The story so far...

It feels just like yesterday that I went to pre-university education for the first time. Me as a little shy girl inc. braces and a huge backpack! Emberassing? no, cause I think everybody had been that way once and I'm pretty proud of what I'd become out of that little girl...You're probably wondered why I'm so sentimental right now..Well, it had just been graduation day and I am finally finished with my pre-university education!! Congrats to me;)

This day really made me think of all the changes I've been trough... I've gained more sense of style, I've grown a lot, but most important I've leared a lot about music! I've got the chance to meet a glorius phenomenan called rock music...

But let me think...Where did it all start? Right, I remember..you have to promise me though not to tell this to anyone! The first artist I'd been a huge fan of was Jamai. The first Dutch Idols winner. I even made a hat with his name on it. Loving artists had always been in my DNA I quess, but why Jamai? I really don't know...I quess love really makes blind...and deaf!

I went to his gig in a huge venue called Ahoy, he sang there along with several other artists, including The Rasmus. This band impressed me so much. I didn't know if I had to love or hate them. They scared me and pleased me at the same time. For the people who don't know who they are: Finnish gothic/pop band famous for their song 'In the shadows'. They were mysterius and that really attracted me, though I wouldn't admit that to anyone including myself. But at a certain time during second grade I became a Rasmus fan.

When they came to Amsterdam I really had to go and it was going to be my first real rockgig! Dressed like the singer Lauri (feathers in my hair and DYNASTY written on my arm with permanent marker) I went to a Rasmusgig. I know what you're thinking...but be honest, haven't you been just like me, once? a long time ago?

The Rasmus had been great that night, but I discovered something new that night. Something way more exciting than The Rasmus. Something I loved and still love sooo much! Four of the roughest and toughest guys I'd ever seen! Deep Insight... They played before the Rasmus, and I couldn't take my eyes of of them. Especially not of the bass player Miska Holopainen. He looked so wild and handsome and I totally fell in love with him and his music. After the show I asked them for some pictures and autographs and that made me so happy! I couldn't wait till I got to see them again..

About six months after that, they came back to Holland. I was really excited, had become an even bigger fan and couldn't wait to see Miska again!There he stood along with the best band in the world! They blew me away with their gorgeous songs and super energetic performance. Even so much that I needed to see them a few days after that again.

That day the 18th of April 2006 is going into history as the best day of my life until now. Deep Insight performed in a tiny cosy venue in Amsterdam and I was about 45 minutes late, but fortunately they'd just started. They played incredible, amazing! Jukka even sang me a birthday song! And they played my requested song as an encore 'Red Tape'.At the end of this show, I got the chance to talk with them and that was really special. I had always seen rockbands as this unatainable people, but Deep Insight is different and that really makes them special. Although this had been over three years ago, I still know what they said that night. First Jukka gave me a hug when he came off stage and wished me a happy birthday. Then I got a little chat with him about the gig and that he thought wasn't emotional enough. Then I went to Miska for a picture and he apologized for being so sweaty, which I didn't have problems with though;) After that I went to dear Johannes and he kept saying that he liked me name so much. When I turned to Ville he even followed me and told my name to Ville and then Ville told me: Pretty name for a pretty girl... Alright I'm getting too much into detail, I'm sorry...It's just that I get so excited telling this story that I tend to forget what is really interesting...

I quess my rock obsession started with Deep Insight, but not only my music interest! Thanks to them I think about musicians in a different way than I used to do. I'm not afraid to approach them anymore. I'm less shy, I do my interviews, I'm even going to study communication science to become a music reporter or international journalist, because of Deep Insight... They've also given me an interesting approach of life. I'm determinded to marry a rockstar, I'm a huge fan of Finland and I do not drink alcohol, nor smoke or use drugs. And this all had started with Deep Insight in some way...

My interest for other rockbands had also been awoken by DI. Like my second love 'The Lostprohets' Their shows impress me so much! And not only because of Ian Watkins, although he has a lot to do with it. I really can't help it, and it is cliche but I do really think that Ian is really attractive. And that is why I've always said that Ian is going to be my lover and Johannes (Deep Insight) my husband. Believe it or not, I don't care, I will:) Ian is really the driving force behing the Lostprophets, he is a really really good performer! And that is simply why all the girls and boys go wild during a Lostprophets gig. But of course they make terrific music as well (I'm not that superficial!). How much of a fan I really am? I've once waited 11 hours in front of the venue for a gig of them. Convinced? Probably...Was it worth it? Definately! Cause I got a picture with Ian Watkins!

Anyway, you can read more about that gig in another blog called "Lostprophets are heaven". The Lostprophets are the first British band I really liked. But you can't really call it britpop. The first real meeting with britpop had been on the London Calling festival in Amsterdam. Going to festivals is a really good way to develop your taste in music. I've seen a lot of nice britpop bands on the London Calling festivals, like The Pigeon Detectives, The Wombats, The Rifles, Little Man Tate and Look See Proof.

In first instance the Pigeon Detectives impressed me the most. The energy on stage had been an inportant factor for that. I fell in love, again...with the singer called Matthew Bowman. With a head full of curls and his British look, I thought he was irresistable...I've seen the Pigeon Detectives 7 times now, but I still can't wait to see them again! One time I even won a meet and greet with them! Although the best time with this cheeky lads was on the Lowlands festival.

Another nice britpop band that have played a huge role in my life is Little Man Tate. I've interviewed this band as well and they were definately the funniest band I've ever met! Alright I'm sorry but I have to tell this story in more detail... We went to Parafdiso to ask the woman there if we could go backstage for an interview. I have to admit it was only three pm, but the band was already there. This stupid woman told us to come back at 8.30. That wouldn't be a disaster, but it was raining really hard outside... So we had a drink, something to eat, a little shopping expedition and than we went back. While we were walking we walked passed the band! I was so nervous and shocked that I didn't have the guts to walk up to them and asked them for the interview. So we followed them....alright stalked them. They went into an Irish pub and we still stood outside in the rain. Suddenly the bassist Ben went outside for a sigarette. I thought this was my chance, so I went to him and asked him for the interview. He said O you're Pearl! And kissed me on the cheeks:) He said: We will be back in the venue soon, but you can have the interview here as well, if you want... Of course I did, so we went inside and I had an interview with Jon (one of the most charismatic men I've ever seen!) We had the interview and it was so nice to talk with them cause they had a huge amount of british humor! After the interview we talked for over an hour until the last minute till they really had to leave for their gig. We talked about things like pooing in a Dutch toilet."When I have like this huge poo, it just touches my but!" and he was convinced that I kissed Matthew, which I didn't. He told me what Dutch man he thought were attractive, he called some footballers, but I didn't know them... About him standing on the Wallen (red light district), how he would be as a woman and if Jon had to choose between 10 virgins and one gorgeous experienced woman, he would go for the last one...I quess you know what kind of conversations this were, you get the picture... We went to the gig and it was awesome!! Really cosy audience and a incredible band, what more do you need? After the show Ben came to me and he started taking to me. He kept saying "We are friends now":) He was really nice, really a sweet guy. After a while we went downstairs to a party, but me and my friends dind't stay long. I went to Jon to say goodbye and then to Ben to say goodbye. He kissed me on the cheeks and then he asked me to come the next day to the gig in Utrecht as well. I told him that I wasn't sure if I could make it, but he said I really needed to come and then I had to asked for Ben and then he would come and get me. And then he kissed me again:) This had been one of the nicest gigs ever, along with Deep Insight and the Lostprophets. The next day I went to Utrecht and there I met Ben again. The first thing he asked my friend was how old is Pearl? I had told him nineteen the day before..But I actually was 17. Well, he could see that I lied... But he was very sweet and when I left he told me to really keep in touch with him over e-mail! Well that lasted for about two e-mails...

But that wasn't such a disaster, cause while I was e-mailing with Ben, I got this lovely e-mail from my favourite guitarist of my favourite band Deep Insight. Just out of nothing and I was very very very shocked and surprised and definately not worried about the not replied e-mail to Ben anymore. It was the sweetest mail I've ever gotten and I will never forget it in my whole life. Luckily the e-mail contact with him lasts longer than that with Ben, cause I still receive an e-mail now and then. Although I really love it, it makes my life a bit more difficult as well...I really don't know what to expect from him and I'm not sure if I will see him even this year. I'm not sure of anything about him, but one thing is for sure, Deep Insight still plays a huge role in my life. Deep Insight is more than just a band for me, they lead me trough life, personally and musically....