Ruby Tuesday

My best friend Melany, and i were, a secret part of the seventies music scene. it has taken her a long time into nagging me to tell our story (she insisted that i write it). we were only apart of the stones entourage for a weekend, and then all of a sudden, things moved dramatically fast, all steming from a simple train ride, it certany changed our lives forever. the story i have written is only in brief detail, but its enough to catch the drift of our bizzare journey. the stones lads will be in our hearts forever, especially ronnie. ~MEMORY MOTEL~ *********************************************************** (Names have be changed due to the protection of original identities) ***********************************************************M any people see the most important part of their lives as getting married and starting a family. But Mel and I saw different. We saw ourselves in a creative environment, somewhere that was bright and fulfilling; rather than wearing an apron and cooking stake for a man. Now; Mel and I weren't extreme feminists like Germaine Greer, but we did believe in freedom, and freedom was what we were gonna get!I, Ruby Tuesday was born in Australia, like Mel; and shared a fantastic childhood with my brother and sister, Mom and Dad; but Mel knew as much as I, that that sort of thing cannot last forever. We were both determine young women and had an idea for our future, well more of a plan. The plan was to travel to the UK where we would get our own pad and study art at Eeling Art College. Most people who heard of our plans laughed in our faces or discouraged us. But we knew deep down that our first major aspiration would come true to our eyes.Melany Lee is Mel's birth name, but for those who know her as well as I do get to call her Mel (and not many people know her like I do). We first met in 1975 while we were starting our new classes for the first semester. We just happened to be in the same Art class, with a stoning hippie for a teacher. I use the term, stoning very loosely, as she was not only a pot-head but she also was a huge fan of the Rolling Stones, which so happened to spark a flair in my ear, and Mel's too.For the next two months Mel and I began chatting about various things that all ended up relating back to music. We both played the guitar, we both loved the blues. Ah, yes the blues. But most important of all we shared one very rare thing in common, we both loved The Rolling Stones. At the time a lot of our other friends liked groups like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, and I will add I absolutely love Zeppelin! The Rolling Stones however, seemed to everybody else we knew, like yesterdays news, but to us, we thought the world of them.Mel's favorite was always Mick Jagger, like so many other girls in the 1960s. But we were a new generation coming through; all the birds from the 60's would have wrinkles and buns in the oven by now. But we, well; we were a breath of fresh air.Now; I was always a Stones fan. I remember I was a little girl when I first heard Satisfaction on the radio. From then on, I was hooked! But, I came to love a group that was just a little more way out there with their musical flair. They were, The Faces. I mention that group now to people, and they wonder who the hell I’m talking about. I happen to mention Rod Stewart, and then they all grin. But he wasn't the talent I had my eye on. My mind was fixed on a more reserved, kind-of dark haired, secret artist. His name; Ronnie Wood. The first time I saw him, was on Top of the Pops, I knew he was a real catch. Problem was I was way too young, and lived far beyond the Pacific Ocean to reach him. Anyway as you can see, my heart went deep for that awesome slide guitarist. But it sunk to the very bottom when I heard The Faces had split in 1975. So I had to go back to my most special, second favorite group; The Rolling Stones. Ironically, and also conveniently Ronnie Wood was to join the Stones after Mick Taylor split from the group. So Mel and I were on cloud nine.Our exams had finished, and we both got high distinctions for our art major works. Which meant that we had our foot in the door to Eeling Art School, in London; a school that Ronnie had once studied at! Our dreams were coming true!After; what would be our last Christmas in Australia, Mel and I boarded Qantas Airlines at exactly 8:45pm on the 29th December 1975. Our knees were shaking, and our hearts were thumping with excitement. We were finally going to live in Europe, and paint. Yes paint everyday! Art was everything to us, but music was always just that little more important. I remember waving through the glass to my Dad, and he was blowing kisses to me. Mel, as her normal rebellious self, was giving the finger to her sister.At the time neither of us were sad to leave our home, we were just so exited! I was already eighteen, and Mel would be that in March. So moving into the world on our own; a whole new world might I add, was very scary for two young, and impressionable girls.Touchdown at Heathrow Airport, London, was like a ten minute rollercoaster ride. Mel had her head in a barf bag, but she now insists she was only teasing me; yeah right! At the airport we spent one hour in the bathroom fixing our hair and make-up. Finally we walked out of the bathroom and straight into, what appeared to be a massive crowd of people, mainly women. Mel asked one of them what was going on. She told us that the Rolling Stones had just arrived back from The US, with a new guitarist in form.Both our hearts began thumping a hundred beats a second. Then we saw them; well I sort of did (I'm short sighted). They casually walked down the isle where Mel and I just happened to be standing. Mick gave Mel a wink. I; well just stood there, with a fag hanging out of my mouth (as usual), unlit; when it all of a sudden was lit! By Keith's Zippo lighter. I'm surprised I didn't piss my pants in the middle of the airport (mind you we were in the bathroom an hour before-hand, maybe that’s why?). After they departed Mel and I had to make run for it. We felt as if we were in the middle of Beatlemania, with hundreds of screaming girls chasing us, prepared to hit us because we had some contact with the delicious Stones boys.We did make it out of there alive, unscathed, and extremely dreamy. We must have looked like we smoked an ounce of reefer in one hour. We were that dazed, and that star struck, that we just kept looking at one another in the cab and kept giggling. What a way to enter a new country!Two months had already passed and Mel and I were happily living in our groovy pad. We didn't have many records, but we had our guitars, and or paint brushes, that was enough to make us happy. Mel's eighteenth birthday was coming up, and I had to get her a present she would never forget; of course it would have to be music related. A cutie in our art class; Stephen, had a little crush on Mel and came up with the fantastic idea to get her a Stones ticket to their show, which just started last month. The only problem was we could only afford one of us to go with her. Stephen being the kind gentleman gave me the rest of his money for me to get a ticket. It was sorted we were going to see the Rolling Stones! The concert so happened to fall on Mel's exact birthday on 6th March 1976.The day came so quickly for Mel to turn eighteen, she was so exited and surprised that Stephen and I had organized her a ticket for the concert. That night was a time were I saw a side of Mel I had never seen before. All the way on the bus ride to The Albert Hall, she kept singing at the top of her lungs Under My Thumb. Then when we arrived at the venue she was the biggest flirt with all the guys that she came to part with, except Liam. Liam was a guy that was in our art class, who ended up dropping out, because he was a sellout. In a band called the Sellouts that is; he thought he was going to be as big as Bob Dylan and his band. We are all still waiting to see his name next to Bob Dylan, and so is he.The lights went out; the room smelt of pot and sweat. The vibration to our ears when the first note to Jumping Jack Flash was hit sent an uncanny adrenalin up our spines and into our brains, where we cheered, or more likely screamed or lungs out! Song through to song Mel kept flirting with Mick, and I was for once, very reserved, and flabbergasted at the sight of Mel and her sexual moves towards Jagger. But at the same time I was trying to play it cool in front of the delightful Ronnie; did I forget to mention that we were right at the front of the stage?Towards the end of the night we were all getting pretty heated up, including the boys on the stage. Ronnie kept flicking his guitar picks into the audience; I managed to catch five out of the six of them. But sadly the night ended in almost a flash, maybe even a jumping jack kinda flash. We weren't lucky enough to score a back stage pass, which I was quite surprised, especially after the way Mel was carrying on in front of Jagger. But it was a night that I know Mel enjoyed, after all it was her birthday, and a girl has a right to do what she wants on her special day. The events that would lead up to that special night make that night look like a tea party.Our first semester break came at the end of April. Mel suggested that we go on a trip around England, getting a student train pass, as we didn't have much money. I thought that was a brilliant idea. We packed five sets of clothes, a set pajamas, and last but not least an acoustic guitar. Our train pass lasted a week, seven days exact; but our plans would change dramatically on the first day of our trip.It was 10am and we were on the rickety old train, with our luggage sitting above us. There were not many people in our carriage; a women and her son, an elderly couple, and a man that I suppose was in his early thirties. As we were bumping along the tracks, I picked up my guitar and began to strum the first few chords to Angie, Mel began to sing the melody, and soon enough everybody in our carriage was singing it, even the elderly couple. It was sort of like a scene out of an old Gene Kelly movie, when everyone breaks into song.The song had ended, I continue to strum, and pick out notes on the guitar. Then the man in his thirties leans across to Mel and I, and asks us if we were fans of the Rolling Stones. When I said that we were fans of theirs, he offered us an extreme opportunity of a life time; to be part of the stones entourage for the weekend, which meant in plain English we would get to meet the Rolling Stones!I think at the time Mel nearly fell out of the luggage wrack when the guy spoke those words to us. It was like somebody telling us we had won a million dollars, that’s how much the stones meant to us. At first I thought the guy was joking, he didn't exactly look like someone who knew famous people, but then again what do they look like?As usual I played it cool; calm and collective. He told us they were staying at Pacific Cove for the weekend (which was a motel), while they rest before they went back on tour to the States. He also informed us that the boys would be very eager to meet two down-to-earth chicks from Australia. NOTE: Only being in the UK for four months, we had already adopted a kind of cottony accent. Nobody would believe that we were from down under.Pacific Cove was just outside of London, it was a little out in the open; fresh air, actually right near George Harrison's estate; Friar Park in Henely-On-Thames. So I was extra excited of the possibility that I might catch a glimpse at my favorite Beatle.It would be one more hour until we would reach the "Stones Manor" of promiscuous drugs and sex, and I could not wait! Mel was the quietest she has been since the Stones concert. I think she was taking in every little detail, or maybe she just couldn't believe what had just happened. To this day I still don't know what she was thinking, but it must have been serious, because she didn't speak to me the whole way to Pacific Cove. When we arrived I quickly pushed my boobs up and fluffed my hair, grabbed my one suitcase of luggage ready to go into my destiny. When Mel stopped me in my tracks.I suppose Mel was right; we shouldn't go into the hotel, I mean it may be a hoax; instead they may want us to perform a massive orgy or something. I could see where Mel was coming from; for once I was not using my common sense. Suddenly Mel snapped out of her serious mode, and grabbed me by the wrist, taking me towards the front entrance. Then I looked above the entrance, and there he was; the man of Mel's dreams. There standing on the verandah with a joint in his hand. It was true after all, we had them at our fingertips, they were really only one step away.As we entered the estate, there was a mass of people congregating around one door; it didn't take me long to figure out who's door it was. We were shown our rooms by the early thirties guy; by the way his name was Raki, or Raki Raccoon as he was likely called by the Stones lads. In our hotel room we prepared ourselves into something casual, but sexy. Then we wondered down the hall through dozens of people, and knocked on door number twenty two. Nobody answered. I knocked again, still no answer. Then all of a sudden...There was Charlie Watts, standing at the end of the hall. All the girls and some boys saw him and began to chase after him; except us. Then the door opened; only half way, and we entered.Inside it had that real artistic flair about it; beer bottles everywhere, smashed up televisions, torn curtains and of course the guitars. Raki Raccoon approached us with a beer each, and took us to one of the worlds most sought after guitarists of his time; Keith Richards. "Ah, you smoke, need a light?" He must have, some how in that drugged-up mind of his, remembered me from the airport. Mel, not the smoking type whatsoever said "I'll need a light!" I stood there in amazement as he lit her ciggie, well mine actually. There we sat for a good ten minutes, chatting about..nothing really; the weather, the train ride, and me playing the guitar.Mel's mind began to wonder as Keith continued to ramble; at the time he was on speed, cocaine, and possibly heroine, so I just sat there in amusement. Then Mick came out in his tight little pants, and an open shirt. Mel's mouth, I recall dropped to the bottom of the floor. Jagger frisked over towards us, and took my hand and kissed it! Then saying nothing to Mel; at first, pulled her up to her feet and brought her right into his face, and whispered something in her ear. Mel's response was...Blush, blush, blush, giggle, giggle, and a wave; goodbye to me. I didn't see her face for quite some time.Don't get me wrong, Keith is a lovely man, but he does tend to ramble, especially when he's high. I didn't think I would ever meet, or even catch another glimpse of Ronnie. I only saw Charlie get chased down the corridor, god only knows what happened to him, and Bill was busy playing outside with ladies legs, and all I could hear from Mick's room was moaning, groaning, and screams!Keith offered me a line of Coke; since there was nothing else doing, and I didn't want to sleep with Keith, incase Ronnie did so happen to show his gorgeous face. I drew a line, actually three lines. After, we just sat back on the lounge, and stared into mid air. When I suddenly felt a hand wonder down my inner thigh. I quickly got up, and wondered out onto the verandah. Keith happily crashed out on the couch. He looked like a sozzled pirate; with all his beads, and things in his hair. So sweet, very attractive; but not Ronnie.Mel comes wondering out, looking for wine, while I stand gazing at the stars. Mel notices me, and comes out with a lot, and I mean a lot of colour in he face. She briefly gave me the run down on what a good shagger, Jagger was. She was going back in there for round two, then she slipped me a joint, and promised me that Ronnie would be here soon; according to Mick. I can tell you Mick was never a reliable source.It was nearly 10pm, and I was bored as bat shit! I was so tempted to wake up Keith, and shag him out of sheer boredom. But, I didn't. I just left the room, and went down to the bar. Mel, I'm sure would be fine in the hands of Mick.I got to the bar, and ordered a Jack Daniels on the rocks: I took a sip, turned around, and saw him. Yes, Ronnie playing snooker. He was down here the whole time, I'm sure. As he turned to the bar, he noticed me; we exchanged looks, only for a mere second, and I shyly turned away. I believe he moved away from the snooker table; came up behind me, and tapped me on the back. "Hi, I'm Ronnie (gives me a kiss on the cheek). I think we have briefly met before." I pulled out one of many guitar picks he had thrown to me during the concert. "I use this one all the time when I play." He paid for the second round of drinks. I told him about my night; Keith and Mel, and Mick. He; as the most sexual, and funny kind of guy, that he just laughed in amusement at the events that occurred during that night.I then confessed to him that I was waiting to meet him; he leant in, and gave me a kiss of lifetime; the kiss of passion I had been waiting for, for so long. Then he took me back to room number twenty two; and there we made love for the first time; with so much passion, I have never felt before.As you would expect with Rock Stars; the next morning would be a cab fair home, and if you're lucky a thanks for the fun. But with Ronnie, it was different. I awoke to the sound of scratching. I opened my tired, but dreamy eyes, and saw Ronnie sketching a charcoal drawing, on a canvas. "Don't move, you're in the most beautiful position." Then he chuckled with that crazy grin that he expresses, when he is excited. Ron and I spent most of the day in his room, but from time, to time we did pop out to see what the rest of the Stones lads were up to. To my surprise, Mel sat practically naked, beside Mick, listening to him sing.Mel and I became witnesses to the writings of beautiful songs that would feature on their first studio album with Ronnie; Black and Blue. The first song that was written mainly by Jagger, the song was "Melody." It was named after Mel, because when he asked her what her name was, he thought she said Melody. As you can imagine, Mel was chuffed to have a song written about her, by the Stones. The second songs that was written while we were there was, "Memory Motel." Keith took the title from Ronnie, when he heard him speaking to me "I love this place. It reminds me of the good times we have shared; it's a memory motel." So that is how that song came about.The weekend was due to be over. It was the best weekend of my entire life, and Mel's too. We just saw it as an experience that we would look back on and talk about. But it became much more than that. Jagger invited us to his birthday party the following month, and Ronnie gave me an invite to one of his first art exhibitions. I have wanted to be with Ronnie ever since I saw him on Top of the Pops. It's 1976 and my dream has come true. But Mel was psyched! She was the one that felt she had scored the most. She loved Jagger ever since she went to a concert of theirs back in 1965. He was her night in shining armour.As we made our way out of the motel the press were waiting in the halls, firing shots of flashes into our eyes; asking "Who's the girl Mick? Who's that Ronnie?" It was crazy! Were we going to be famous? We exited through the back door. We said our quick goodbyes to Ron and Mick, and hurried into a car waiting there for us. As we were motoring through the Thames we once again passed George Harrison's mansion. We asked the driver to stop, so we could sneak a peek at the estate. To our, luck and surprise we saw George in a hat and wellies, doing his daily gardening. He saw us, and asked us in for a cup of tea.I couldn't believe we were meeting George Harrison. He was such a lovely man, so heart warming; kind and peaceful human being. We walked into his beautiful estate; Friar Park. There he showed us around his garden, and served us Black Chai Tea. Mel told him of the musical companionship that we shared, and that we sort of had a group happening. Then George offered us an opportunity that struck my heart! "I have a record label just starting up, it's called 'Dark Horse Records.' I need some talented musicians to put on the label; of course I will have it strictly as my own label. But if you were interested, you girls could score yourselves a record deal with me."This week had been one long week. Meeting the Stones fellas, and now a Beatle offering us a record contract. It must have been my lucky week. We gracefully accepted George's proposal, but didn't promise him we were the next Beatles. He laughed "Who wants to be a Beatle?"That next month was spent preparing for our group. We grabbed our musically talented friends from Art College. Nicola; she was not only a fantastic vocalist, but she also played keys. Natalie played an awesome bass, just like John Paul Jones out of Zeppelin. And last, but not least we got Stephen onto the drums. He wasn't fantastic, but he was the best we could get. Oh! and Mel and I were on guitars, of course.We practiced a number of songs for two weeks; including our own material. On the 30th April, 1976, we took ourselves, and our equipment to Henly-On-Thames studio were we would spend the next month recording what would be our first album, as the band "Psycho Daisies."The Stones returned from their tour, to find that we had just cut an album, and a good one at that. They all seemed to really dig it. But the problem was it's release was due out the same time as their Black and Blue LP. So there was a little bit of a dispute. But Ronnie didn't seem to mind, none of them really did, except Mick. It was Jagger that shot his mouth off at me. I held my tongue for Mel's sake.Mick’s birthday came, and there was; as expected, a huge party. Everyone was there, from Eric Clapton, to Bob Dylan (Liam would have been jealous). Somewhere during that time, however, Jagger whisked Mel away and asked her if she would be his girlfriend. Mel readily accepted the offer, and then they made out under the table, which most people ended up seeing anyway. I remember that evening so well. However, I found out later that she thought Jagger was allot of fun, but he would be boring to marry. That night was also the night were Ronnie and I decided to make our fling official.The next few months were hectic, for both The Rolling Stones, and Psycho Daisies. We were soon due in America because of our record contract. Ronnie was in the studio everyday, and I only saw him about two hours every night, and now Mel living with Jagger, I felt so alone. Even though we saw each other every day for the band, it wasn't the same. I fell hard for Ronnie, and I think I was in love with him. However, after a while having to travel back and forth from the States to the UK, it all got too much.By Christmas, 1976, we had quite a large following on the American circuit, and our album 'Artists Corner,' and our single, 'Lost Man' were doing reasonably well for an international act. It was a busy time for all of us. So during the height of our careers, I broke it off with Ronnie. It broke my heart. But the relationship we were in, just wasn't working. We met in the wrong place, at the wrong time. You may ask, what about Mel and Mick? Well Mick as Mel's man of dreams, was no longer; she got to know him over time, and didn't like what she saw. "Mick was a very selfish person," she later told me.In the middle of 1977 the Psycho Daisies moved to the States, and Mel and I were once again living together. Psycho Daisies was a very organized working unit, and a fantastic group to play in, I couldn't see myself playing with anyone else, and that is why we are still playing and cutting albums together today.To the thanks of George Harrison, who helped us find our way through the music industry. It is sad to see him gone, but I am sure he is in a happier, and more peaceful place, like he always wanted. George was the kindest man we ever knew. But most of all Mel and I would like to thank The Rolling Stones, especially Mick and Ronnie; for really introducing us to a whole new world. A place full of love for the arts, and a love for music.We have passed the Pacific Cove three times, since we were there in 1976, and it reminds us of the time when we had our lives changed forever. It really is a Memory Motel. ********************************************************** We've been ten thousand miles Been in fifteen states Every woman seemed to fade out of my mind I hit the bottle and hit the sack and cried What's all this laughter on the 22nd floor It's just some friends of mine And they're busting down the door Been a lonely night at the Memory MotelYou're just a memory of a love That used to mean so much to me You're just a memory girl You're just a sweet memory And it used to mean so much to me (Jagger/Richards)