Twenty years ago today, someone was flipping through the AM radio dial when we all heard it, clear as day, from the mouth of the preacher:
“Sex me Jesus!”
What was that? Did he just say “Sex me Jesus?” We laughed with hearty gusto for a couple miles as we zoomed through Crisp County, Georgia, on our way to Atlanta.
This is just one of many catchphrases that have survived the 20 years since we embarked on the Last Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Road Trip in July of 2001. It was a different world back then. No smartphones or streaming services (thus the wandering through AM dial central Georgia madness). No GPS or playlists. 9/11 was two months into the future… and I could still see.
The three of us, Big Tall Geoff, Arch, and myself, had recently been laid off from the failing Mars Music. I can’t remember it now, but I assume we were all trying to piece together our next gigs. Somehow, we convinced ourselves (and our significant others) that the thing we needed most at the time was to leave our homebase of Fort Lauderdale and head off to see Radiohead perform at Stone Mountain. It was as close as they were getting to us geographically, and we HAD to go.
The trip had all the hallmarks of a great road trip. We slept on someone’s floor. There was day drinking. A stripper named Godiva. It all made perfect sense at the time.
There was also the show itself. Radiohead at the peak of their powers, in between “Kid-A” and “Amnesiac”. The set was a perfect blend of their catalog at the time, enough of “Ok Computer” and “The Bends” sprinkled in there to keep us thrilled. And absolutely no sign of “Creep”.
Of course, the greatest thing to come of The Last Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Road Trip is the lasting friendship the three of us have. We’ll still drop a “Sex me Jesus” while we’re out on Arch’s boat and laugh like hell. I’ll slip Geoff some Godiva chocolates during the holidays. And we’re right back there again, everything in the right place.
CODA
Concerning Radiohead. I never expected to fall in love with what ended up being one of my all time favorite bands at the age of 35. I never tire of them. The vision of this group, both musically and lyrically, astounds me with every listen. So I just wanted to close with the lyrics to their prescient “Idioteque” which resonates as strongly now as ever.
During the Stone Mountain show, Michael Stipe showed up and danced his Micheal Stipe dance beside the stage during this song – something I can conjure up in my mind’s eye at will. Forever ingrained.
IDIOTEQUE
Who’s in a bunker, who’s in a bunker?
Women and children first and the children first and the children
I’ll laugh until my head comes off
I’ll swallow till I burst
Until I burst until I
Who’s in a bunker who’s in a bunker?
I have seen too much I haven’t seen enough
You haven’t seen it
I’ll laugh until my head comes off
Women and children first and the children first and the children
Here I’m alive
Everything all of the time
Here I’m alive
Everything all of the time
Ice age coming ice age coming
Let me hear both sides let me hear both sides let me hear both
Ice age coming ice age coming
Throw it in the fire throw it in the fire throw it on the
We’re not scaremongering
This is really happening happening
We’re not scaremongering
This is really happening happening
Mobiles squearking mobiles chirping
Take the money run take the money run take the money
Here I’m alive (the first of the children)
Everything all of the time (the first of the children)
Here I’m alive (the first of the children)
Everything all of the time (the first of the children)
Here I’m alive (the first of the children)
Everything all of the time (the first of the children)
Here I’m alive (the first of the children)
Everything all of the time (the first of the children)
Full setlist, Radiohead at Stone Mountain, 07/30/2001
