Saturday 26 March 2016
Wednesday 30 May 2012
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Friday 27 April 2012
My Close Encounter with Japan At The Bell
Well how it all started with me was at the age of 13 I got a crush on David Sylvian in the year 1986. I was a die hard fan of Duran Duran and madly in Love with Simon Lebon beforehand. I went out and got every album Japan produced from their last album together Tin Drum to Adolescent Sex to Obscure Alternatives. I had David Sylvian's posters out of Smash Hits straight on my bedroom walls. till you couldnt see any wallpaper left as I thought his face was so much prettier. Well oneday I started to notice how much his eyes reminded me of someone I saw in the past. And then with the help of playing Obscure Alternatives in the background I started remembering where have I heard that song before? I then started seeing in my mind this big hall with massive speakers outside. Yes it was The Bell pub in London Colney Hertfordshire (Now sadly a Mcdonalds).
I then started remembering a guy with long blonde hair maybe styled a bit like Rod Stewart but more feminite. All the memories came flooding back. One memory after the other till this one stuck in my mind more the the rest. It was a lovely hot summers day in the year 1977 and me and my cousins were playing on the swings and slides and we noticed the band were having a break from rehearsing we slipped into the courtyard behind the studio and we noticed the door was slightly open and we saw no one was inside. This gave us the oppertunity to sneak in. We started playing on their guitars and my little cousin Anthony starting playing on the drum kit and he broke the drum pedal. We ran out back to the beer garden and said nothing to our parents. Only a matter of time Rob Dean their guitarist came over to us to tell our parents the news. He was furious. I seem to remember he was crying. I also remember we were called round to the studio to be shown what damage had been done. I remember I got the blame and there was a scene and I remember David Sylvian had enough of this and screamed at me "Get out! Just like you can hear he scream the same way on Obscure Alternatives. I was so embarressed by these memories of seeing him like this and heartbroken. I remembered they said they did have an important gig that evening and without Steves Drum kit how could they of carried on. Another memory sticks in my mind is the one where there was an Aug bank holiday Monday evening and there they were again in the beer garden and I saw them throwing beer at eatchother having a laugh till dusk. Most members of the band were leaving and it was only David Sylvian and their keyboard player sitting there. My mum went off somewhere and it was only me and my sister and we went over to the swings but then I noticed David and Richard cuddling up to one another.David must of had a problem that upset him about something but at that age I was 5 and to me I didnt understand why two men would cuddle up. Richard went off somewhere aswell so David was on his own. I went up to him and I asked him why he was cuddling a man. he would not give me an answer but instead asked "Who are you? I said my name and for a while chatted more then his mood totally changed. He bacame irritated but at the age of 5 didnt undersand. There was no sight of my mum so I guessed she was in the volkswagon seeing to my brother who was 1 years of age at the time. Later the rest of the band joined us and I have a clear memory of Steve Jansen and Richard in my mind now. I even remember the smell of cologne he was wearing and said whats that nice smell. I also remember I had a small plastic hair brush it was green those kind you found in the old christmas crackers, I started trying to brush Davids hair with it but he pushed my hand away. My sister started saying to them "Shes mad and they laughed along with her.
After a while We moved seats to the upper part of the garden and my parents finally joined us. My dad seemed to have a good conversation with David about cars and religion. David had his own beliefs and I remember there was slight disagreements on the subject. Now this proved to me it was Japan who rehearsed at this pub. I remember David got out these two vinyl LPs to show me. I remembered how much his face looked white and said he looked like a ghost as kids do. He then got out this very white powder and put it on my face. I noticed the album was called Adolescent Sex and asked him what sex meant now this must of been very awkward for David to explain to a 5 year old what sex meant. I laugh at this today. I remembered my mum laughing at me and not knowing what to say. I demnaded her to tell me. The evening ended up with me and David arguing and I threw mud at him for calling me a thicko.
Now the last memory of seeing Japan at the Bell was when there was a battle of the bands kind of thing going on and Im sure I remember seeing Steve Strange of Vsage standing at the entrance of the beer garden with a pay box for something. My dad asked what was happening and he explained what it was. We decided to stay and I remember a massive big white stage being set up a camera crew and lots of men with weird make up and frilly shirts. But it was only a matter of time till I saw Japan arrive. I saw Richard and Davids hair much shorter and smarter. David saw it was me sitting in the corner and wasnt too pleased but my dad as usual went up and had a chat and out of politness said hello to me but after a while I remember David said he couldnt cope with me. My behaviar drove him mad. I think in those days hyperactivity wasnt discovered but I feel thats what it was. Then all of a sudden I saw fans screaming at David and a metal bar being brought across. I thought why are they screaming at him. are they mad. I hadnt realised Japan were that famous. Thing were getting moving and I saw this big white tent being put up and Japan were having photgraphs taken and being sick with nerves. The more I remembered everything I started remembering Someone elses face which was familiar and it was John Taylor of Duran Duran. He had red burgandy hair and was stoned out of his head. This was after the bands played they were chilling out in this white tent. Somehow we were zippped up together in this close little compartment. I screamed and got out somehow. It was getting late and me and my sister were sitting in there with both bands. She was sitting with David Sylvian and I was sitting chatting away to what looked like Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes. I was pointing fingers at David And saying he was mad and Roger laughed. Then in came this other man with mousy brown hair and a massive red shirt on. it was Simon Lebon. He seemed to be the type of guy who could get on with children but David seemed a bit awkward towards me and wanted to talk to me about lots of subjects including Astrolagy. He then got out a map of the worldvery similur to the one you see in their video for Union of The Snake and started telling me something was going to happen to me when I was 13.Could this of been a connection to the crush I got on David Sylvian when I was 13?
I remember going away that night thinking out what he said. I told my school teacher the next day about what he said. i felt slightly afriad. We went back to this pub times again but Japan was to never of returned there again. Japan must of made it! With all these memories I was frustrated like hell and I wanted to go there again just to see the place and I went into the gents for a laugh and to my surprise I saw scrapings on the door with what looks like David and the band had wrote things. I also asked the pub manager if he remebered them and he said "Yes of course I remember them he said David used to make funny noises. Now at this point I though hey I used to have an imagenary friend who made noises. But as we never had the internet in those days it was so much harder to try and contact people. I so wanted to try and make contact with David but I thought He might not want the past being thrwon up in his face again as in interviews he has said he prefurs the past be burried. Now if there is any other japan fans out there that remembers meeting Japan at this pub please get bacvk to me Id love to hear you story.
I also want to apligise to Steve Jansen for the trouble we caused in breaking your drum.
I then started remembering a guy with long blonde hair maybe styled a bit like Rod Stewart but more feminite. All the memories came flooding back. One memory after the other till this one stuck in my mind more the the rest. It was a lovely hot summers day in the year 1977 and me and my cousins were playing on the swings and slides and we noticed the band were having a break from rehearsing we slipped into the courtyard behind the studio and we noticed the door was slightly open and we saw no one was inside. This gave us the oppertunity to sneak in. We started playing on their guitars and my little cousin Anthony starting playing on the drum kit and he broke the drum pedal. We ran out back to the beer garden and said nothing to our parents. Only a matter of time Rob Dean their guitarist came over to us to tell our parents the news. He was furious. I seem to remember he was crying. I also remember we were called round to the studio to be shown what damage had been done. I remember I got the blame and there was a scene and I remember David Sylvian had enough of this and screamed at me "Get out! Just like you can hear he scream the same way on Obscure Alternatives. I was so embarressed by these memories of seeing him like this and heartbroken. I remembered they said they did have an important gig that evening and without Steves Drum kit how could they of carried on. Another memory sticks in my mind is the one where there was an Aug bank holiday Monday evening and there they were again in the beer garden and I saw them throwing beer at eatchother having a laugh till dusk. Most members of the band were leaving and it was only David Sylvian and their keyboard player sitting there. My mum went off somewhere and it was only me and my sister and we went over to the swings but then I noticed David and Richard cuddling up to one another.David must of had a problem that upset him about something but at that age I was 5 and to me I didnt understand why two men would cuddle up. Richard went off somewhere aswell so David was on his own. I went up to him and I asked him why he was cuddling a man. he would not give me an answer but instead asked "Who are you? I said my name and for a while chatted more then his mood totally changed. He bacame irritated but at the age of 5 didnt undersand. There was no sight of my mum so I guessed she was in the volkswagon seeing to my brother who was 1 years of age at the time. Later the rest of the band joined us and I have a clear memory of Steve Jansen and Richard in my mind now. I even remember the smell of cologne he was wearing and said whats that nice smell. I also remember I had a small plastic hair brush it was green those kind you found in the old christmas crackers, I started trying to brush Davids hair with it but he pushed my hand away. My sister started saying to them "Shes mad and they laughed along with her.
After a while We moved seats to the upper part of the garden and my parents finally joined us. My dad seemed to have a good conversation with David about cars and religion. David had his own beliefs and I remember there was slight disagreements on the subject. Now this proved to me it was Japan who rehearsed at this pub. I remember David got out these two vinyl LPs to show me. I remembered how much his face looked white and said he looked like a ghost as kids do. He then got out this very white powder and put it on my face. I noticed the album was called Adolescent Sex and asked him what sex meant now this must of been very awkward for David to explain to a 5 year old what sex meant. I laugh at this today. I remembered my mum laughing at me and not knowing what to say. I demnaded her to tell me. The evening ended up with me and David arguing and I threw mud at him for calling me a thicko.
Now the last memory of seeing Japan at the Bell was when there was a battle of the bands kind of thing going on and Im sure I remember seeing Steve Strange of Vsage standing at the entrance of the beer garden with a pay box for something. My dad asked what was happening and he explained what it was. We decided to stay and I remember a massive big white stage being set up a camera crew and lots of men with weird make up and frilly shirts. But it was only a matter of time till I saw Japan arrive. I saw Richard and Davids hair much shorter and smarter. David saw it was me sitting in the corner and wasnt too pleased but my dad as usual went up and had a chat and out of politness said hello to me but after a while I remember David said he couldnt cope with me. My behaviar drove him mad. I think in those days hyperactivity wasnt discovered but I feel thats what it was. Then all of a sudden I saw fans screaming at David and a metal bar being brought across. I thought why are they screaming at him. are they mad. I hadnt realised Japan were that famous. Thing were getting moving and I saw this big white tent being put up and Japan were having photgraphs taken and being sick with nerves. The more I remembered everything I started remembering Someone elses face which was familiar and it was John Taylor of Duran Duran. He had red burgandy hair and was stoned out of his head. This was after the bands played they were chilling out in this white tent. Somehow we were zippped up together in this close little compartment. I screamed and got out somehow. It was getting late and me and my sister were sitting in there with both bands. She was sitting with David Sylvian and I was sitting chatting away to what looked like Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes. I was pointing fingers at David And saying he was mad and Roger laughed. Then in came this other man with mousy brown hair and a massive red shirt on. it was Simon Lebon. He seemed to be the type of guy who could get on with children but David seemed a bit awkward towards me and wanted to talk to me about lots of subjects including Astrolagy. He then got out a map of the worldvery similur to the one you see in their video for Union of The Snake and started telling me something was going to happen to me when I was 13.Could this of been a connection to the crush I got on David Sylvian when I was 13?
I remember going away that night thinking out what he said. I told my school teacher the next day about what he said. i felt slightly afriad. We went back to this pub times again but Japan was to never of returned there again. Japan must of made it! With all these memories I was frustrated like hell and I wanted to go there again just to see the place and I went into the gents for a laugh and to my surprise I saw scrapings on the door with what looks like David and the band had wrote things. I also asked the pub manager if he remebered them and he said "Yes of course I remember them he said David used to make funny noises. Now at this point I though hey I used to have an imagenary friend who made noises. But as we never had the internet in those days it was so much harder to try and contact people. I so wanted to try and make contact with David but I thought He might not want the past being thrwon up in his face again as in interviews he has said he prefurs the past be burried. Now if there is any other japan fans out there that remembers meeting Japan at this pub please get bacvk to me Id love to hear you story.
I also want to apligise to Steve Jansen for the trouble we caused in breaking your drum.
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