By Nat
I spotted the Amazon package on my door step and thought, “Uh oh. What did I order this time?”
To my great delight, that brown box encased Denis O’Regan’s Careless Memories book. I
casually ordered it this past summer, thinking it would make a lovely birthday gift to myself. I
was right. I will attend the Hollywood Bowl, Vegas Halloween and Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
concerts vicariously through the band’s and fellow fans’ social media accounts. This book’s
publication timing falls nicely around these events.
Careless Memories is an apt title. It recaptures the nostalgia of the 1984 tour and Seven and the
Ragged Tiger album. Flipping through the photography pages felt like a brief embrace of an old
friend. My inner ten year old self squealed to see old photographs again. I had seen most of them
before in long lost teen magazines and my almost memorized viewings of the Sing Blue Silver
documentary. On heavy snowfall days, I still murmur “I’m looking out of the window and it’s
snowing” ala Nick before cackling at the thought. There were a few photos that I hadn’t seen
before (Whose bare feet?) with many of them being photographs of fans. I surmise that these
photos were taken and published in other countries, outside of the United States.
My current, almost f*fty year old self appreciated having these photographs in one edition. It’s
well designed. It could serve as a coffee table book; it’s much sturdier than the blue and white
Sing Blue Silver book in my basement Duran-chive. The price point is more economical than
Mr. O’Regan’s earlier publications. I wanted one of those but my budget wasn’t budging and the
opportunity passed. Nor was I able to attend one of the “pop up” exhibitions in the U.K. I
wonder if he and the band would consider staging another exhibition in Los Angeles to coincide
with the RRHOF Induction show. Owing this item will suffice for me right now.
I don’t want to share too many details. I hope the various fan groups on social media will allow
people to comment on her/his favorite moments in the book. It does have black and white and
color photographs. There is the white, black and red theme that the band seems to favor in
merchandise. There are interesting introductions, captions and quotes. It’s fascinating to read the
band members’ 1984 thoughts and compare them to more recent interviews.
And yes, it is nice to see Andy again. He is prominently featured in the photographs as is his due,
as an original band member. At a fan brunch, I was able to discuss his legacy to the band’s
catalog. I felt his musical presence during the set list of this brief US tour. John’s cut
cheekbones, Simon’s eyes, Roger’s bent leg, and Nick’s eyeliner make appearances alongside
cigarettes, sunglasses, leather pants and laughing faces. I highly recommend purchasing this
book as we wait for upcoming concerts this and next year.
