Roman Sky
A Bag Full Of Hope That Was Only For Me And You
...2006
“This was your childhood, wasn’t it?” Matt asks as we tour the next venue. “You travelled the world. What did your mom think about you going on tour with Metallica?”
“I never met my mom.” I tell him. “Dad said she bounced once he formed Metallica. He said she could take being a young parent plus having her baby’s father be on the road. She left me at my paternal grandparents one night when Dad had a show and said she’d be back. But 25 years later, she hasn’t returned. No phone call or cards on my birthday; nothing.”
“Damn, I’m so sorry to bring it up.” He apologizes.
“It’s fine, honestly.” I assure him. “I don’t think about her or wonder what it would be like if she was in my life. There is only one person I need in my life and that’s my dad. He’s the reason why I left Warped early in 2001.”
“You wanted to be there for him when he entered rehab, huh?”
“He’s all I have in this world. I’ve dumped great guys because they couldn’t get over the fact of how close I am with my dad. They either hated metal music or hated the life my father lived before entering rehab. We would get into fights; one of which was actually physical.”
“Sorry but the guys you’ve dated in the past were assholes.”
“No kidding.” I laugh. “It’s hard to find that one guy that isn’t trying to use you to get to your father.”
“Was Alex like that?” He asks.
“Varkatzas?”
“Yea.” He responds. “I figured you guys dated by how he acted around you.”
“Alex was one of the few people that wasn’t dating me to get to my dad.” I reply to his question. “We broke up for the same reason why my dad entered rehab. If you know Alex, you know his drinking was his downfall. It got in between us a lot. I hated seeing him like that. I hated seeing my father in him. Obviously we remain amazing friends. But I’m sure if his drinking didn’t get in the way, we’d still be together.”
“What was his reaction to your father being James Hetfield?”
“Same as yours, actually.” I laugh. “Maybe a lot worse. He was pissed that I didn’t tell him flat out but hey, it’s not a secret I like telling people. I’m honestly surprised the rest of your merry gang reacted okay with the news.”
“Jimmy is just jealous that Lars taught you how to drum.” Matt laughs. “It’s hard to believe the girl in the front row of Chain Reaction is the same girl that went on tour with Ac/Dc at the age of ten is related to James Hetfield.”
“Honestly, the touring and having a famous Dad is nothing to me.” I tell him. “It might seem amazing to one person but to me, it’s just life. My dad’s job isn’t 9-5 and I’ve always loved that. I remember kids asking me if I ever missed my dad and honestly I didn’t. I talked to him every night and he still tucked me into bed despite being a million miles away. Despite everything, I’ll always be the girl in the crowd. I’m no different. I’m just a girl that loves music. It just so happens that my dad is in Metallica.”
“You’re definitely not like other girls. Most girls would use their famous dad’s name to get somewhere in the world. You run from your dad’s name.”
“Alex once told me the music industry couldn’t handle to Hetfields.” I tell him. “He’s not wrong. But I never wanted to be in a band. As good as I am on drums and guitar; the stage set is what caught my eye.”
“And why is that?”
“I’ve been on tours with people that are known for their pyrotechnics and crazy stage setups and all that. I’ve always had respect for those people that are in charge of making sure nothing happens. Sure shit happens all the time. Look at my dad getting burned by pyro. After that I vowed that I’d be that person to make sure bands make it out alive. I knew I wanted to be behind the scenes.”
“You seriously never dreamt of being in a band?”
“Never.” I smile. “I knew my place was behind the scenes and I’m perfectly happy staying there.”
“This was your childhood, wasn’t it?” Matt asks as we tour the next venue. “You travelled the world. What did your mom think about you going on tour with Metallica?”
“I never met my mom.” I tell him. “Dad said she bounced once he formed Metallica. He said she could take being a young parent plus having her baby’s father be on the road. She left me at my paternal grandparents one night when Dad had a show and said she’d be back. But 25 years later, she hasn’t returned. No phone call or cards on my birthday; nothing.”
“Damn, I’m so sorry to bring it up.” He apologizes.
“It’s fine, honestly.” I assure him. “I don’t think about her or wonder what it would be like if she was in my life. There is only one person I need in my life and that’s my dad. He’s the reason why I left Warped early in 2001.”
“You wanted to be there for him when he entered rehab, huh?”
“He’s all I have in this world. I’ve dumped great guys because they couldn’t get over the fact of how close I am with my dad. They either hated metal music or hated the life my father lived before entering rehab. We would get into fights; one of which was actually physical.”
“Sorry but the guys you’ve dated in the past were assholes.”
“No kidding.” I laugh. “It’s hard to find that one guy that isn’t trying to use you to get to your father.”
“Was Alex like that?” He asks.
“Varkatzas?”
“Yea.” He responds. “I figured you guys dated by how he acted around you.”
“Alex was one of the few people that wasn’t dating me to get to my dad.” I reply to his question. “We broke up for the same reason why my dad entered rehab. If you know Alex, you know his drinking was his downfall. It got in between us a lot. I hated seeing him like that. I hated seeing my father in him. Obviously we remain amazing friends. But I’m sure if his drinking didn’t get in the way, we’d still be together.”
“What was his reaction to your father being James Hetfield?”
“Same as yours, actually.” I laugh. “Maybe a lot worse. He was pissed that I didn’t tell him flat out but hey, it’s not a secret I like telling people. I’m honestly surprised the rest of your merry gang reacted okay with the news.”
“Jimmy is just jealous that Lars taught you how to drum.” Matt laughs. “It’s hard to believe the girl in the front row of Chain Reaction is the same girl that went on tour with Ac/Dc at the age of ten is related to James Hetfield.”
“Honestly, the touring and having a famous Dad is nothing to me.” I tell him. “It might seem amazing to one person but to me, it’s just life. My dad’s job isn’t 9-5 and I’ve always loved that. I remember kids asking me if I ever missed my dad and honestly I didn’t. I talked to him every night and he still tucked me into bed despite being a million miles away. Despite everything, I’ll always be the girl in the crowd. I’m no different. I’m just a girl that loves music. It just so happens that my dad is in Metallica.”
“You’re definitely not like other girls. Most girls would use their famous dad’s name to get somewhere in the world. You run from your dad’s name.”
“Alex once told me the music industry couldn’t handle to Hetfields.” I tell him. “He’s not wrong. But I never wanted to be in a band. As good as I am on drums and guitar; the stage set is what caught my eye.”
“And why is that?”
“I’ve been on tours with people that are known for their pyrotechnics and crazy stage setups and all that. I’ve always had respect for those people that are in charge of making sure nothing happens. Sure shit happens all the time. Look at my dad getting burned by pyro. After that I vowed that I’d be that person to make sure bands make it out alive. I knew I wanted to be behind the scenes.”
“You seriously never dreamt of being in a band?”
“Never.” I smile. “I knew my place was behind the scenes and I’m perfectly happy staying there.”
@Kimmie
The sequel is titled Nothing Else Matters. It's being posted now.
7/8/18