Thirty Seconds To Mars fans and MTV Twitter ticket giveaway winners at the "MTV Unplugged" taping. L - R: Danielle, Erin, Felicia, Lauren, Hugo. Credit: Picture Group/ MTV
Any member of Thirty Seconds To Mars' Echelon fan family will tell you that attending a Thirty Seconds To Mars concert is nothing short of a metaphysical experience. But their "MTV Unplugged" performance, shot on a windowless New York City soundstage converted into what felt like a shipwrecked church, pitch black save for twinkling pinhole lights (later blown out by lighting that met somewhere halfway between Dark Side Of The Moon and heaven), was less a small, private taping and more a supernatural confluence shot on sacred ground. And coming from a fanbase quick to remind you that Thirty Seconds To Mars is more than just a band, no one felt the sense that something surreal was about to happen more than the lucky Thirty Seconds To Mars fans who attended the "Unplugged" performance.
Five lucky winners and their guests won MTV's Twitter ticket giveaway and, before the show, I caught up with them and found out more about their devotion and commitment to Thirty Seconds To Mars and just how far they're willing to go for the band. (One fan drove more than 1,000 miles over three days!)
+ Check out Thirty Seconds To Mars' "MTV Unplugged" fan photo gallery, and after the jump, see what these lucky winners had to say about being a member of the Echelon. Plus, watch a sneak peek of "Hurricane" from Thirty Seconds To Mars' "MTV Unplugged" performance, and don't miss the premiere of "MTV Unplugged: Thirty Seconds To Mars" Tuesday, July 19, at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.com.
Erin, 26
+ Hometown: Philadelphia
+ Traveled three-and-a-half hours to attend the "MTV Unplugged" taping.
+ Has seen Thirty Seconds To Mars two times: "This is my third. We saw them two weeks ago in Camden. It was unreal. We flew to Dallas to see them."
+ On The Echelon: "Wherever I go, the Echelon family is just as excited as we are. I can't tell you how many fans I meet and then you become friends and stay in touch because of social networking."
+ What she would tell Thirty Seconds To Mars if she met them: "Just thank you. This Is War is the one album I can play over and over. I've played it over 400 times on repeat. It doesn’t get old. You lose yourself in that album."
+ What she loves most about Thirty Seconds To Mars: "They put 110-percent thought into everything. They make sure their fans are involved. I'm so thankful for that because a lot of bands miss that fan factor, and these guys get it."
Hugo, 21
+ Hometown: Peru
+ Has been a Thirty Seconds To Mars fan for seven years.
+ How he first discovered the band: "It was the song 'Capricorn.' A friend sent me a link, and I fell in love with them. They’re my favorite band."
+ Has seen Thirty Seconds To Mars 18 times: "My first time was in Argentina in 2007. I traveled eight hours. I went with my dad because I was underage. Then I moved here and every time they toured I'd do five shows around the area. My last time seeing them was last week. I went to five shows between Camden, DC and Boston. I love them."
+ Favorite Thirty Seconds To Mars lyric: "'Capricorn,' when they tell you how to fight for your dreams.
Felicia, 21
+ Hometown: Oneonta, NY
+ Has been a Thirty Seconds To Mars fan for seven years.
+ How she first discovered the band: "I had a friend who was like you HAVE to listen. I started listening, and I fell in love and have been following them ever since."
+ Traveled four-and-a-half hours to attend the "MTV Unplugged" taping: "We did Camden and Boston shows, and that was about 20 hours of driving. In two days, 1300 miles. It was worth it."
+ Favorite Thirty Seconds To Mars song: "The Story."
+ Favorite Thirty Seconds To Mars lyric: "Revolve around yourself like an ordinary man."