"Up Close And Personal: theICON in New York"
Tuesday night, we left for New York to see Duran. It was quite a mess getting everything together for our trip. Nancy called me Friday night to tell me that Duran would be there Wednesday afternoon and I was a little worried that I wouldn't physically be able to go. I had just had surgery and was not feeling well enough to walk to my own bathroom let alone all around the Big Apple. If I had to crawl on my hands and knees and handcuff Nick to his luggage cart to get his picture, I'd do just that (this is only a joke, please do not try this!) We drove all night expecting to get a couple of hours of sleep when we arrived at Kathleen's; unfortunately, it didn't turn out this way.
We arrived at the airport just before their plane landed. We would have a wait after they had landed because of the ever-pleasant talk of going through Customs (for those who have had to go through this, you know what I am saying!). Scanning the area, we saw a few people whom we knew were there for the same purpose as we were. We stood around waiting with another fan who was there and talked - it certainly made tings go a little faster. Kathleen had talked to a friend in London that morning before we arrived and got the confirmation that Duran were on the flight and had left Heathrow in fabulous spirits. So, we were quite confident that today would be a day to remember unless the guys happened to be sitting next to "born again" teenagers who decided to sing a few rounds of "Kumbaya, My Lord". The flight landed and each of us mapped out our strategy of where to stand to get the best view without holding up the entire flight departing the one exit area. Warren walked out. Everyone sort of froze. Nick popped out and suddenly disappeared (once again proving that he is Flash Gordon - Kathleen). Simon walked out and was not approached at first. Then, John and Amanda with Atlanta came out. Things were very pleasant. Kathleen approached John and Amanda with a gift for Atlanta from Gap Kids (adorable store - Kathleen). They seemed very thankful and commented that it was from the Gap. Kathleen commented, "Of course, what did you expect? It is only the best store." Amanda was very sweet to everyone. I had never met her before and had heard so many horrible stories. I had decided to keep an open mind about her; after all, just because some fan in Nebraska had an uncomfortable meeting with her for whatever reason, does not mean that I would. Unfortunately, their limo was taking forever to come pick them up and we got the chance to stand around and talk. Simon was on one end and John and Amanda were on another end. You didn't know what to do - walking from one to the other afraid that you might miss something. John and I had our picture taken together and I was surprised when he commented on my tattoo. He was interested to find out that I had designed it myself. Amanda was very open with her discussion of Atlanta, who was asleep and oblivious to what was happening around her. I commented on how my daughter, Aubry, had grown so fast and amazingly enough was once Atlanta's size. I had noticed that Simon wasn't being mobbed so I decided to ask for a picture. He grabbed me by the waist - surprised the hell out of me - and pulled me to him and asked, "What's your name?" I said, "Jamie." He thought I said "Janie" and I said, "Jamie with an 'M'." He was rather nice, but I didn't know what to say to him.
For the next few days, we went to the hotel that all of them - minus Simon - were staying at. It was a rather cool place and they had no problem with us being there. They didn't appreciate the immature fans that were running around and trying to take pictures inside the lobby and that was apparent when security had started to bother us. Duran had flown in for a party that EMI had thrown for all their groups/singers. Thursday evening, all of Duran attended it (photos taken there were printed in the July issue of US Magazine). That evening there was a party in one of the penthouses of the hotel given by Bianca Jagger and Bob Colacello. Celebrities were running around the lobby the entire time that Duran had stayed there, most of them were attending the party. Spotted in the lobby were: Bianca Jagger, designer Calvin and Kelly Klein, designer Carolina Herrara and husband, writer Tama Janowitz, writer Fran Lebowitz, 60 Minutes and Street Stories host Ed Bradley, actor Roy Schneider ("Jaws" fame), talk show host Dick Cavatt, model Aly Dunne, musician Mick Jones from Big Audio Dynamite II, a guy from Foreigner - I think Mick Jones is his name also, the Pet Shop Boys, and from the Howard Stern television and radio broadcast, Robin Quivers (thanks to Kathleen's roving eyes for all star gazing). Friday, not much happened. Duran were going to meeting with various people. No one was sure as to when they would be leaving. Every other minute their travel plans had changed. Unfortunately, Nancy and I could not stay until Saturday. We had to leave on Friday evening because I had other obligations that I had to attend to.
Jamie and Nancy had left in the wee hours of Saturday morning and I had to drive my butt out to the end of Long Island later that morning for a stupid car inspection and ended up driving out for no reason when it could no be done. My mother knew something was up when I had told her that I could not stay. She knew it was because of Duran Duran and she also narrowed it down that I had called in sick Wednesday when I saw them at the airport (for those young viewers, I don't recommend trying that at home). Back into the lovely Rotten Apple - New York (5 hours driving round-trip on little sleep). I knew that one person was still at the hotel and would be able to hang out and talk to her for a while. Upon my arrival, everyone was out doing their own thing. About 30 minutes later, Amanda and a friend walked in with Atlanta and went up to her room. I decided to check my car outside because my cars and Duran do not mix. As I walked out to check my car, John was about to walk indoorways, Duran and I have a fabulous time together (this is about the zillionth time in only a few days that this has happened to me). Again the New York Department of Motor Vehicles struck - they love me when Duran are around; I think I have sent several children to college already! I calmly walked back into the lobby and sat my tired butt down. After a few minutes I decided to take advantage of what every Duranie needs when waiting around for hours on end: a bathroom (that is one of three things that you need to map out while waiting; the others are food and warmth in the cold weather). Upon my return to the lobby, I noticed a certain person sitting about three couches away that I was totally oblivious to when I walked in - JOHN "MR. SUAVE TAYLOR! He could have done cartwheels down the lobby and I would have not noticed (and "No, I don't need glasses!"). He was casually sitting with some friends talking. Things were really happening in slow motion. Nick still was not back from his jaunt around New York and they certainly could not leave without Nick (I am sure that they would never hear the end of that one). After waiting patiently in my car for fear of not seeing it again, Nick finally arrived from his escapades with packages in tow. I unfortunately or fortunately - however you would like to look at it - froze in my car and could not move to save my life. I was by myself and didn't want to bother him because I knew that he would be in a rush (plus, I never have anything to say to them - I can think of plenty of things that would be nice to talk about when they are not around, but put a member of Duran Duran in front of my and my mind goes blank).
The plane was leaving at 7:00 p.m. and it was almost 5:00 p.m. Fear and panic came over me. I knew that I didn't have super powers to get to the airport in a split second - I would have to drive through the worst gridlock that I have seen in a long time. HI HO HI HO - off in the Silver Bullet (my precious car - NOT!) we go (the other fan from the hotel). Finally, we arrived at the airport at about 6:00 p.m. to find no one there. Impatience was getting the best of us.had we missed them? Did they get here before us? Where the hell are they? Finally a familiar face appeared - another fan with her daughter. Waiting is always the worst part to all of this. A car appeared about 30 minutes after we had arrived. Simon, Yasmin and Amber got out (they flew in to be with Simon on a separate flight). Relief came over us. Yasmin ran in to get the tickets. Simon and Amber, who is absolutely gorgeous - she has grown so much and her hair just flows down her back - stayed back by the car with the luggage. The three of us just stood there looking at the two of them, possibly out of fear of what Simon could say if he was not in a good mood. They went to go check in after much confusion about paying the driver. We stood outside in relief that we had at least seen someone. Simon came out a few moments later after checking in and talked with us a little bit (mainly to the fan with the child). Simon had commented on how tall this child was for her age and the fan said, "She'll never catch up to Amber, though, in the hair department." Simon smiled and said, "Well, Saffron's bald." WE all laughed at poor Saffron's expense (I am sure that she is adorable.as I haven't seen her except in the Hello! Magazines from October 1991 and January 1992 and she has been in the ever-present state of slumber. Time was running short and Simon had to get on the flight. With a kiss good-bye for each of us, he started back and he said, "See you real soon." The three of us looked at each other and said, "For promotion?" As the automatic doors were starting to close, he said, "Maybe a tour." We just stood there like deer in the road seeing headlights coming at us. We couldn't believe it. Three down and four to go.
John, Nick, Amanda and Atlanta still hadn't shown up and the flight had about 15 minutes to go before it would take off. A few other fans - the bop and immature fans - showed up. I am not being mean or rude, but there are some fans out there that still don't know how to act when Duran are around (calling the wives names that I will not repeat in this fanzine.running around trying to get pictures of them in circumstances that should not be done - fortunately, Duran know how they act and try to do their best to put up with it, but it hinders the rest of us who are acting appropriately). Then some more fans showed up who we knew would be there. They had also seen the LeBon family at the airport, just before they got on the flight. The other bunch still hadn't shown up and the plane took off after waiting 15 minutes. We knew that we didn't miss them, but every other possible thing had run through each of our minds. It turned out that they had changed their flight at the last minute to the later flight. Relief. No sooner than we found that out, a nice big limo pulled up and the demi-gods got out. The other fans had gotten to them first which was unfortunate. Amanda wasn't in the greatest mood, but I don't blame her. Atlanta hadn't been feeling well for the past day and a half. John and Nick were as gracious as they could be under the circumstances. With some confusion, they checked in and went to a special waiting area. We all said our good-byes and left. We could have stayed until the flight had taken off, but it would have accomplished nothing. We saw them and didn't want to bother them anymore. It was rather nice seeing them off, but you get this feeling of abandonment when they do leave. You come down from this high that you have been on for however long you were near them. You could be tired, cold, hungry when you are waiting to see them and wishing that you were home in your bed with the covers pulled over your head, but when you are not near them (they left or you left), you want to do it all over again and worse. I may be an adult (my family would question that [I get the comment "so, when are you going to grow up and get out of Duran?]), but I would still freeze, starve and bore myself just to see them for a few moments.
Our New York experience was fabulous, and we came to the realization that half of the fun - believe it or not - in Duran-spotting was waiting around forever just for a glimpse. It makes it all the more worthwhile when you wait and wait and wait and finally they arrive. Plus, the fact that you meet so many interesting people and form a bond with the ones that you want to and see the old friends whom you haven't seen in ages.
I hope that all of the Duranies have had wonderful experiences like we have and for those who have yet to see them, don't despair. You don't have to fly to England to get a glimpse. Everyone gets their chance. The guys want to know who we are and if you act mature and calm when you see them, they will appreciate the effort that you have made to see them.
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