Tour Announcements, Bucket List Shows, and Front Row Center to Backstage for Styx

One of my favorite movies of all time is 'Detroit Rock City,' about four teens and their adventures trying to get to see their idols, Kiss.  And one of my favorite lines from the movie is when the character Trip, played by James DeBello, screams in angst about the necessity of seeing the show: "Aw, wake up Lex! We just watched Jam's mom torch our f*****g KISS tickets man! Not REO Speedwagon, not Journey, not The Bay City Rollers. KISS, man!..."

I get it because I've been in the throws of screaming about finding and getting tickets to a rock show.  I've called in sick to catch concerts, I've cut college classes to road trip for a show, I've taken 'bathroom breaks' just to use my phone to try and score tickets the second they go on sale.  I've snuck into shows, I've gotten kicked out of shows (before the headliners even went on).  I've almost done it all.  So I am getting SO excited for all of the concert announcements coming out right now!!

First and foremost: Iron Maiden and Ghost.  Literally, there are no words for how ridiculously amazing this show is going to be.  If I can get tickets to the July 21st tour-ending show in Brooklyn? Priceless.

Second, I'm dying about the Def Leppard and Poison tour.  I've seen both bands live.  Well, I've actually seen Def Leppard about three times live. I had a stretch of a few years in my life where I was clinically obsessed with 70s and 80s rock, and I went to every show that I could, including Van Halen (with Roth), Styx, Journey, REO Speedwagon, and Styx (see pics from my front row experience below). And I've seen them all 2-3 times each! In fact, when I saw REO and Styx live at SPAC years ago for Fourth of July weekend, I literally rocked so hard that the bands invited me backstage after the show for a meet and greet.  Never in my life did I imagine I'd be trading words with the members of Styx.  Or getting in trouble by the band members for texting during a guitar solo (I'll never make that mistake again- artists do notice!)  I'm chomping at the chance to see Def Leppard live again, so hopefully I get tickets to see them April 15th in Uniondale.

Next up, going with that genre- I've got 'bucket list' bands playing this summer-meaning I still need to see them live.  Foreigner and Cheap Trick will be playing SPAC, along with Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience on July 18th.  Literally necessary to see.

I'm also eyeing a Four Year Strong concert April 2nd, a day after I see Architects live in NYC.  I've both worked for those guys during my days in production and hospitality, and seen them in a larger setting, and they're always a great live show.

Check out some photos of REO Speedwagon and Styx below! What shows are you the most excited for this year?