'Jan the fan' might be Rolling Stones' top supporter in Newark tonight By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger
on December 13, 2012 at 7:34 PM
Jan "The Fan" Greiner and her son Bryan Greiner with their tickets and VIP passes as they along with others wait to get into the show to see the Rolling Stones outside the Prudential Center in Newark.
William Perlman/The Star-Ledger
NEWARK — There may be more die-hard Rolling Stones fans than Jan Greiner, but you'd be hard pressed to find one in Newark tonight.
Known by many as "Jan the Fan," her obsession with the gritty, blues-based British rock outfit started at age 9. Since then, the Stones have been a way of life.
She ran away from home at age 13 to try to follow them on tour. Years later, when she had a son, she named him Brian after Brian Jones, the late Stones guitarist.
For her 60th birthday, Brian bought her a ticket to tonight's show.
"I'm absolutely speechless — breathless," Greiner said. "I can remember going to the Mosque theater (Newark Symphony Hall) and taking a picture in front of the sign and doing nothing but screaming."
An avowed Beatles fan, at the age of 9 Greiner heard 'Satisfaction' and from there it was all over.
"I am not gonna lie. It was sex appeal even at that age. Brian Jones and Mick Jagger, they had it going on." she said.
When she was 13, she sneaked out to see the Stones play Ed Sullivan in New York.
"I go to the Hilton Hotel with a little suitcase packed because I think I'm going to go on tour with them," The Barringer High School graduate said."I hid in the bathroom and I got in the elevator with Mick Jagger. Then I waited in the bathroom until 4 a.m. until I could get in the elevator with Brian Jones."
Tonight, Greiner, joins about 18,000 other fans descending on Newark to catch one of the few stops in the iconic band's American tour. Greiner who now lives in Union Township, will try to be a little more reserved than her teenage self.
"You're goal was to get on stage and grab a 'Stone.' If you were a true fan you had to get on stage," she said.
"I tried to do it in Asbury Park and I got thrown out of the show."
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