Happy January 2015! Hope all on the ‘band fanwagon’ are doing quite well! Fun seeing everyone online and hanging out in Twitterville. Thought we’d start this year off by taking a look at ‘Fan Travel.’ We have a lot of travel themes in our fan circle. There’s the loyal team of shipmates on the fan ship, the SS DelaQ led by Captain Julian Orzabal. There’s the travel fan team, Curt’s Kerfuffle of Kooks that travel to hang out at shows in L.A., it all overlaps, intertwines and most important, celebrates all things Tears for Fears! We have had an extraordinary time, so much so that the idea of not going the extra mile to be a part of the superfan shenanigans is just unheard of. From taking multiple planes just to get to one show, to crisscrossing the country in less than 24 hours to try to get to each one, we’re known to clock some pretty outstanding mileage…neighbours, family, husbands, friends and sometimes pets in tow…and cupcakes, we always have cupcakes! You can thank Lady K for that.

Sometimes tragedy hits… we either get stuck in some city, or encounter medical issues i.e. several times a passenger has had a heartattack on the plane we’re on thus resulting in an emergency landing. The worst cases have been death defying transporation issues that made us wonder if that day was one of our ‘Last Days on Earth.’ We each have had some horrid tales of trying to get to shows and something just went all wrong…but somehow, by ‘The Grace’ we made it! I, too, have showed up at a concert (a different English crew) after a car accident, one where I ended up losing the whole car. But that’s an account for another time and place as I digress… Let’s read about Alice E’s hair raising tale of barely making it …and when she did she had the time of her life!

Here’s her story…
My daughter and I started out in the morning for a 10 hour round trip to Oakland for our 1st Tears for Fears concert! We had bought what was equal to three times the tickets to make sure we would get up front (not something in our budget). Less than half way there, we were in an accident. The car was totaled, my daughter got a concussion, and I fractured a vertebra. We called a good friend (who, BTW, isn’t a fan and is an overly critical musician) and he really enjoyed the concert, very much…….Yes, we made it!

We stood for, what seemed like a long time, at the edge of the stage. Then Lorde’s version of Everybody Wants To Rule The World started playing in the dark, so perfect. Then the lights went up. Curt entered from the other side of the stage. I waved. He waved back. Then I turned and looked up to see Roland standing at his microphone, right in front of us. Was this really happening or I did I die in the accident and go to Heaven?!

It was a whirlwind of music and joy. I could feel the warm stage lights engulfing me. Yes, we danced, injuries and all! Roland and I communicated with lip reading and sign language! What joy and laughter. One time I looked up and he was sticking out his tongue and waving his arms about. As I followed his gaze, I saw my daughter sticking her tongue out and waving her arms about. I think I’m glad we got to see one of these non album-release concerts. It was like a party with old friends and familiar songs. We even made some new friends. It was a beautiful venue. Wow, have times changed since I last went to any concerts, the sound was great!

I usually don’t pick a favorite song, because it always depends on my mood. Recently, I played The Prisoner about 15-20 times in a row, very loudly. Everybody Wants To Rule The World is my most danced to song and fits a lot of moods, but after this concert I’d have to say it is my favorite. From the 1st note Roland played, I began to blubber like a teenager in those old black and white clips of the Beatles arriving in the USA for the 1st time. When the song was over, Curt commented that we had some therapy going on here. Probably. It was overwhelming tears of joy. Tears for Joy! I was thinking at the time: WOW, that’s the guy that sings my favorite song on my TV all the time.

I am not good with good-byes, this was the hardest. When they began to play Shout, I didn’t know what to do. I ended up blanking out mentally. When I became conscious again, Roland was gone and Curt was about to exit the wings. I was thinking, I didn’t get to say good-bye. Then suddenly Curt turned around, walked almost all the way across the stage, knelt down with his hands together. Looked at me and said “Bye, Mama”, then backed away. I threw him kisses & waved good-bye.

NOTE: I’ve been a fan since 1985 (my favorite band). My daughter, same age as Diva Smith, found my cassette tape of Songs From The Big Chair & hasn’t stopped playing it. Since then, she introduced me to the internet, YouTube, and Amazon. Now my life is full of Tears for Fears. I’m dancing, singing, and on Facebook daily. Roland was so sweet to tweet my daughter singing advice for her 1st solo since Kindergarten. She sang Shout, while playing the bass. She is a fantastic bass player, even the up-right acoustic bass. This Christmas she asked for a pair of Docs, just like Papa Smith’s.

::hands out tissues:: THAT is …I need a minute.
Yeah…that right there, sums it up! Heaven only knows the things going on in our personal lives or what JUST happened to us before we got to a show…or why going to a show is a pilgrimage and a sacred ceremony for SO MANY fans of this band. Alice truly expressed what so many of us feel. There is nothing that compares to being in their presence. This is not hero worship as much as it is pure appreciation for the energy that Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal and the entire team put out at those shows. Their concerts are compared to gospel services, church, religious ceremonies and hard core parties all the same. It’s truly worth the effort, this band makes every travel experience worthwhile. We won’t ever forget it, we look forward to many more and I pray we all get there safe, sound and ready to rock with ROCS!

Here’s to another outstanding year with Tears for Fears!
Thanks for reading!
AA
~Kol iA~