A journey which began 30 years ago in a Letterkenny music shop ended this week when a Donegal man got to meet his heroes – and was even name-checked on their forthcoming album.
Former Donegal People’s Press reporter Robert Love was forever rummaging in the bargain basket of the brilliant Letterkenny Music Centre run by then local Harvey brothers.
In 1996 he paid a few quid for The Smoking Popes album Born To Quit and was hooked.
Despite becoming a huge fan he never got to see the band and always vowed to see the Chicago rockers.
The ageing music aficionado is now also a high-flying medical PR executive who happened to be in Chicago in recent days.
Love thought he had nothing to lose when he was in the Windy City but to message the lads on Facebook on the very off chance they might have a gig coming up.
All Robert’s birthdays came at once when the band invited him special vinyl release 30th anniversary live recording of the album with just 50 people in the audience.
The former Letterkenny Music Centre.
He was even more delighted when the band mentioned he had traveled all the way from Ireland, a journey of 3,900 miles including a five hour bus trip from the airport.
Everyone present will be credited on the album sleeve and received a limited edition gig poster which the band signed.
And Robert’s reaction when he managed to tick another amazing adventure off his musical bucket list?
“A band beyond compare and an evening I will never, ever forget,” he said.
His long-suffering wife Catherine from Letterkenny is waiting eagerly at home to see what gift Robert brought her back from his travels.
Just as long as it’s not a Smoking Popes signed poster……..
