Unrequited

Messy Trouble - August, 2002

John was in the South of France with the other members of Duran Duran, working on new material for a new album. The reunion album. They were all very excited, but it seemed the music world was not. They were having difficulty getting a record company to back them doing an album together, even though the fan chat boards were crazy busy with excitement about the reunion. Arianna had already gladly given them money to work in the studio, saying she wanted a new album as much as the fans did. So, they decided that going on tour to prove there was a demand for the reunited band might be the way to go.

They were working out logistics for a world tour, trying to decide where the tour would take them. Japan, of course, was a must, as the Japanese fans were still quite rabid for them. The States, the UK. It would all have to be planned out, and promoters gotten to spread the word. If they drummed up enough excitement about their tour, the record companies couldn't ignore them. Maybe.

At least the music was working. The songs they were making were good, great even. The five of them working together were definitely moving forward well. They had quite a few songs written already and were working on more. They would have an album's worth and then some. Maybe they should release a double album? Give the fans even more from the 'fab five.' John began to imagine what they could do with the artwork, the packaging, and the formats. But he knew that there were those in the band who wouldn't go for it. Give them the standard eight tracks, the best of those coming from the writing sessions.

John was, of course, thrilled to be writing, to be playing, to be involved in the band again, but he hated the time away from his family. Most of the band lived in London, which was the band's home base. They were in the South of France for a change of scenery and to maybe catch some of that vibe that they had captured at the beginning of the Seven and the Ragged Tiger sessions. He remembered that those sessions had been moved several times before they finished that album. He didn't want that mess to happen again.

John loved the camaraderie, but being the bassist, he didn't have much to do. He could lay down his bass grooves in a day and then would be bored out of his mind while they beat the song into just the right shape and sound over the next few weeks. Bored. He was getting bored. And that had been his biggest problem back in the day. The boredom. That was when he had gone off the rails, using drugs, drinking himself into oblivion, and falling into bed with whichever girl he had chosen for the night. He needed Arianna, but she was thousands of miles away, caring for the kids. Maybe he should go home for a bit. Get his head straight again, and then return.

Would the others let him? If he went home, he wouldn't be right around the corner. He'd be 15 hours away by plane. Over half a day. If something broke open or they started a new song, it would take him forever to return. He would miss something. And that had kept him in France, bored out of his mind, for longer than he had wanted to or planned to.

"Are you unwell, Johnny?" he heard Roger ask and came out of his deep thoughts.

"I'm okay," he answered quickly. "Just a little homesick, I reckon," he added, and Roger nodded.

"We've been at it here for a while. And you're so far from home, unlike us. I'm sorry for that, John," Roger said earnestly, and John gave him a warm smile.

"It will just make the reunion all that much better when I do go home," John told him, and Roger nodded.

"I remember those days," Roger said wistfully, staring off into space.

Roger and his wife of almost 20 years, Giovanna, were having struggles in their marriage. Mainly because he was back in the band, and she wasn't sure she was comfortable with that. He was taking the difficulties hard but kept his head high most days. But sometimes, the doubts crept in.