

Where: Sydney Cricket Ground, Centennial Park
My Job: Backstage, stage entry
Who are they: Billy Joe Armstrong, (guitar, lead vocals); Mike Dirnt, (bass guitar); Tre Cool, (drummer). They're a 3 piece punk-rock band from the USA who have been around since the 90s. They made it big with their album Nimrod and with their single Good Riddance (Time of your life) being played on the Seinfeld finale. Since then they have released 3 albums, with their latest album American Idiot helping them reach new levels of fame.
My Story: Since I was back stage I got to watch Green Day close up and personal. My shift was 10 hours which was the performance day. I had to make sure no unauthorized people got in. The roadies and crew were setting up the stage for the bands. There was going to be a fireworks display and I hung out with the pyro technics. They're the fireworks guys. They were amazing. They get to go around the world with the top bands and best concerts, because only the top bands and singers get the fireworks.
Green Day was on and off the stage a lot checking equipment and what's going on. Tre Cool, the drummer, is totally COOL. He could tell I was a fan. Although I tried not to show it. But I knew all Green Day's songs and I PAID heaps to go to their other concerts. We talked about his cool hot pink shoes. He said that he really loved his shoes. They were VANS. I was talking to him about how he feels about facing a crowd of 60,000 and if he was nervous. He said that he loved going out there and right before he goes out he gets such an adrenaline rush.
The fans waved and really wanted to connect. The Green Day guys waved back and smiled and were pretty nice, before they escaped.
At the end of the show they had fireworks off the front of the stage. When the audience screams, Green Day races off stage. Tre Cool came over and said bye. He gave me his drum sticks. He was so great and down-to- earth, which I didn't expect from such a huge star.

Where: SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) Centennial Parklands, Sydney
My Job: Backstage, stage entry
Who are they: A five piece American punk-rock band. Their first album was released in 2005. They have a large teen following, primarily male.
My Story: They were supporting Green Day. I'm a really big fan of their music and was really excited to see them perform live. They weren't 'cool' like Green Day. They were pretty arrogant and thought they were really important and too good for everyone. They even refused to wave at fans when they walked past. They gave them greasy looks. So I'm not such a fan anymore.

Where: Acer Arena, Olympic Park, Sydney
My Job: Front row security
Who are they: Jeff Ament (Bass Guitar), Stone Gossard (Rhythm Guitar), Mike McCready (Lead Guitar), Eddie Vedder (Lead Vocals, Guitar and Harmonica), Matt Cameron (Drummer). They are an American five piece rock band from the US that started out in 1984. They made it big in the 90s and are considered to be one of the most influential band of the 90s.
My Story: I was lucky enough to be in charge of the front row. The arena was packed, holding 50,000 people. My job was to make sure that the people in the front row were wearing a wrist band so that we could identify them and make sure that other people didn't try to steal their seats or sneak into the front row.
The people in the front row had paid $350 per ticket, and most of them were travelling around Australia, following the band and going to all of their concerts. One couple told me that in flights and concert tickets alone they had spent around $5,000. I couldn't believe it!
It was a great show and I was in the first row and didn't pay $350!!!!

Where: Acer Arena, Sydney
My Job: Back check and general security guard
Who is he: One of the world's most famous and controversial Hip-Hop/Rap artists. Eminem, his close friend, gave him the start when he signed him to his record label Shady Aftermath in 2000. 50 Cent is known for being tough and for surviving after being shot 9 times.
My Story: 50 Cent attracts a pretty tough crowd. There were the occasional kids with parents or an older person, but the majority of the crowd was young males. We had strict and thorough bag searches, because it was considered a 'high risk' event, that means drugs. MOST people were very clever, hiding pot in pre-rolled joints in a cigarette packet, so that it looked like a normal cigarette. Other people put small bags of coke, speed or e's (ecstasy) in their wallet, but due to our excellent security guarding we were able to catch everyone. Well, I think we did.
There were a few dodgy characters hanging around too. With people trying to pass tickets back and forward to their friends so that they could get in for free, but we were not that stupid and didn't fall for it. All of a sudden about 10 guys bolted through the fire doors after one of their friends left it slightly open. I started to run after some of them, but they were too fast and far away. So I nearly caught them. Ten minutes later they were caught and kicked out by security - the one who really do karate. One of the guards had chased one of the guys through the mosh-pit, but he finally managed to pin him down on the floor and didn't let him escape. That guy learnt not to mess with our security team.
The concert was wild, but I was too busy to really watch it.

Where: Horden Pavilion
My Job: General Security guard
Who are they: A four piece punk-rock band from the US. Their concerts can go crazy, out of control.
My Story: The concert was sold out. The concert had to be moved from a smaller venue to the Horden, since the tickets sold out in under 5 minutes. The audience were all the die-hard fans who had been camping out all night to get to the front of the line.
The mosh-pit was crazy! Everyone was pushing to get to the front, and with 5,000 people there, it was wild. A girl in the front of the mosh pit got crushed. She was dragged out of the most pit by security. She was vomiting blood when she was sent off in an ambulance. I guess she came out ok since it wasn't on the news.
I like a lot of their songs.

Where: The Rocks, Sydney
My Job: Backstage security
Who are they: Models, fashion designers
My Story: It was an eye opening experience for me. People think that being a catwalk model is such a great life, but after seeing it happen I would hate to have that life. Yes, there is big money in it, but I feel sorry for all those 'super' models. It was degrading the way they just had to stand there nearly naked while designers and dressers just did what they wanted with them. They were like kids' dolls that you can do anything you like with. They are there for HOURS and HOURS getting their hair and make-up done which is the most boring thing on earth.
I don't know where these people live because they are not human. The girls are all over 6 feet tall, and look like if they got caught in a light breeze would blow over. They are so thin I wanted to feed them a hamburger immediately. I have met a lot of celebrities who were really thin, but they still look like normal people. These models don't.
Some of the fashions were good, but a lot were weird and no one would wear them. My main job was to keep the media out when the models were dressing and the designers were around. It was all strange to me. I'd rather sing my songs and write my music.