Colombia, Maryland, July 27, 1993
review by Elizabeth Krug
I had about fifteenth row seats in the right center section of the pavilion. Just to the right of those seats is an aisle (of course) and a wide concrete wall about five feet high separating our seats from another section of seats.
After Wild Boys, Simon disappeared from the stage, leaving the rest of they guys up there to finish the long instrumental. Suddenly my friend Christine yelled and took off towards the wall. I looked over and saw Simon running along the wall, lit up by a spotlight. We took off towards the wall, knocking down a few people in the process. No one seemed to know what was going on, maybe they were in shock, but few people were reacting. That was lucky for us since we were able to get close to Simon.
He stopped running on the wall a few rows back from us. By the time I got over there, Simon was lying on top of the crowd and was being passed around! When I got closer, I could see that he was looking quickly from side to side, almost frantically looking! He seemed to be nervous about the whole thing, buy maybe that was just me.
I managed to work my way closer to Simon. All of this was taking place on the concrete steps in the aisle, making footing treacherous. I fell several times, but never hit the ground due to the amount of people. Still working my way through the crowd, I looked up and saw that Simon's shoulders were in reach. I have been a fan for 10 years and have never met them or gotten a glimpse of them, outside seeing them in concert.
I jumped up and got a grip on his shoulder. His skin felt very sweaty and a bit cold (he was only wearing his white shorts). Then, the crowd started passing him towards my direction. I will never forget looking up, having my hands on his back, and seeing the back of his head and neck above me! people in the crowd were very mature and responsible about passing him around. I could hear people yelling to make sure that no one got hurt, and more importantly, that no one dropped Simon!
This one jerk did lift his girlfriend up and shoved her chest in Simon's face. While I am not sure of what Simon thought of this (what do you think? He loved it, no doubt Barb), I think displays like this are immature and unnecessary!
Everything was going very well, we were passing Simon around calmly, then suddenly he was gone! Security people forcibly shoved all of us away, knocking some people down on the stairs! Simon ran down the aisle on the other side of the wall. I also saw him yelling at a fan near the stage on the other side of the wall. I do not know what happened, but the fan (looked to be a young guy) was led away. Then Simon reappeared on the stage to the loud cheers of the crowd!
Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 14, 1993
review by Emilce Andrea Torres
The rain couldn't stop 50,000 fans who were at the Vilez Stadium. Duran Duran was in Argentina for the first time. After hours of expectation, the dream came true. Simon, Nick, John and Warren were on the stage playing the introductory chords of Breath After Breath with Brazilian Milton Nascimento.
I actually enjoyed the new versions of all the old hits. When Save A Prayer began to sound, the stadium turned into a sea of flames and our hearts beat as one. I have been looking for a word to express the feelings of that unforgettable night, but a single word is not enough.
They had a good time in Argentina. Nick visited a gallery where Andy Warhol was being exhibited. Also, Nick and Simon spent part of their free time being tourists in the north of our country; a one-day journey to the Iguazz waterfalls. Meanwhile, John discovered different places of Buenos Aires. Nick treated us kindly every time he was asked for an autograph or photo. John tried to do it too, though it was not easy because a group of girls got crazy each time they saw him.
Simon walked through the park with a little group of six or seven girls. He wasn't to talk with us, and I asked him a couple of questions. He was interested in a big old tree placed in the middle of the park. I would have liked to have talked with him more than I did, but I was completely shy.
They went to Uruguay and two days later during a fan meeting, John was walking quietly among us. Suddenly everybody began to run after him. It was a funny situation. They finally left Argentina the following day.
I have always believed that music makes me feel alive. Now I know that Duran Duran make it happen
MTV Unplugged, Sony Studios, New York, November 17,
1993
review by Lisa Filichia and Nancy Seman
Only deciding to go to New York two days before the taping, we still got there in ample time, but no way to get it. After a few phone calls, we managed to scramble up only one ticket. Needless to say, we were a bit worried about how everything would turn out, but decided to take our chances and both go down to the studio. We had a few ideas of how to obtain that last ticket (offer money, etc.), but Lisa ended up being offered one before having to sell her body on 42nd Street (I'm joking!).
Once we got in, people were assigned seats, whether they liked it or not. Thankfully we were told ahead of time that if you wear black, you have a very good chance of being in the front (because white looks funky on the screen). We had no sooner sat down then a stagehand came and moved us to fill in empty seats in the first tow rows. Nancy and our friends were in the second row and Lisa snagged the last front row seat (not a wise idea!) Lisa was directly on the corner and you were not allowed to cross your legs, stretch your legs or be in any comfortable position. You had to put up with the psycho cameraman from hell who enjoyed choking people with the cable attached to him.
When they are getting ready to tape an Unplugged show, they tell you the rules which are: only people behind the stage could stand or dance, no interfering with camera shots (waving hands, no tripping cameramen mugging for the camera, etc.), sing along to the songs, dance in your seats, and applaud/scream between each song. Like you wouldn't do that anyway!
Then we notice that Amanda and Atlanta (who was wearing a shirt Kathleen bought for her nine months ago) were front row. Atlanta was having a blast imitating the fans behind her, clapping and dancing along with the songs.
Duran performed Planet Earth, Hungry Like The Wolf, Ordinary World, Serious, Notorious, Skin Trade (with guest guitarist Nile Rodgers), Girls On Film, The Chauffeur, Come Undone, Rio, and Too Much Information, in that order.
I don't think anyone will forget Warrens imitation of Beavis and Butthead during the second filming of Come Undone (he made reference to the face that Come Undone was on that show). Hopefully that scene will not end up on the cutting room floor when the home video version is released!
The initial performance was brilliant, but then they had to re-shoot the first five songs due to a technical problem. Normally, this wouldn't have bothered many people, but there were those who had to go back to work. Not to mention the fact that the place was kept very cold so the dry ice would not evaporate and the studio maintained the smoky effect they desired. Can anyone say frostbite?
It was during this second performance that Lisa gained the contest prize for the next issue. Warren had kept changing guitar picks between each song and threw them towards the crowd. One pick went over Lisa's head, one over her shoulder, and another hit her chest and fell down her shirt. Luckily, from the songs they have shown on MTV, you cannot see her discreetly digging it out!
Finally, almost five hours after the taping began, Duran walked off the stage. People around us were calling their names and reaching for them to shake their hands. Lisa just tried to be inconspicuous, but Nick, as he walked by, reached down with his hand extended and Lisa shook it. To this day, she cannot remember if she even looked up at him (sorry, Nick!)!
No words can really express what an interesting thing it is to see a show being taped. All we can say is, be sure to buy it when it is released on home video!
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