Rockers Live at the IMAS

Regret. That was the one word Johnny Johnson had never expected to have in his mind when it came to looking back on his career. Since Johnny's brother Joey collapsed on stage, he had been doing nothing but regretting that he had asked Joey to go on. He has blamed nothing and no one but himself for Joeys health problems. In reality, it was not brought on by anything outward. It was an appendix related problem and Joey would be fine within a few days. Still, going on to perform at the IMAs without him just did not feel right.

The IMA stage was one John had seen before. Both as an award winner and as a performer. This time it felt different. Of course the show as now being presented by his ex-wife Stephanie Fierce, with whom John had not been on good terms. But this time he was older, wiser, but without his lifelong band-mate and brother. For the show they sent out an open letter asking for a bass guitar player to join the band for this one night only show. The call was answered by Matt Roberts, the wild bass player from Infinite. The kid reminded John and the guys of their younger, crazier days. That worried them a bit.

"John, this show is going to great. Matts gonna fill the spot perfectly, have some faith man." Robert and George had spend the entire night trying to reconfirm this fact with Johnny.

Now the time of the night had reached them and they were being called to go on. The show had been going on wonderfully without them thus far and the artists who preceded them had just as much right to be there as they did. Like any festival or multi-band event, the band was nervous but determined to prove themselves time and time again. This show, this IMA award show....why should this be different? Or at least thats what John repeated in his thoughts.

"The Rockers!"

They all heard the voice welcome them to the stage loud and clear. Only three of them went out right away. Robert Kain, lead guitarist. George Francis, drummer. Matt Roberts, One night only Bass Guitarist. Johnny Johnson? Slowly and silently John walked out onto the stage after everyone else had gotten to their instruments. Dressed in a black trench coat and a blood red T-Shirt he gave a grave look to the crowd.

"You know my brother is in the hospital at the moment..." he said in a low voice, nearly a whisper. "And..." he choked back a tear. Quietly Robert walked up and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Not now man...not here." John shook his head in agreement.

"Let's begin."

He swung an acoustic guitar over his shoulder and the band began the opening notes to "Black". This was the song that they had only begun at their last concert before Joey fell to the ground. Vivid images passed over Johns eyes as he gazed endlessly into the crowd. Like a black and white movie he saw Joey violently trembling on the ground as John slowly walked to the wall behind the shadows.

The song was being played in a lower key than normal, but John seemed to sing deeper with ease. His voice he noticed seemed to have control of him rather than the other way around. His mind slowly cleared until he turned around. This was a common stage behavior of Johns to turn and smile back at Joey. The image of Matt Robberts standing there, playing Joeys bass lines melted John.

Matt could do nothing but smile and raise his one arm, thinking John was praising him. He would have been but for the pain in his chest. The song ended and John turned back around.

"I uh...We have been working on some songs for a new album and uh...this is one of those" he stopped to cough "...those ones." He stammered and stumbled around the fret board of his guitar as he hunted for the correct starting chord. The song begun and fans instantly noticed he was playing a song from The Rockers latest album. It was called "The Last March of the Forgotten Ones" and was the title track. Baffled by the claim to it being a new song the fans still continued to cheer as he continued through the lyrics. The band joined in and the two guitarists, Matt and Robert had a short but sweet dueling bass/lead guitar solo.

The second song ended and the entire band looked out onto a cheering crowd. Suddenly an image of the hug he had received from Stephanie Fierce earlier came into his mind. It flashed as suddenly into his eyes as quick as the sudden heart attack that soon followed blocked the blood flow through his veins.

He fell to his knees grasping his chest and exhaling loudly. He thought hastily about his life. He had been here before....It was during a Birdies/IMAs performance that Johnny Johnson had experienced his first heart attack...and it was there he met his second. The audience in attendance gasped as he continued to fumble around. After hunting to find the microphone he had dropped he forced himself up to his feet again.

"I think I...uh...guys....song...The Way Home...." he attempted to get the band to begin the next song, "The Way Home" before fainting and falling face first off the stage. Shattering the guitar given to him by legendary country artist Jack Jameson as he went down. Kain and Francis jumped off the stage to help him as poor Matt Roberts called for help.

Once again paramedics were called out to a Rockers gig, but this time the problem was much more severe. Life and Death were at hand. Yet all Johnny could see was a white on black image of himself, arms raised high in front of a roaring crowd as he fell of the stage and tumbled over what small bit of grace he had left.

Called John after the show guys, he is doing well and looking forward to getting out of that hospital. As for the rest of us, we have some time before the next show so we too are going to rest a while and rehearse a little. If we're lucky, we may just get a little writing done on some new songs as well.

As John would say,

Keep on Rocking,
Robert Kain