Up Close and Personal (with Duran)
London
July 1-9, 1998 by rieSTAVIS
I arrived in London on Wednesday July 1st much later than expected due to an overbooked flight and a strike at the airport. I wasn't sure if Duran were working or not (and if so at what time) because I knew they just had a break. On my arrival day I did go to the studio to see if anything was going on, but since I got there quite late nobody seemed to be around (as I expected). I just decided to come back the following day.
On Thursday the 2nd I went to Warren's about 1pm (last time I was in London Nick and Simon would normally turn up at about 2pm) just to find out that Simon was already there (his bike was parked outside). Nick always arrives by cab so I didn't know if he was there already as well. I decided to wait! A bit later Nick came walking down the street - he had been shopping apparently. He was nice but seemed to be in a hurry. Then another fan turned up and we decided to wait for Simon to come out. He did at about 5.30pm but on his way he got his thumb caught in the door so he wasn't too pleased. He was nice though and apologized for not taking his helmet off, but he said his finger hurt too much to open the strap. I did get him to sign a photo for my friend Laurie (Charley's Angel) and he said that he would be there tomorrow around noon.
Friday I arrived at Warren's at 11.30am and thought I had plenty of time since Duran rarely shows up on time (I know from past experiences). So I had just started to eat a sandwich when Simon turned the corner. He waved at me, and I had a hard time swallowing the food before he had parked his bike. I was a little nervous since this was the first time I ever met Simon with nobody else around. He was really nice and seemed to have all the time in the world. He started to tell me about a party he went to the previous night, how drunk he had been and have much he threw up in the morning (fortunately he spared me the details). I told him that he didn't look like he had a hangover (he looked gorgeous) and he said "I'm good at that - I never do". Then he started talking about the World Cup (and he jumped over and hugged me for no particular reason), and we talked about football for a little while. He said that Denmark had no chance against Brazil (they were playing Friday evening). I said "you never know - we have two Laudrups, they only have one Ronaldo". Simon replied: "Oh yeah - Michael, he's my hero" (Michael Laudrup). I asked him about the movie he was gonna be in and he told me a bit about that. He then allowed me to take a few photos. On his way in we shook hands and he asked me if we had met before. Ten minutes later Simon came out again looking like he was gonna leave. I said: "That was a quick session" and he said that he would come back later but he had a "picnic thing" with his daughter he had to go to. He then said "Bye, Rie - see you later" and off he was.
Then Nick turned up - he was nice but in a hurry again. He did stop for a photo (he looks good with his new red hair colour). Then Warren left to go some place. Meanwhile another (Simon) fan turned up (different from the one the day before) and we waited for Simon to come back, which he did about an hour later.
He got off his motorbike and he just started staring at me - I was like what? What's going on? He then came over (without a word) to me and lifted up my shirt a little bit and said: "I thought I saw that - you have your bellybutton pierced!" He then asked if it was new and if it hurt when I had it made. I told him no and asked if he liked it. He said: "Oh yeah - it's sexy it's very sexy!" I totally blushed when he said that to me. We then asked him for photos. I got a real nice one where he hugs me (thanx Anna for taking it). He actually opened his jacket so I could better get my arm around his waist :) Then he went in. Anna left but I decided to wait around because Simon said he would be leaving early to watch the quarter final in the afternoon. Time passed - Warren came back, Nick went shopping. Nick came back with two cans of ginger beer on top of each other in one hand and a bag in the other. I said "Oh, nice balance" and he replied "these are for Simon!" (strange reply - maybe he gathered I'm a Simon fan?).
Simon left at 3.15pm (15 minutes before the match). I didn't stop him since I already talked to him twice that day. I just asked him if he would be there Monday (he said no) and wished him a nice weekend (he said "you too").
Saturday I met up with most of the regulars from the Plastic Girl chat - that was a lot of fun though I ended up being rather drunk.
Sunday we knew that Simon was going to the filming of "Hunting Venus", so we (me and some other fans) went since they still needed extras. That turned out to be a flop - just a lot of waiting around and being in a few shots running towards a limo. One of the casting crew members told us that we might see Simon from a distance but we couldn't meet him, so we didn't bother to wait around for that!
Monday I didn't go to the studio: 1) it was raining, 2) Simon was not gonna be there and 3) it was a friend's birthday so I spent the day with her and another friend.
Tuesday I was meeting up at the studio with a couple of guys from the PG party. We met Nick who signed a copy of PG for us. He said Simon was still doing the movie but he probably would be there tomorrow. We then left and went to the pub for a pint or seven.
Wednesday I met up with Martin again (one of the guys from the day before). Nick told us a bit about the album. He said it was almost finished apart from the drums and the lyrics (surprise!!!) and that the sound was very different from the last one (he didn't say in what way). Then Martin asked if they had a working title for it and Nick replied: "Not really! We thought about 'Playing with Uranium' but I don't think Simon is too keen on that one!"
A bit later a bald man came walking towards us. As he came closer I could see it was Warren. He seemed to be in a good mood and I asked him what happened to his hair. He said that he was watching the match between Denmark and Brazil and when Denmark got the early goal he swore he would shave his hair off if Brazil was going to win. He showed us that he just went to buy a Brazilian yellow jersey to wear for the final - I never knew Warren was into football - only thought it was Simon. Warren then signed PG. I asked if Simon was gonna come but apparently he was still doing the movie.
I originally planned to go to Scotland on Thursday but since Simon hadn't been around all week I decided to stay till Friday.
Thursday (the 9th) I went to Warren's at 11.30 am just to see Simon leave - "see you in a quarter" he said and waved at me. 10 minutes later he came back. I was about to tell him that he forgot to button his pants and ask him about the movie when I could see something was wrong. He took his helmet off and just came over and hugged me really tight. His hands were shaking and he looked like he just saw a ghost. He told me that a car pulled out right in front of his bike so he almost crashed. I didn't know what to say because he was so upset. So I just said "are you alright?" and he said "no actually I'm not - I got really scared, I'm afraid of crashing you know." Then he seemed to calm down and I asked him to sign my agenda because my birthday was coming up (on the 14th). He started to write and stopped and asked: "Do you spell your name with an e or an a?" I totally didn't expect him to remember my name which I told him a week earlier :) To English people I pronounce my name "Ria" because English speakers can't pronounce it right and "Ria" is closer to the right way than "Rie" - so it surprised my even more that he was wondering if it might be spelt with an e. Anyway he wrote: "To Rie - Happy birthday gorgeous, [heart] Simon". I would have like him to sign the PG as well but it seemed inappropriate him being upset and everything so I didn't ask, even though he said he was feeling better as he went in.
Another fan turned up and we waited together. We thought that they might leave early since they got there early - but they didn't! Nothing much happened except at one point the door flew open and Nick came running out the door laughing his head off, running into the street trying to grab a cab, then he ran back inside. Warren was staying at the door laughing just as much - I wonder what was so funny? Simon came out at 6.45 pm saying "I know you're gonna get angry with me if I don't take my helmet off" so he did and gave it to me for some reason - apparently he just wanted me to carry it (his cologne smells really good - it stuck to my fingers after carrying the helmet). I asked him how the album was coming along and he said "good, we just had a long boring day talking to our management and record companies." (He told me this on the 9th of July, so I was really surprised when I read that DD had split from Left Bank????) I asked if they had a record deal and he said that they were trying to figure out if they should sign to a big label or just release it on an independent one. Then he asked "What do you think we should do?" (There you go they do care about fans opinions, a shame I didn't really have one). I got a quick photo though Si complained about his hair (saying he needed a haircut so he didn't end up looking like someone from Oasis). I told him that I was going to Scotland the next day. He asked for how long and said "I hope you'll have a nice time" - then he left! God, I love this man - he was sooooo nice to me :) I hope to meet him some other time! I was planning to go back to London for a few days at the end of my trip but unfortunately DD weren't working because Warren was in Brazil - I shouldn't be complaining though, I think I got my fair share!
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