The Triple Threat Tour continued its trek west. We were now headed towards Chicago for 2 nights at the United Center. The shows had really found their groove and we were running like a well-oiled machine. Chris and I were getting great shots everywhere. Rhianna and Tigress turned out to be better clients than we ever dreamed. We had complete access to their inner circle. And to Rhianna, I occasionally had complete access to her. I hadn't had much time with her though, we'd kept our distance from one another following our little fling in Dallas. That was fine by me. We both had our work to focus on. But now that we were in Chicago, she decided to make up for lost time.
How the information got to her, I don't know, but it was my birthday the first night there. I figured Chris had told her somehow. I thought something must be up, because he had this sneaky expression on his face all day.
It might've been frozen on his face for all I knew. The day we arrived, a classic Midwest blizzard had hit Chicago, and it was cold. Not just cold, but arctic cold. And I felt it everywhere. We were all hunkered down in our rooms for the day. And it was now questionable if the show would go on or not. Finally, the call went out that the show was a go.
We went through the usual pre-show rituals of production and fan meetings, dinner with the crew (who were a great bunch with seemingly endless stories of other acts they'd worked with) and then...showtime!
Tigress' show had become the one to see as the tour progressed. I think the girls' realized how big a tour this was and how it could benefit their careers. Word got back to Rihanna and she already wanted them for her upcoming tours of Japan and Australia. So Chris and I figured we should get our passports in order when we got back to LA.
Rihanna hit the stage next and we got our shots. She had a variety of costume changes during her show that went from a black S&M inspired suit with knee length boots, to a classy miniskirt for her ballads, to a hip-hop inspired striped shirt and sweats combo for her encore "Pon De Replay". Once she finished that, she went off stage and changed into a Chicago Bears jersey with "Rihanna 1" printed on the back and orange hot pants before coming back for another encore. She walked to the center of the stage and had a chair brought out.
"That's strange." I thought.
It got stranger!
"OK, Chicago, I've got one more song to do...and I want your help on this one."
I was snapping photos of this, then suddenly noticed Chris wasn't in his usual spot on the other side of the stage.
"I have a friend here...and it's his birthday tonight."
Uh-oh, I thought.
Rihanna turned in my direction, the main spotlights followed, and I suddenly realized some of the stage crew was behind me, with mischievous smiles.
"So I want you all to wish him a happy birthday...his name is Jim...but he has another name...Mister Hollywood...so come on up here Mister Hollywood!" she said with a beaming smile.
Next thing I knew, I was being hustled onstage in front of 22,000 screaming and laughing fans. I was beyond nervous at this moment. Even more so was the fact that Tigress was up there too. I looked around for Chris and saw him doubled over with laughter.
"You sit right here, baby." Rihanna said, directing me to the chair in the middle of the huge stage.
"OK Chicago! All together now..." and all of Chicago sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I was smiling but embarrassed at the same time. She gave me a big kiss at the end. I was about to run offstage when Rihanna stopped me;
"Oh, That's not all, babe." She announced to me and the crowd.
Then she and the band began an acapella intro
