They say never meet your heroes. Fine. Point taken. Could this be the day when Nic says, "Never meet famous people who have sold a lot of records, and this is the day you have to work with them"?🤷♂️
This was HILARIOUS. I can't get over the brilliance of the story itself and how well it is presented. Interestingly Boy George's response to Nic's very English attempt was also very English, in a way. What I mean by this is the powerful use of humour, which is embedded into our DNA.
I can imagine Nic must have felt uncomfortable but he took it really well. In a sense, that comment saved him from the humiliation of being told off for being late in front of everyone, and it probably helped ease at least some of the tension.
Hilarious from every single point of view. I do miss those times even though I wasn't even born in 1983!
Thank you, Andres, very true. Yep, English humour. Now being an expat in quite a multinational community, well, my dry English humour/sarcasm gets me into trouble on a regular basis — especially, it seems, with Germans, who quite often think I am being totally serious. I do miss daily English banter, it’s not the same when you have to explain it all the time 🤷♂️ 😂
I can only imagine… I’m married to a German 🤣🤣 But he’s been in London for more than 20 years, most of his adult life, really, and his sense of humour is more English than anything else.
When Adele was asked what she missed the most from the UK whilst being in the US, she said “That my sense of humour doesn’t always travel”. It’s so true.
The problem with being my age is… actually there’s at least two problems, one is, I’m totally politically incorrect, it’s hard wired… another, is that it feels like my duty to at least attempt to press the buttons of any German I come into contact with, especially groups of Germans, I can’t seem to help it, it’s in my DNA, and, well, it’s fun… 🤷♂️ I have to add that some of my best friends are from Germany, one of whom refers to me as the Island Ape! 🦍
If I struggle with the whole political correctness thing (and I was born in the late 80s), I cannot even imagine how older generations must feel.
Lol yes the German/British interactions tend to be very funny, especially when they (the Germans) interpret things really literally 🤣 Great to hear you’re enjoying life on some island! All this time I thought you were still somewhere in the UK
Thank you, Jim, agreed, mid-to-late 80s pop was indeed a mixed bag. I sometimes have to remind myself that it wasn’t all bad. A good starting point, for me at least, when people raise an eyebrow about the 80s, is to go and listen to Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” Still amazing, in a league of its own, but totally of its time.
Thanks, Jim! I'm like a kid in a word-candy shop! Nic has the incredible stories, and he lets me grab however many handfuls it takes for me to satisfy my sweet-tooth! More-a-comin'! Stay tuned!
I absolutely loved The Nic of Time#4. As always, your storytelling transported me straight back in time. The line "Anybody wants a cup of tea?" followed by Boy George’s cheeky response, had me in stitches. Your humour and keen observations make each instalment a joy to read. I've loved reading Boy George's writing, which adds to it all.
Hey Jon, glad you’ve enjoyed these anecdotes, this kind of feedback makes it worthwhile.
My path crossed with BG several times back then, mainly at night clubs in London, the Mudd Club, Camden Palace, and Heaven. There were several people in my circle of friends that were in his, so we crossed paths and swords more than once verbally. I can be quite quick witted and hold no punches, but BG took that to whole other level!?! He could obliterate someone with a few very precise words, and then turn on his heels and disappear in an instant, before you knew what had hit you…
I'm guessing this studio meeting was the first time meeting BG, Nic? If so, in subsequent encounters with him, did he ever recognize you as "that studio guy," or to him, was that just one of another goofball incidents forgotten seconds later? Just curious.
I don’t 100% recall the exact timeline, probably I’d seen BG at a distance several times earlier, including at Trident, Rusty Egan was one of his mates/clique, so hard for me to say, but for sure at Maison Rouge he knew who I was, at least by sight, because we had mutual friends, who shall remain nameless, which meant that quite a few of my friends and I witnessed some of BG notorious shenanigans and exploits, which actually got him in to a lot of trouble with a lot of people… and eventually spilled over into the public domain… check the tabloids around 1985/86
Thanks for this.....I love the phrase "notorious shenanigans and exploits"! No need for the tabs for me.....I'll use my imagination!!😃Which reminds me....I've always wanted to manage a cheeky female singer who wouldn't mind going by the name, Shena Nigans. Her press kit bio would write itself! Plus, her name could double as the title of her debut album, "Shenanigans"!
A great story. I’m going to enjoy rummaging through the archives here. If there was one group no one would ever guess I would like it might be Culture Club…maybe the Pet Shop Boys. Oh well. 🙂
This was HILARIOUS. I can't get over the brilliance of the story itself and how well it is presented. Interestingly Boy George's response to Nic's very English attempt was also very English, in a way. What I mean by this is the powerful use of humour, which is embedded into our DNA.
I can imagine Nic must have felt uncomfortable but he took it really well. In a sense, that comment saved him from the humiliation of being told off for being late in front of everyone, and it probably helped ease at least some of the tension.
Hilarious from every single point of view. I do miss those times even though I wasn't even born in 1983!
Thank you, Andres, very true. Yep, English humour. Now being an expat in quite a multinational community, well, my dry English humour/sarcasm gets me into trouble on a regular basis — especially, it seems, with Germans, who quite often think I am being totally serious. I do miss daily English banter, it’s not the same when you have to explain it all the time 🤷♂️ 😂
I can only imagine… I’m married to a German 🤣🤣 But he’s been in London for more than 20 years, most of his adult life, really, and his sense of humour is more English than anything else.
When Adele was asked what she missed the most from the UK whilst being in the US, she said “That my sense of humour doesn’t always travel”. It’s so true.
The problem with being my age is… actually there’s at least two problems, one is, I’m totally politically incorrect, it’s hard wired… another, is that it feels like my duty to at least attempt to press the buttons of any German I come into contact with, especially groups of Germans, I can’t seem to help it, it’s in my DNA, and, well, it’s fun… 🤷♂️ I have to add that some of my best friends are from Germany, one of whom refers to me as the Island Ape! 🦍
If I struggle with the whole political correctness thing (and I was born in the late 80s), I cannot even imagine how older generations must feel.
Lol yes the German/British interactions tend to be very funny, especially when they (the Germans) interpret things really literally 🤣 Great to hear you’re enjoying life on some island! All this time I thought you were still somewhere in the UK
I must confess I had an intense dislike of pop music in the mid-to-late 80s. Probably had something to do with MTV.
Then again, I'm terribly myopic about music. Mea culpa. That's why I need to read good stuff like this, Nic and Brad. Thanks.
Thank you, Jim, agreed, mid-to-late 80s pop was indeed a mixed bag. I sometimes have to remind myself that it wasn’t all bad. A good starting point, for me at least, when people raise an eyebrow about the 80s, is to go and listen to Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” Still amazing, in a league of its own, but totally of its time.
Thanks, Jim! I'm like a kid in a word-candy shop! Nic has the incredible stories, and he lets me grab however many handfuls it takes for me to satisfy my sweet-tooth! More-a-comin'! Stay tuned!
Great story. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Thea, glad you enjoyed it.
Great stuff here!
Thanks, Mike! Nic writes what happened to him.....I just whisper the "good parts" to the kids on the playground at recess! See ya at lunch!
Love what you're doing here, Brad. Don't always get to read (sweating my own newsletter) but when I do glad you're around. See ya 'round campus! lol.
Thanks again, Mike! I dig all your support! I call slide!
Ha! Awesome.
Side note: Boy George looks kind of fantastic in 2024. Did he become a vampire some time during the 90s?
Glad you enjoyed. Highly likely 🧛♀️
I absolutely loved The Nic of Time#4. As always, your storytelling transported me straight back in time. The line "Anybody wants a cup of tea?" followed by Boy George’s cheeky response, had me in stitches. Your humour and keen observations make each instalment a joy to read. I've loved reading Boy George's writing, which adds to it all.
Hey Jon, glad you’ve enjoyed these anecdotes, this kind of feedback makes it worthwhile.
My path crossed with BG several times back then, mainly at night clubs in London, the Mudd Club, Camden Palace, and Heaven. There were several people in my circle of friends that were in his, so we crossed paths and swords more than once verbally. I can be quite quick witted and hold no punches, but BG took that to whole other level!?! He could obliterate someone with a few very precise words, and then turn on his heels and disappear in an instant, before you knew what had hit you…
I'm guessing this studio meeting was the first time meeting BG, Nic? If so, in subsequent encounters with him, did he ever recognize you as "that studio guy," or to him, was that just one of another goofball incidents forgotten seconds later? Just curious.
I don’t 100% recall the exact timeline, probably I’d seen BG at a distance several times earlier, including at Trident, Rusty Egan was one of his mates/clique, so hard for me to say, but for sure at Maison Rouge he knew who I was, at least by sight, because we had mutual friends, who shall remain nameless, which meant that quite a few of my friends and I witnessed some of BG notorious shenanigans and exploits, which actually got him in to a lot of trouble with a lot of people… and eventually spilled over into the public domain… check the tabloids around 1985/86
Thanks for this.....I love the phrase "notorious shenanigans and exploits"! No need for the tabs for me.....I'll use my imagination!!😃Which reminds me....I've always wanted to manage a cheeky female singer who wouldn't mind going by the name, Shena Nigans. Her press kit bio would write itself! Plus, her name could double as the title of her debut album, "Shenanigans"!
You recall that whole cheeky Punk name shenanigans? Buster Hymen, Phalic Cymbal, Dill Doe…
We now have our band!!😂
That sounds like Boy George alright.
Yep, there's the BG we all know!
A great story. I’m going to enjoy rummaging through the archives here. If there was one group no one would ever guess I would like it might be Culture Club…maybe the Pet Shop Boys. Oh well. 🙂
Thanks, Daniel.....glad you like! Nic is a great guy with a fascinating story! Enjoy your trip through the pages of FR&B! Based on those bands you like, have you discovered Electronic yet? https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1989-electronic-getting?utm_source=publication-search
Scritti Politti? https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/grow-bigger-ears-18-scritti-politti?utm_source=publication-search