A few years ago, Noah Michelson officiated his best friend Sarah's wedding. When asked how they met, the answer was unexpected: because of Tori Amos. Over two decades ago, Michelson and seven other friends at the wedding were brought together by their love for the piano rock virtuoso, forming friendships that outlast most marriages. They are not alone; hundreds have met their most important people through Tori Amos.
Discovering Tori Amos at a Dark Time
Michelson discovered Tori in 1992 at age 13, during what he calls the first of the worst years of his life. Closeted and struggling with his queerness, he felt punished by those around him. One afternoon, he saw the video for "Crucify" from Little Earthquakes on MTV. Tori, a piano prodigy who started playing at 2.5 years old, sang about setting herself free from scrutiny and damnation. Her songs spoke to him in a language he understood, giving him hope that he wasn't worthless or worthy of death.
Building Community Online
After his family got an AOL account, Michelson found a Tori Amos message board where he met others who found meaning in her music. He made friends in cities and countries he'd never known, realizing the world was bigger and more full of possibilities than he'd believed. His parents gave him a ticket to his first Tori show as a high school graduation gift, where he experienced a performance like no other. He has since seen her over 100 times.
The Power of Meet-and-Greets
Tori Amos holds free meet-and-greets before and after shows, offering profound connection. Fans like Erin Russell, met on the message board 25 years ago, ran away from home to see Tori's 1996 Boulder shows, where Tori played "She's Leaving Home" for her. Russell said she never had real friends until her Tori friends. Marco Nieves moved to New York from Puerto Rico at 19 because of Tori, and a fan named Carole gave him a place to stay; she is now his best friend.
Support Through Trauma
In 1994, Tori became the first spokesperson for RAINN, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the U.S. Shannon Lambert, a fan, met Tori backstage after filming a segment on Tori's impact on survivors. Tori kicked out TV cameras and talked with them about their experiences. Lambert said, "It was incredibly meaningful to have this person I admired so much share so much of herself with such openness and vulnerability."
From Fan to Friend
Michelson began working in media in 2007 and eventually became friends with Tori, even working on her latest album, In Times Of Dragons. He told her how much she had done for him and others. She replied, "You saved your life." He acknowledges he is the one who survived, but credits her music with giving him hope.
In April 2023, Michelson and Nieves traveled to London to see Tori play. A teenage boy brought his dad to the show, singing along and taking photos. Michelson hopes that young fans continue to discover Tori and feel their lives seen and saved, just as they did.
