2010

1/9 
Berlin, Germany



  
Was a bit cold waiting in Berlin 2 hours before the doors opened.  Thankfully I was still a bit drunk from the fan convention the night before!


Someone got a great shot of my pom poms in action.






Kisses to my German Devotees Sandra, Jasmin and Jessica!


DJ Crocks Rocks!

1/11 
Budapest, Hungary

Flight from Berlin was cancelled due to snow and NOTHING was flying from Berlin that day.  So naturally I took an 11 hour train ride to Budapest, just in time to MISS the DM show.  And to add insult to injury, my hotel room overlooked the arena.



But at least I saw Nitzer Ebb the next day.







1/14 
Prague, Czech Republic

I met two AMAZING people and was so fortunate to be given a VIP FOS pass.  I already had a ticket (FOS2)- but I gave it the the first DM fan a saw.  And yeah, we did not speak each others language - but the DM symbols translated -  SCARY.  (Or Smart- let's all go back to Egyptian symbols!).

  





See the "Press" notation?  At every show this means the local press is allowed entry for these songs only.  Unfortunately for us DM fans who have waited ALL FUCKING DAY for front row, the press will stand in front of us w/ their cameras. 
It's a necessity and I understand it, but it's annoying nonetheless.
I find a nice tap on the shoulder and a wink will get them to move.
Or you can always pose for pics but don't expect compensation.






Best thing about Prague - The Czech fans totally busted out CROWNS and TIARAS during ETS.  It was the first time I've seen that fan action live and was so impressed....until I arrived at the PRAGUE AFTER PARTY which ROCKED and was my fave ASP during the entire tour.








Aw, my Polish Gregor.





And Jan completely out of his comfort zone holding my pom poms.
Prague in January is cold!


1/17
Lieven, France

The 11am line up.  That's me w/ the pink bag.


(photo courtesy of Lieven Press)







1/19 and 1/20
Paris, France






Paris marked a first for me in my DM Fan Career - Lining up at fucking 7am in January...in the dark!  I wasn't planning on this but I followed my roommates in good sport - so here I am; no make-up, teeth and hair unbrushed, and stepping on my own foot to try to keep it warm.  W. T. F.  And we weren't even the first in line.

    

Hours later when the sun came up...

   

I had a "life" revelation this day.  Stereotype me as an American if you will, but in my culture - I NEVER leave my house without looking my best...including full make-up, hair done, fully dressed,  etc.

So in Paris, where I was unknown...I actually walked back and forth from the venue to the hotel all day with a naked face, an unshowered body, unbrushed teeth and hair,  dirty clothes, and a wool hat (that I would NEVER even think of buying and worse, wearing!) and I had never felt so FREE.  I passed by a store and saw myself in the window, and thought...WOW - I look like complete SHIT..but simultaneously I was so proud I was able to do it...and more importantly, so happy.


FINALLY BERCY (Paris) - NIGHT ONE:



(Photo courtesy of...anonymous who didn't want credit) 
I adore this picture and have it framed in my home + my work mouse pad.  THANK YOU!!! 


I love my roomies...can you pick out which bed is mine?


Speaking of, I found this on my bed when I arrived.  Another example of why I remain such a devoted DM Fan - The Other DM Fans!  We take such care of each other, whether we've known each other for years or minutes.  Like Dave said on stage "This is so much bigger than just us".




And below...our room soon became DM Fan Headquarters:



I then I switched rooms for someone's arrival.  It took 5 minutes from getting the room key to unload my shit.

Before...................................After

    

And the after party(s) at The Frog.  (PS - for everyone who went with me to the after-after-after party on the Techno boat in Bercy, no comment).







   


2/17
London, England
Royal Albert Hall





ALAN WILDER!

I lost my shit, cried my eyes out for the first time EVER at a concert, snuck out alone and put myself into a cab back to the hotel before Photographic was played.  I probably could have contained myself if I hadn't gone to the pre-party at 3pm where I had a pint too many on an empty stomach. 

Honestly though, seeing Alan after what, 14 years, immediately flooded my mind with memories of being in my 20's.  You know, those carefree days when the world was wide open with opportunities.  The time before everyone becomes jaded once the reality of how the world truly operates sets in.  

It was a sad and sobering reflection.  I didn't even make it to the after party, if you can believe it. 

***************

Besides the stage blessing of Alan...the best part of the show was after Policy when the masses STOMPED on the balloons.  It sounded like 4th of July fireworks which made me laugh since I was in friggin' ENGLAND.





My thanks to whoever captured this great pic!


Oh, and for documentary purposes, the Hublot DM watches auctioned for charity.  No comment.






2/20
London, England


MY DREAM - SINCE 1985 - TO SEE DM LIVE IN LONDON.

25 YEARS LATER -
DREAM FULFILLED.   XOXO.



(Don't be confused by the orignal ticket date-that show was cancelled and then rescheduled for Feb.) 








And the ASP @ The London Stone:













2/22 and 2/23
Horsens, Denmark

VIP Passes to both shows.


Thank you Paul for the amazing pic!

I got so much DG love during both of these shows, and I FINALLY got my first blown stage kiss first night during ETS.

 




And night two, I was FOS thru the NE set but then traded to an off stage seat (read - I needed a beer). So there I got another stage kiss during ETS which was cool, but my gut tells me it was "obligated" and/or "staged" if you get my drift.



But this (below) ROCKED... as Precious started, I got a full on on, stop what I'm doing, WAVE...from DG which caused the crowd among me to yell - "OMG, Dave Gahan Knows You!". 
I laughed.  Yeah, he knows me from seeing my face 23 times this tour.  (See 'gut instinct' above).



2/26 and 2/27
Dusseldorf, Germany
(Again, don't be confused by the orignal ticket date-these shows were cancelled and then original tickets honored).




Love it, Cristian "waiting patiently" for me to get ready before the 2nd to last DM show.  PS - Notice the DM glass on the table, it's a water mixture of vitamins and energy supplements.  I honestly do not know how the boys maintain their energy.  But then again, they don't party right after until the wee hours like the fans do.  Nevermind.

This picture was taken by Cristian, minutes after being let into the venue after standing in line in the freezing cold AND rain for 8 hours and then having to run a half mile to the entrance.  I love this picture - it could have been taking at any of the 23 shows during the SOTU Tour and I would have looked exactly the same.


DUSSELDORF, GERMANY 
THE LAST SHOW OF THE TOUR.

THE SEA OF WHITE...