Dylan Cassidy - Rod Stewart Tribute

The Full Story

Here is the story of my experience on that very special day.

Fantastic V.I.P. tickets to see the great man himself, Mr. Rod Stewart.

Date: May 30th,  2008, Venue: Palacio de los Juegos Mediterraneos, Almería, Spain. The day arrived, I had to get up early for a flight from Majorca to Almería (mainland Spain) which should have been a simple ½ hour flight I thought, but was quickly informed by my manager that Almeria has a very small airport and to get to this almost forgotten place, it was a flight to Madrid first, then a three hour wait at the airport followed by another flight to Almeria making it all in all a five hour trip! How is that possible, I thought from a Spanish Island to the mainland? Still, it would be worth it, I would get to see my prodigy, a rare chance to see him again as this was his only gig in Spain.

I did my show in Majorca the night before, and three hours sleep later I was at Palma airport with my tickets in hand ready for Rod’s Show in Almeria that evening. Can’t wait, I thought to myself.  I Can’t wait!

At The Airport

My manager Jacqui had arranged a press meeting with one local newspaper in Almeria. They were to meet me at the airport and arrange for me as a look alike/tribute artist to meet some competition winners that evening, who were lucky to secure tickets as their prize to Rod’s concert!

I have, I must say, as my time as a look alike, been stopped at airports and other places and asked for my autograph many times, which is a huge compliment. On this occasion at the airport it was more than the usual one or two.

Interest was intensified in the knowledge that Rod’s concert was that night in Almeria and here was I at the airport, I do not think Rod would have had the same travel/transport itinerary as me though!

Anyway, it was a bit of fun as the photos show.

 

I met two very nice people from the Costa Almeria News; Jacqui Bragg, the reporter and Charlie Brown, the photographer. We had a quick chat and a coffee and we arranged to meet at the concert at 8.00pm at the press office to greet the competition winners.

This is where the real story begins!

Face to face with Rod and Penny

I arrived at the concert at around 8.00pm in a taxi and saw that there were thousands of fans queuing up to see Rod. I got out of the taxi and suddenly there was an over whelming interest in me. People were running towards me and shouting Rod! Rod! I made a quick diversion and was then surrounded by the Spanish police and Spanish security, where they promptly guarded me and ushered me and my companions out of sight and away from the crowd. After a succession of radio controlled communications between the security, we were lead in to the stadium through the side entrance.

My manager was constantly repeating “press office please”. We are just looking for the press office, where they replied “si, si, si,” I thought ‘gosh this is surreal and a bit scary’ nevertheless I went along with it thinking they were taking us a quick way away from the crowd to the press office.

We entered the building and were lead down a stairway and this was where I just could not get enough oxygen into my lungs, I Was at Rod Stewart’s dressing room!!! His clothes were hanging up ready for his performance, it was incredible! At that, my manager Jacqui said “No! No! Es possible ir a la oficina de prensa, por favor?” (in her limited Spanish) (“Is it possible to take us to the press office, please?”) Which, under the influence of her increasing heart rate became all the more limited.

“Si, si” replied a security guard who used his radio yet again to ensure the coast was clear for our next move. We were about to scurry up the stairs, and then, it happened right there! Rod Stewart and his beautiful wife Penny Lancaster, face to face with me a, humble looking guy who was feeling very embarrassed. I felt like some crazed fan trying to stalk him!

The security guard shouted in amazement “es un doble!! un doble!!”  (A replica)

I quickly removed myself from the situation, really not knowing how to react. By this time, another security guard arrived and my manager again repeated “Press office por favor!” And to our astonishment, he proceeded to take us back down to Rod Stewart’s dressing room. ‘Oh no!’ I thought, I have been down here before. I can’t do it again. No way!

Still feeling shaken by the whole thing, I turned tail, lost my manager and found myself a quiet corner, desperate to avoid any Spanish security guards who were insistent in trying to make me believe I was the genuine article. I just could not make them believe I was not  Rod Stewart!

At last, The Press Office

At that point I wished I had a hat, a black wig...anything!! For the first time ever, I wished I did not look like Rod Stewart. I fumbled nervously in my pocket for my mobile that would not disguise me, I know, but I could use it to call the journalist, who then tried to describe where I should go. As I made my next move, I was met by another one of those disbelievers with a radio. (A Spanish security guard) “Oh No, not again!”.  I started to feel like I was in a computer game. I just tried to make my blues eyes look bluer (Rod’s are brown). Staring at the guard with popped eyes I said, “press office por favor!!!”,  He thankfully knew where it was and escorted me there. At that point I did not care who he thought I was!  I thought “Just get me there, please!”

I have never been so glad to see Jacqui (my manager) as much in my life, I was at the correct destination!  I had to try to look composed and get right back into character to meet the competition winners (they were to meet Dylan Cassidy: Rod Stewart Tribute/look alike.)  I had just spent the last 30 minutes trying to convince the security guards that I was not him! Now it was reverse psychology!  My time at drama school was to be put to the ultimate test now!

Here goes, a beer was thrust into my hand and I thought ‘oh well it’s all in a day’s work!’

More photos and more Rod fans, I happily posed with them all, after all it’s my job. Wait a minute, I was having a night off to see Rod-the man himself. ‘Just relax’ I told myself, Photo shoot was soon over and I had enjoyed meeting the people. Work over now ‘just relax Dylan the show is about to begin’.  And believe me it did, it gets even better!!!!

The Concert

Escorted once again into the stadium by, guess who? (one of our friendly security guards) I still had my V.I.P. tickets intact wasn’t asked to show them. (I will keep them for memories)

Ah, I am at the final part of my story, where I was preparing to enjoy the show. There I was in the V.I.P. area in the front seats!!!

Went and got a beer, (beer stalls in the stadium) the crowd began to enter the stadium ‘Oh no, not again,’ the crowd was trying to touch me over the crash barriers! “ROD! ROD!” they screamed, an increasingly familiar sound directed at me. Surely they do not think Rod Stewart would come into the audience just before his concert? It just went on and on, the crowds were cheering and going mad, did they think this was a warm up look alike/ tribute/decoy or the real thing? Some say the crowds were divided???!!! I was again completely at a loss at how to react. There were cameras taking shots of me from every angle and journalists from every country, huge lenses peered at me from afar. Fans, trying to touch me, pull me, turn me, twist me, what was I to do? Be serious? Or just enjoy the ride? Enjoy the ride is what I did, it was great to feel such happiness spread through the crowd demonstrated by thousands of smiling faces, it was great fun, Whoever they thought I was!

 

Then it happened

Penny Lancaster - Rod Stewart’s wife

She was there. In the crowd. Coming towards me!

The crowd were in a tis! They were once again cheering and before I knew it I had this beautiful, 6’1 blond, with her arm around me! (See Photo) Penny Lancaster!

 

I was sure it was not real. What was happening?! I felt completely shocked, as my face shows in the photo.

She was no copy, this was The Genuine Article!

Penny Lancaster was a lovely person and really beautiful in every way and was really enjoying the spirit of the evening.

The pictures tell the rest of the story, what a fantastic night! And of course, the thing I came for-ROD STEWART (The real deal), Fantastic! I love You Rod!

 

The Band

On our way back home towards the airport after a fantastic gig, and to just get another little gem into the story, I got out of the taxi and, standing outside the airport entrance doors, was one of Rod Stewart’s guitarists. It later transpired that the whole band was to share the plane to Madrid with us, (they were on their way to Portugal, their next gig). We shared the departure lounge with them for the three hour wait at Madrid as we did the stories of the night before. One of the band members said they knew about my little story of mistaken identity and the excitement I caused with the security guards and the crowd. I wonder who told them? Rod or Penny?

Another reporter mistakes Dylan for Rod

Also convinced that Rod was in the crowd before the show was the newspaper The Leader which wrote:

“Rod Stewart was in the audience posing for photos”

“He seemed as down to earth as ever”

“Of course that was not Rod Stewart, it was me.” Dylan Cassidy.

“Ask the security Guards! Or maybe not!”