Manics Birmingham Signing report by Flicker
Got up too early. Very tired. Kev was here a whole 5 minutes early! Very unusual for him. Then Bekki came and we toddled off to Wednesbury -> West Brom (but Mairead wasn't there) -> Birmingham. Kev's friends Holly, Amy and Brogan were there, so they let us podge. Then Martin came over (let him podge) then Mairead came (let her podge) This was all at about 10. Signing was at 5... Looooong day ahead.
Darren came at about.... well it could only have been about 10.30 ish. So we talked all together and stuff. Virgin had the PA out and played the Manics albums (Except Truth, KYE and FD). So we all sat around and sang.
When Darren went, I just ate my food and sat and talked. Got stressed because all my Manicy gifts were all mixed up. I get like that. I forgot James' gift so I made Bekki fetch me some beads from Beadesaurus. I made him a bracelet saying 'GUITAR GOD'. Because he is!
There were a lot of drunk men walking past going, 'Aven't you evr eard abow' rockenroll?' Um. Yes... We just seemed to attract drunk men.
We sang songs at the top of our lungs, Faster, You Love Us, Rock n Roll Music, PCP, Design... all the shouty ones. It was fun. People either thought it was funny and laughed, or gave us riffy looks, to which we just shouted louder. There were these silly little boys swearing at us. But, um, there are 200 (maybe?) of us and 2 of you? Right. Bekki told them to come back once they'd grown some pubes. Oh dear!
ickleprincess texted me and asked a question. I had to scribble it down on a little piece of paper and it wasn't completely attached to the rest of the Q/aire, so I hope Sean sees it.
The last 2 hours were unbearable. It started raining which wasn't so bad. Got a bit chilly too. But the tension was terrible. Brogan kept saying, 'there's Nicky!' Then it became a standing joke that every old lady with a plastic headscarf was Nicky :)
The nausea started coming. Oh my God, yes it's so stupid. Probably made worse by the fact that I hadn't had that much to eat. But I felt sick, especially if we left the queue. My nerves were calmer with the other fans. I know it sounds daft. Then at 4.55 we just started going mad. I really thought I was going be sick over Holly. They all kept angling my head over the balcony to puke on the security guards.
Then I gathered up my stuff. LT abum, FD remixes promo my friend Holly (not the one with us) found for me in Virgin, James' bracelet, Nicky's bracelets and hair bobbles, Sean's questionnaire and card. Then they called us in.
I was so nervous because we were first. Not first first, there were 3 girls in front of our group. I just remember saying, 'I wish we were a bit further back. Then we could see them for longer to get used to them' And Martin just kept saying 'Fuck that! Fuck that!!' And we didn't know where the band were gonna come from when we were in Virgin. We reckoned the escalator. But people kept teasing by walking down them. One guy (staff, who�d just met them upstairs) mouthed to his friend, 'Nicky's beautiful!' Then police and security started coming down the stairs. Getting our hopes up, so I just looked down a bit.
Then there was a sort of ascending rumble from everyone, then a big cheer. I can only remember Sean. I was told that Nick came down first, but I don't remember seeing him till he got to the bottom. I remember it like still images, like in videos. And Sean waved :) Don't remember James coming down the stairs, just that when he got to the bottom I was thinking, 'He's in a fucking foul mood!' You've all seen his mood face, the one that reminds me of those models someone made of the Millennium gig. I thought, jeez, he'll freak when he sees what's on Holly's arm... [4REAL in black marker]
They got to their seats and some group was shouting, 'Sean is God! Sean is God!' So he was doing that thing, you know, where you kinda pump the air with your hand? You know, with a fist. James looked much happier when he sat down. Happy James.
First of our group to get stuff signed was Rachel (why?? she doesn't even like them. And she podged!) Then Dan was getting signed by Sean. I jokingly shouted to Dan, 'Tell Sean I love him!' I regretted it cos Dan said, cool as anything, 'Yeah, she loves you' And pointed over at me. Kev, very nonchalantly also pointed to me. So Sean leans to look around Dan and he said hello to me. I think I said hello back. But I was scared.
Yup, then after a few more staff, it was me. So I'm here standing face to face with Sean. Heh. **SCENE MISSING** Can't remember anything. My brain's going, 'Say something' My mouth's going hithisisforyouit's aquestionnaireandcard. My stomach's churning. Terrible. I said it was another boring questionnaire, but there's a present in there too (a homemade card in a homemade denim envelope complete with button to fasten it!) He said he'd do the questionnaire but it might take him ages because he's had loads. He said more, but he speaks so quietly I couldn't hear him. I wouldn�t have remembered anyway, I was in shock. He thanked me for the stuff. Oh god all I can remember is walking up to him. And just looking at him like an idiot. Then I moved onto Nicky (Idiot! Why didn't you shake Sean's hand??)
It was easier with Nicky, he's never been my favourite. Oh that sounds so mean now I know he's nice. But I�ve never liked him more than Sean or James. Anyway. Got up to him and said:
Me: Hello! I've got you some presents!
Nick: Hello! For me?
Me: I made them myself so you better like them!
Nick: *puts them on* You made these yourself?
Me: Yep! I think your hair's too short for the bobble.
Nick: It's ok, I'll put it on my wrist so I don't lose it. Thank you!
He signs my stuff and holds out his hand. I swear it took me about 5 seconds to realise what to do with it. Cool.
Then James, Kev was still standing with James when I got there. Cos Kev got his guitar signed (to his eternal delight) But James was pointing at the guitar going, 'You'll get a more powerful sound if you take the pickup covers off. Or get some Seymour Duncans. It'll sound like mine!' And Kev's going, 'Yeah. Uhh... heh. Mmm' I think he was in shock too, James is his hero. Then it was my turn, yay! I did think I'd be more nervous, but I was glad he was looking a lot happier. He's rather scary when he's in a bad mood.
Me: Hello! He [Kev] was just showing off with his guitar!
James: *laughs*
Me: I got you a present! I know it's not your usual style, but I made it myself.
James: Oh! I've never been given one of these. Thank you, that's very nice of you! *Signs stuff*
James: And you can tell him [Kev] to stop showing off!
Then he sticks out his hand (My brain: 'Aha! I know what to do with this now!') and shakes mine REALLY hard.
You know, I'm sure he said more to me, I'm sure of it. Can't remember. I just remember thinking how brown his arms were, and how nice his hands were. Nice and big. Kev was so proud to have shook James' hand. You don�t want to know about the things Martin and Kev were saying about James� hand (suffice to say, they thought that because JDB�s a bachelor, they were doubly honoured to shake the aforementioned hand) Bekki put a semi naked picture of herself in James' questionnaire. Martin said he saw JDB take something out of the envelope and look surprised. The picture maybe...? It was rather saucy. I took the pictures, so I should know!
Holly, Amy and Brogan were crying with nerves by the time they met them. James said, 'you look like you need a stiff drink!'. Bekki launched herself at Nicky for a hug. He squished her so hard she groaned down his ear, which she's embarrassed about. Martin hugged Nicky which he's chuffed about. I didn't throw up on Sean which I'm chuffed about. He's so pritty, even prettier in real life, they all are. But Sean was just... can�t explain. It was so weird. He sounds just like he does on TV. I don�t know why, but when he spoke I was shocked at how familiar he sounded. My stomach gave another lurch when he spoke. I'm not embarrassed as such about anything like I thought I would be (as if they'd remember me!) but I regret not shaking Sean's hand.
Martin took loads of pics, but he was shaking so much that the camera shook! He tried getting me to pose with Sean, but I just couldn't. Just really couldn't.
We all just squealed when we went out. I remember having pins and needles in my hands. Got a picture of me and Bekki (and Kev in the background) just after the signing. Martin took it with his Polaroid. My mom thinks it's hilarious. She doesn't understand. She tells me off for licking Glenn's drumsticks [from easyworld] Tsk, what do mothers know ;) There's probably bits I've forgotten. Funny bits. Maybe what Sean said will come back to me ad verbatim in my sleep sometime. I do hope so. I have been having strange dreams about him... Though I do doubt that he said those things to me in real life...!
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