Capricorn Season - Jimmy Page

Chapter 23

"Would you like to go to a show with Bonzo and I tonight?" Robert asked, a manic look in his eyes.

"Who is it?" 

"A band we know from Birmingham. They just put out an album a couple months ago. They're good, real heavy stuff." 

"Are you in or are you out? We're heading to the pub now, so make your choice!" Bonzo's voice was brash as usual, now having a lilting joy due to his elation. 

"What's the name?" I asked.

"Are you in or are you out? We're heading to the pub now, so make your choice!" Bonzo's voice was brash as usual, now having a lilting joy due to his elation.

"Sure, I'll go."

They cheered loudly, hooting and hollering. Their ruckus caused the people in the surrounding booths to look at us with judgement.

I looked to Jimmy, who was wearing a face of surprise. His brows came together as Bonzo leaned in with a devious smile. "Don't worry, mate, we'll have her home safe!" Bonzo clapped me on the shoulder with the same grin.

Jimmy still looked unsure.

"I'll be okay, I promise. I'll be back before you know it." I tried my best to reassure him, but I don't think it worked. There apparently wasn't time to worry about this. We had a show to catch and a pregame to start on. The guys pulled me from the booth and forced me out of the hotel, and away from Jimmy.

We found ourselves at the bar of the club in a matter of minutes. The radio played from the stage speakers, filling the small club with the top-40 at an alarming level.

The multi-colored lights changed Robert's velvet bell bottoms from red, to green, to blue in seconds, then back to their original deep purple. He turned to me with a tipsy grin, his teeth color-shifting with his trousers.

Bonzo was behind me the whole time like a grizzly guard. His arm was heavy and hot but it made me feel better to have him there. No one had recognized them, which made me feel even better. I wanted to slip in and out of the club with ease.

-

The crash of music was heard at last, loud and banging, after over an hour of waiting around. I had eaten twelve marichino cherries and slapped Bonzo's arm twice. We'd already lost Robert once. He strayed to chase a tall brunette wearing a sparkly tube top.

The drummer had a heavy foot and the guitarist was skilled. Every haunting note played was pure scripture to me, unlike anything I'd ever heard before. The lead singer was of average build and height but possessed a deep and terrifying voice. The lyrics he sang were mystical, almost scary, like a horror movie. I was entranced.

I looked to Robert, standing to my left when he snaked his arm around my shoulders. He was already sweating and hot. He directed my attention to Bonzo, who was wildly banging his head and whipping his hair in all directions like he did on stage. He was just as transfixed as I was. We shared a laugh and then went back to looking at the singer who was doing the same thing.

The show wasn't very long, just a few songs in a club, but they were amazing. The grumbling baselines and dread-inducing lyrics were a new taste in my mouth. They were the heaviest band I'd ever heard, heavier than Zeppelin or "Helter Skelter". This was the genesis of a genre. 

I asked who the band was when the lights cut off. 

Bonzo answered back "Black Sabbath" with a yell. 

The name was fitting.

"Do you want to go backstage?" Bonzo leaned down, practically screaming in my ear. The club was still so loud, now playing music from the overhead speakers.