Christmas time.On the local radio announcement that Duran Duran will play in Zagreb.Ofcourse for the third or fourth time in the past ten years such announcement through radio or newspapers.Nothing new-not truth. Two days later in local newspapers a small article:''Duran Duran might play in Zagreb on January 28-th.''

I'm going crazy…the phones are ringing,from friends in Zagreb to friends from all over the world.Nobody believes me,especially myself.In the next few days no announcements or news. I'm calling the organizer who arranges concerts in Croatia.We are talking more that 15 minutes and he is confirming their arrival.I still don't believe,especially my friends abroad since they know that January was reserved for the states.Paralel with that Duran is on the tour in UK.My friend had a chance to speak with drummer and he is confirming that Duran will play in Zagreb.Now I really believe. Friend with whome I havent heard in years and who is a true Duran fan,who oppened me the doors to Duran music and collecting along with me is dedicating his spare time to promote the band as much as possible through media,because we had a feeling that there was no interest in Zagreb for something like that.We constantly bombarded radio stations,offering our help to journalists to write the stories and biography .

The tickets went on sale two days before Christmass.My friend Karlo had the first ticket that went out. After the holidays,many fans from Italy and Austria were interested in attending the show.

On TV and local radio stations you could hear Duran songs and stories,mainly the old ones since Pop Trash was badly promoted here.Anyway-better something than nothing.I'm arranging some promotions on radio stations but that never saw the light of the day.Two days before the show I had a call from a journalist who asked me for a help.Finally!.Next day beside a Duran text my picture and article about me is also printed. Saturday 27.01.2001: 14.35-Airport.The boys are almost here arriveing with the local air company.Only fifteen fans along with many journalists came to welcome the band.We didn't mannage to be at the press conference but we were persistent and we waited..We had a big transparent and a bunch of records that we wanted to be signed..''Here they are'' was the first scream from my friend when he saw Simon coming down the stairs.I still remember that moment as it was yesterday,how we gave them big applause and follow them to the car which would take them into Hotel,My biggest mistake was to call Simon Charlie;ofcourse he replyed:''You can't call me Charlie''.We mannaged to get a few signatures.Those three minutes while we were following them to car was much more exciting to me than meeting them backstage next day because it was the first time for me and my friends to see our fave band face to face.

My friend Karlo and I mannaged to get backstage pasess.Arround the Arena real madness.There were much more people that we expected.It was arround 7000 people,but the biggest joy for me was to hear and look how people are coming to see the show and through the windows of their car b-sides and other Duran rarities were bashing.I really couldn't belive that something like that is happening in my town,and someone who I'm watching all my life on TV is here to sing.Everything was perfect-and True. In backstage Simon came in first with smile all over his face,ofcourse he run immediately towards the girls.Me and Karlo patiently waited for them to sign our cd's.The only thing that I was able to say was:''Hi Guys,I really admire your work…..,and Pop Trash is great album''… Warren was very much in the mood for talk.I gave Simon my pen to sign the cd's for the rest of backstage crew.And the end we had a group photography. Most of the fans from Italy comented the Zagreb show the best they have seen from Duran in a while.

The band started arround 21.30.Audience was warmed up by the local new group called ''The Flare''.Nick's keyboard delayed the show for a few minutes more but Elvis songs announced that the show was to begin.Fragment/Kiss Goodbye darkended the Arena and…Last day on earth.The crowd is crazy.Fantastic effects,screen and Simon voice made crowd to go even louder.Hungry like the wolf Simon is saying ''Hi ,how are you'' in Croatian.,great introduction to Planet Earth.Come undone(with special Simon storyy how we must immagine our fav. sex pose).After that a short story to great song Playing with uranium and perfect screen shots for that song.No mistakes in Simon voice or lyrics.I really wasn't expecting the crowd to be so frenetic which didn't not in one moment put their hands down. With the question:''Does anybody here remembers 80's ,cause it's a complete blure to me'' Simon announced Anyone out there which was a special desire from the organiser.Hallucinating Elvis was to me a best performance of the evening.The crowd liked it also,since they haven't heard this song.Minor mistake came thorugh A view to a kill ,so we kind of had the edited version. They came back to sing twice after the show was ower with Girls on film,Notorious and Rio.Screaming and clapping of thrilled audince didn't fade in a while but that was it. As everybody says:''Dreams do come true''.Well,mine certanly did,at least for two days I was a part of Duran mega spectacle,almost,just a little I saw their way of life and only for a second I had their attention.Nick even photographed me with his camera.All in all great experince for someone turning point in life.

NOTORIOUS
GIRLS ON FILM

RIO