On to Scotland!

Toasting our last night in dear Birmingham… some tears, lots of feels, and overwhelming happiness at the memories we’ve made.

Waiting for the sound…

A tribal meeting on hallowed ground. Pilgrimage to the Rum Runner…

Next stop: Birrrminnnghammm!!

Until next time, London. Take care of my beloved friends…

Of course, how could I not nurture dreams of bringing my Archive to this level someday! But little can compete with such treasures from a vast spectrum of history. So grateful for this first foray into such a hallowed institution.

We merely scratched the surface of what resides within those ornate walls… ivory carvings, meticulously etched metals, vintage cameras, silver and gold masterpiece collections... the sheer scope and caliber of the artifacts is staggering.

The V&A Museum. What an invaluable resource for the world…

Every moment felt inscribed with a communal affection for the band, and our anticipation of Duran’s upcoming shows. Thank you to everyone who was able to make it over, and those who wanted to but life interfered - always relatable!

I also met Mike Brooks, a brilliant bassist, writer for several popular bass mags, and the architect behind the YouTube channel, Brooksy’s Bass Corner. He kept us captivated with deep analysis of JT’s style, his love for DD, and cool insights into the music realm!

Today’s gathering at BrewDog in Paddington was a wonderful affair, bursting with delightful connections and enthusiastic conversation! I reveled in meeting Duranies I’ve known for years: Karen Walker, Julie Keeble, Carol Saint Martin, Meredith Floate… all absolute gems.

Couldn’t resist leaving my mark on London, as the city is leaving such an imprint on me.

The union of the greats is on the cliiimb… (surviving the Tower Bridge ascent!)

Mike held us transfixed with production tales, band insights, and a peek at his journal from those iconic ‘84 sessions! It was pure archival bliss.

Before I retire for the night, I wanted to share one more highlight from the day - an electrifying meeting with Mike Owen - the photographer who captured DD throughout the filming of Arena and shot the images from the Arena album (cover and interior booklet). Brilliant stuff.

Evening falls on a spectacular scene…

London’s rich history, colorful personality, and natural elegance could be found everywhere. I loved getting overwhelmed by it all.

Karl took us to Camden Market and the myriad shops that create such a unique experience - so wish we had time to explore it all! Then there was the London Bridge, the Eye, stunning architecture around every corner… it was a small, wonderful sampler of the city’s beauty.