Despite several line-up changes and even a temporary disbandment, AFI (A Fire Inside) is stronger than they have ever been. For over 10 years and counting AFI has been winning over it's ever-growing legion of fans the world over. After releasing their newest CD, Sing the Sorrow, A Fire Inside has been one of the hottest rock/punk bands this year. Luckily this red-hot band was coming to town and I made sure this opportunity didn't pass me by.

       I arrived on the scene and waited next to the tour bus along with some other AFI fans. It wasn't long until bassist, Hunter, stepped off of the bus and we stopped him for a quick autograph and picture. He was a nice guy and didn't mind adding his autograph to my CD and photo/cardboard. The next member to make his appearance was drummer Adam Carson and he was just as nice as Hunter.

       While Adam was signing and posing for pictures with us, guitarist Jade Puget managed to sneak past us and headed into the venue. But it didn't matter because as we were thanking Adam signing, Jade was on his way back because he forgot something. There was no better time to ask for an autograph and he didn't disappoint. After thanking Jade for the photo and autograph the group of us only needed lead singer Davey Havok to complete our AFI collection.

        Getting Jade, Hunter, and Adam only took around thirty minutes total so this autograph hunt looked like it was going to be a fast one, boy was I ever wrong. Three hours later I had already missed the start of my night college course and the line for the concert was huge. The sound check was well underway and we assumed that Davey went inside the venue really early (considering the fact that one of the fans got there at noon). I couldn't miss the lecture portion of my film class and as a result was forced to give up on the hope of meeting Davey Havok.

       8:45pm struck and class was out and for some reason I couldn't shake off the hopes of meeting Davey. I'm a huge fan of AFI and didn't want to miss my chance I was just so determined to even see this very elusive guy, so I headed back to the venue. Surprisingly a couple of the autograph seekers that I met earlier were still there (the girls were trying to get into the show for free, by asking the band). I asked them if Davey ever came out of the bus and they said he hadn't which was really weird. He was in there from about 12:00pm to 10:00pm and I couldn't believe that he hadn't even come out for a breath of fresh air. Around 11:00pm the concert was over and the crowd started to pile out of the venue, the real wait for Davey was about to begin.

       This time it wouldn't be as simple as waiting for the bus at the end of the concert for an autograph, because the city police were on hand to make sure that nobody lingered near the venue. I wasn't going to get in trouble from the police, but still wasn't going to let that effect my hard work trying to get Davey's autograph. I hid back in the shadows across the street from the venue along with a couple other die-hard AFI fans and waited things out. Anytime we would see the police coming our way to kick people away we were way ahead of them and found other spots. This was a game of survivor and we outwitted and outlasted the police and other hopeful AFI fans because we were eventually allowed across the street once Hunter and Adam started signing.

       One of the fans there literally had an album (probably about 200 pages) that she got autographed by Hunter. It was amazing watching Hunter actually have the kindness to go through every single page and add his autograph to the clippings. I already had them so my hopes were still on the elusive Davey.

       It wasn't until 1:00am that Davey finally made his way from the back entrance. I had waited so long for this moment that it almost seemed like a mirage (I could only hope he was a willing signer). Luckily for us he was a really down to earth guy and signed for the mob of fans that managed to hold on. The weirdest thing is how much AFI's fans love Davey, almost to the point of worship (I kid not). Fans were so thrilled to touch his tattoos and interact with him in any way possible. One girl had bought him an expensive pair of shoes, when Davey saw them he looked at the size and said, "How did you know what size I wear?"

       Another fan gave him a bracelet that had been given to her 15 years ago by a friend and now she wanted to pass it on to him. He seemed very honored to be bestowed all of these gifts and compliments. I was the first to get his autograph due to the fact that I was the only one out there that had a sharpie. After signing for me he also agreed to take two pictures with me as well. After he was done signing he thanked me for letting him use the sharpie and I thanked him with a handshake and wished him a goodnight.