Co-Editor’s log, Sam Houston Hotel, Houston Texas, Sunday 15 Aug, 200

Arriving at the hotel for the exclusive listening party hosted by a local radio station, 104 KRBE, and Duran Duran’s record label, I entered with the small group of other winners and friends. As we squeezed into the small entry way of the posh hotel, I spotted a poster-sized copy of the new single, Sunrise. Across the hall stood another poster photo of the band members casually sitting on a sofa. They looked terrific. Of course, I already knew that from past meetings.

After I signed in as a radio station winner, I drifted toward the bar and away from the crush of other guests. The small intimate affair was a bit larger than what I had expected. Not that I truly thought it would be Duran Duran and the thirty-something winners alone, but there were more people than I had anticipated.

At exactly eight-thirty pm, I strolled back to the tiny lobby to see a large group gathered by the roped barrier, flash bulbs popping and a hum of excitement. The band was prompt. First amazement of the night. The radio station had said the guys would come down, go straight to the media room for photos in groups of eight, then return to the lobby to mingle, take photos and sign autographs. Hanging back, blocking some of the crowd trying to get past me to swarm the guys, I did my best to help with the schedule. However, after a few minutes, I realized the schedule was doomed. The guys were signing and posing first.

So into the trenches I went, heading for Roger first, only to find his crowd five deep. I turned toward Andy who was taking a shrimp cocktail shooter from a passing waiter. He had the smallest crowd around him, so I handed him my two things to sign (one for me and one for the fanzine).

From Andy, I sauntered up to Roger. As I handed my camera to a friend, he slipped his arm around me (too bad there was so much chaos over how to work my camera – I barely registered his arm around my back), then we posed for a photo. He commented on the photo of him and I in November 04, saying it was a great photo of us both. When I asked about the fanzine, and if he’d seen it, he commented that he didn’t think the last issue’s cover photo of himself was very good.

So of course Christy was only too happy to shoot some more future cover photos of Roger for the fanzine...

Christy & Nick in Houston