By Julia Dilks
Having been a massive Duran Duran fan since I was the age of 14, I had waited for 30 years to meet one of them. Never had I met them before. I’d had near opportunities but nothing ever seem to come of it. Then John Taylor’s Pleasure Groove book tour was announced….. Now it looked like I had TWO opportunities in one week!!
I had applied to get two tickets for myself and my friend Julie for the Loose Women chat show. (At the London ITV studios) As soon as I had heard that JT was going to be the guest on the show to promote his new book, I just had to try and get some!! We just couldn’t believe it (having applied before to go on the show without success) when an email came through to say that we had gotten our free tickets!!
Julie and I were up bright and early to catch the 5:00am train from Nottingham to London in order to get to the Loose Women studios in time. We wanted to get there early just so we could get a good place in the queue and have a chance to get good seats. We were so excited chatting non stop all the way there, whilst most people were having a snooze as it was quite early. No way could we sleep – we had an exciting day ahead!!
We arrived at the studio gates after various tube trains across London and there were only a handful of people there. We had about 45 minutes to wait around before we could go in. We walked up to the queue and excitedly waited in our place. It turned out that the people in front of us didn’t have tickets so they were told to wait on one side. Suddenly we found ourselves right in the front of the queue. After about 20 minutes, a woman came out and introduced herself as head of the production team. The woman turned to me and asked me if I had a burning question to ask JT and whether I would like to ask him live on the TV show!! I couldnt believe it, this was gong to be my moment! Of course my mind went blank with nerves and just couldn’t think of one single thing to ask him. She said that she had a list of acceptable questions I could use. I just wanted to talk to him, so I agreed to ask a question off her list! (Which was: “Hi John, did you ever secretly wish that you were the lead singer of DD?”… its etched on my brain forever!) There were two other DD fans that had questions to ask him too, it was so exciting!
We were seperated from the rest of the group of people waiting and taken into the building past various studios to our allocated seats so the camera crew knew where we were sitting once it was our time for the Q&A.
The rest of the audience followed and went to there seats… the music started … the programme was now live on air!! I felt so nervous but excited through the whole of the show, waiting for my moment … thinking OMG I’m gonna be speaking to him soon! What if I can’t speak or stutter or even worse just forget my question!!!! Not forgetting it isn’t just talking to John Taylor from Duran Duran, it is live on TV too!
Finally JT was introduced onto the show, he looked really well and at home as he chatted about his new book and being in DD in the earlier days, he obviously knew Janet Street Porter( who was on the panel) from back in the day and seemed really happy to see her . He looked so relaxed and happy, he waved & winked at a couple of faces he recognised in the audience.
Anyway my nerves just soon disappeared, and were replaced with slight disappointment. (And relief too, I suppose because I could finally relax a bit) JT had enjoyed chatting so much and for so long that suddenly the music came on and it was the end of the show. They had ran out of time for us to ask our questions! After all of that rehearsing in my head and doing my poor friends head in with my nerves, I never got my chance! The panel had their photo taken with him, he said a few goodbyes, waved to us then disappeared backstage.
My disappointment didn’t last too long as I knew that the following Tuesday I would be going to Birmingham Conservatoire to JT’s Pleasure Groove book talk and signing!!!
Tuesday finally arrived and My hubby and I got the train to Birmingham (He’s not a massive DD fan but does like their music.) we were ON OUR way to the book signing!!!
We got there, found the building where it was being held (spotted it quite easily as there was a good long line of DD fans already waiting), we tagged ourselves to the end of the queue!
We waited for about 15 minutes, the the doors opened and we could go in. (I felt a bit sick as I suppose the thought of finally meeting someone you’ve wanted to meet for 30 years does possibly make you feel that way.) I suppose you want them to be just how you thought and not ruin or burst your bubble on all those years of idolising them. So, yes I was a bit nervous to say the least!!
We waited outside the main hall, after I’d just been to buy the book from a little table at the side. A lady came out and told us where the loos and bar were as we could be waiting another twenty minutes as John hadn’t arrived yet and they still had to do the sound check. We stayed in our queue whilst having a glass of lager. My hubby had mine, I just couldn’t seem to drink it… nerves again!!!
Finally we all went in and my husband and I found seats in the third row, great seats! Music was playing (of JT’s choice, we were told) whilst we waited for him to come on.
The time came.. John was introduced onstage and everyone cheered and clapped and gave him a very warm welcome. He looked really well, very happy and chatty. ( it must be quite strange not to be with the others in the band.) The talk was split into an interview with Simon Price asking JT to elaborate on what is in his book and readings by John from his book, a good combination which gave us the audience a good insight why he had chose to write the book, his influences, his life, successes and mistakes. Then a Q&A session followed with some interesting and cheeky questions for John!
Then came the big moment we were all waiting for… the signing!!!!
JT came back on stage, of course we all applauded really loud again he pulled up a chair and sat behind a desk ….we were then ushered a row at a time in a line to make our way to the stage. It soon was our row’s turn to get up and make our way towards JT. This is it, I remember thinking “I’ve got to say something to him”. The queue was going down really quick. Some people would chat a little to him if they got the chance, some just gave him the book and had it signed, then off they went feeling happy that they had just been near him. There were a lot of cameras around and some lucky ones had their photo taken of him signing their book and them standing next to him . It did seem quite rushed at points but JT had A LOT of books to sign!!
My turn was coming. I remember a girl behind me freaking out a bit saying that she thought she might have to leave the queue as she thought she was going to be sick. We had to write down our names on a Post-It and gave it to a chap that stood next to the desk. He then stuck it in the front of the book so John could just open it quickly to sign it. I had two books for him to sign, mine and my friend Julie’s. Finally this was it, I walked up to the desk, John opened my book, looked at my name, then looked up at me (It was so weird to be face to face with the person who you had posters of all over your bedroom wall all those years ago.) and he said to me “Hello Julia.” I then said very nervously ” Hi John, I have waited for 30 years to meet you.” He replied, still looking up at me and smiling, ” Well Julia, thank you so much for waiting all this time.” Then I said nervously and a bit embarrassed, “Oh, that’s ok!!!” Then we shook hands. (All I was thinking was, Wow! I shook his hand!!!). Then I mentioned (Or should I say babbled on) something about seeing him at Loose women earlier that week but my brain had gone at that point and I just cannot remember his reply. What I can remember was that seeing him close up face to face he is still as cool & good looking as always and just what I had expected. He signed my books, handed them back to me and off I went. I was NOT disappointed! What an amazing and interesting evening. I left a very happy lady and went off to get my train back to Nottingham. I will remember that evening forever!
Julia Dilks is 44 and lives in Nottingham, England. She has been a massive Duran Duran fan since the age of 14. She has her own part-time Jewellery business and also works for clothing company White Stuff . She is happily married and has two fur babies(gorgeous rescued Greyhounds). Loves music, going to see live bands, jewellery & fashion.
Thank-you for your post Julie! So happy to hear from all you lucky fans who have a chance to see him for the book tour. Unfortunately Canada and the US are so massively huge, that he won't be anywhere near me..( . 3 hr flight/ 14 he drive!!!) so great to hear from the fans perspective. Do you remember any of the music that he chose during the book signing? (I can completely understand if it was a blur) . Enjoy your book!
Geat story!!! I too am a 30 yr fan!!! Know the feeling of being a ball of nerves….I was surprised in April 2011 when I got to meet them before a show!! I could barely speak! All I kept thinking was “The posters on my bedroom wall are moving & blinking” it was surreal! I did introduce myself & tell them it was so nice to meet them. Didn't have anything for them to sign, but I did get a GREAT photo with all of them! Keepin fingers crossed JT comes my way for a book signing!! Glad you got to meet him!!!!