message that it meant something to him.
He pulled out a little plastic bag that had a Motorhead necklace in it. He took the necklace out of the bag, undid the clasp and put it around my neck. I felt as though he was bestowing an honor on me with this ceremonial presentation much like Queen Elizabeth knighting a deserving person. It had an important and solemn air about it.
Lemmy was rarely playful, but this time he left his book and joined in the fun we were having around him! Sylvie was the first to notice that the full sized golden camel in the hallway was a perfect photo-op. I took a photo of Sylvie hugging the camel. Lemmy grabbed a white hand towel and draped it around his head, securing it with duct tape to look like a keffiyeh, the traditional headdress worn by sheiks. (I still have that headdress and maybe Lemmy’s DNA on it!) I took a picture of him in the headdress standing proudly with his arm around the camel. Then I asked Sylvie to take a picture of Lemmy and I. He had put the headdress on me now and sunglasses as well. He pulled the front of my top peering down my blouse as the photo snapped. Always catching me off guard, when a photo with me sitting on his lap was taken, he grabbed my breast at the last moment. Later, as I sat in the dressing room, Lemmy standing at the counter, I grabbed his rear as Sylvie was taking a photo of us. He playfully reacted appropriately surprised in the mirror. I love that photo! I didn’t always take photos when I’d go to see Motorhead, but that day we took many! It was an especially fun time.
