The amazing story behind this photo was taken in Argentina while John was on tour with The Mars Volta in South America in 2004.
The Mars Volta and John were outside waiting for their van when, out of the blue, my niece came to me and said, “I know what to say to John.” I asked her what, and she replied, “I love your music very much.” Up until that moment, she hadn’t spoken to him because she was very shy. I told her it was okay, but honestly, I didn’t believe she would actually do it — thank God I was wrong.
She walked up to him and said, “John?” He turned around, and when he saw her, he bent down just like in the picture. She said, “I love your music very much,” and John started to reply, but she couldn’t understand him — she didn’t speak English at the time and only knew those few words. I explained the situation to him, and then he did the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
He gently took her by the arm and, using words and gestures, said: “You” (pointing at her), “made me” (pointing at himself), “happy” (drawing a smile on his lips with his fingers).
