I Saw Duran Duran And All You Get Is This Post (And Some Pics)

I can’t believe I’m old enough to be able to admit that I’ve loved a band for 30 years.

30 years.

I was 12(OMFG) the first time I heard Hungry Like The Wolf. I was also 12 when I begged my mom to take me up to the bookstore so that I could purchase a Tiger Beat…just so I could finally see what Duran Duran looked like. Boy, was I relieved!

1983, 9th grade. My uncle and my dad were able to get scalped tickets to the sold out Seven and The Ragged Tiger Concert Tour at Cobo Hall in Detroit. I went with my sister and my friend Lauren, the first concert I was ever allowed to go to without my parents there to embarrass me.

Through a sea of heads, smoke and waving arms, I stood on the back of my seat, balanced and transfixed. Hypnotized, I swayed precariously as my guys played all their songs whose words I had committed to memory. (And yes, I still have all their old stuff memorized.)

I watched with a dreamy smile as Simon, John, Roger, Nick and Andy commanded the stage, wishing my seats weren’t so far. And wishing even harder that I could throw myself on stage, grab onto Simon or John and beg them to take me with them. Even though I was barely 15 at that time.

Duran Duran has always been to me what Elvis was to my mom. My teenage fantasies were centered around them, my life’s memories intricately entwined in their lyrics. I was the original Mrs. John Taylor and somehow, also, Mrs. Simon Le Bon. What, it’s happens.

Imagine my surprise when they all went on to marry and it wasn’t me. Craziness.

So many Duran Duran concerts, so many t-shirts to commemorate.

This past weekend, as many of you know, I was in Chicago. Specifically to see Duran Duran play a small venue at the House of Blues. But I also got to see my friends Melisa and Lou, introduce them to my husband and share a fabulous afternoon.

When we arrived at the House of Blues, I wasn’t happy to find that it was standing room only and our tickets, that my husband paid a small fortune for from StubHub, specifically showed aisles and seat numbers. We had to push our way through crowds of middle aged men and women (and their elbows) to secure a spot tucked away in the corner of the mezzanine, next to a major heat throwing spot light.

Convinced I wasn’t going to be able to see a damn thing, I voiced my sorrow on Twitter. Moaning, crying and complaining Tweets. Here I was, all decked out and looking rather pretty (you know, just in case) and I wasn’t going to be able to view my two husbands. And, I had to deal with my (real) husbands tantrum over the fact that he felt he got majorly screwed by StubHub.

Melisa suggested I Tweet @ThisistherealJT or @SimonJCLebon to have them fix it for us. But, I figured that they were just a bit busy so I left them alone. Well, for a bit. Until I started doing the whole virtual black lace bra throwing again, which…by the way…I’m not doing anymore. It’s degrading. I’m not a stalker and I’ve started feeling like I’m doing Twitter stalking. It’s gross.

Then, the lights dimmed and there they were. And oh my GAWD, I could see them.
Even when I took my shoes off because they were killing my feet. I could still see. Clearly. I had never been so close (yet so far) away from the guys that I had loved for THIRTY YEARS. There they were, still too far away for me to throw myself onstage but, close enough to make a middle aged mom of 5 pretty darn happy.

And let me tell you something, they sounded better than ever. I remember, back in the day, Simon was guaranteed to sing off key (no offense, Simon.). But his voice has gotten better with age…not that I’m saying he’s aged, or anything of the sort (ahem).

They still make me feel the exact same way that they did 30 years ago when my room was plastered with one dimensional versions of their faces. Giddy. Excited. YOUNG.

A wonderful mix of their songs were played, both their classics (because, holy shit, they are old enough to be considered classics) and their new stuff from All You Need Is Now aka AYNIN. They rocked out. They did. They blew me away. The boys from Birmingham still have it and us middle agers still want it. G-d, it’s amazing, we were all young once. Sigh. Well, they’ve some younger fans as well. Even my 7 year old son loves Duran Duran. Wait, that might be my fault.

An awesome concert by a band that I will go to my grave still loving.

But, most importantly, a fabulous weekend spent with my husband…who had to listen to me go on and on about how much I love Duran Duran.

And here…are some pictures for you. By the way, all photos are taken from my iPhone and are mine. You may borrow them but please ask first. Thanks 🙂

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