The FAB Five

Once upon a time, in 1983, a Duranie was born.

I was 11 years old, and went to Catholic school, along with my best friend, Cynthia.

We lived in a small town off of Route 66, in New Mexico. 

Cyn had this older cousin in Phoenix who we both thought was seriously, "the cat's pajamas" (Is that still a saying?)

She had been in town for a visit and introduced Cyn to her new favorite band.  The album 7 and the Ragged Tiger had just come out, and was creating a frenzy amongst teenage girls everywhere.  We may have just been preteens, but, living in a boring little town, going to Catholic school, we needed something to stir us up!

I had really liked them in the past.  Rio and Hungry like the Wolf were faves of mine.  I had also recently discovered David Bowie and, well, being 11, almost 12, it was the dawn of sexual awaking, and these boys...errr, ummm, men, were going to be just the men to do it.  I don't mean actually, physically having sex with them, but, just realizing that my I was growing out of childhood and that I had certain feelings blossoming.  Yes, men in eyeliner we my first real crushes! 

That school year, 6th grade, with my only view to the outside world being my tv, my best friend and I spent many, many, many a weekend, sleep over night staying up till all hours, drinking soda and coffee to stay awake, waiting to see a Duran Duran video!  You see kids, in the 80s, we couldn't just pull up anything we wanted to see on YouTube.  So, between Mtv, (yes, they actually played videos then!!!), Night Flight and Night Tracks, we would flip from channel to channel until we heard the unmistakable sound of the beginning of a Duran Duran song.  We enjoyed the other music as well, we loved Bowie, of course, ummm... Culture Club, ABC, Thompson Twins, etc...

We suffered through Van Halen, and Twisted  Sister once in a while and fell in love with those girls, like Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, and Pat Benatar. 

When Duran Duran would finally come on, we would be GIDDY!  Screaming, sometimes even crying!  Yep, just 3 minutes of those boys on the screen was like an orgasm to these two little 11 year olds.  I remember after the premiere of Union of the Snake, and realizing then that I was going to marry Nick Rhodes, I was shaking and my heart was pounding!  These 5 boys from Birmingham, England had done something to me.  It was irreversible!

Cyn and I had to collect everything we could on this band!  We saved up babysitting money and purchased cassettes, we would buy every 16, Tiger Beat and Smash Hits magazine that came out.  We had buttons and t-shirts and stickers....

The walls of my bedroom were wallpapered with images of these 5 brits! 

Living in small town New Mexico, I never got the chance to see them live back in day.  Back in '02, they actually came to Albuquerque, and played a very small venue downtown.  An old theater called The Kimo.  My dear friend and fellow Duranie, Thea, got us tickets to the show.  I had 2 small kids at the time, and had just moved to a small town in AZ, but had planned on traveling back for the show.  Unfortunately, my kids and I ended up with one of the worst stomach flues I remember having.  There was going to be no traveling back to NM, and no Duran Duran concert.  My friend gave my ticket to her sister.  The night of that show, I cried and cried and cried.

Last year, with the release of Paper Gods, they went back on tour!  The same friend i would have seen them with in '02 said "WE HAVE TO GO"... so we did!

They played in Phoenix in late summer, so we made the trip from Albuquerque.  Finally, at 44 years old, I go to see my beloved Duran Duran!!!  Thea and I sang every word to every song, and danced and screamed and even cried, just as I thought I always would if I ever got to see them live.  It was one of the best shows of my life, and believe me, I have been to my share of concerts! 

The only disappointment was the Nick was not there.  He had been called back to England for a spell.

Fast forward to this coming weekend.  My boyfriend is taking me to Atlanta to see the boys!  He knows how much I love them, and he got us tickets! This time, I actually get to see Nick! I am super excited!

I decided to look through my storage and dig out my Duran Duran memorbilia.  Yep, I STILL have it!  i have a bin filled with folders of pictures and posters!  Why do I still have it?  Because.... DURAN DURAN!!!!

I laid it all out yesterday and took a few pics... 

It really would be my dream to be able to meet the boys!  Just a hug and a hello from one of their forever fans!

 

 

 

Thank you for viewing! 

Remember to Follow Your Bliss...

ALWAYS!!!

 

Madeline Mariposa!