Doctor Who Experience 9-9-17

Well, it’s passed four years now, on the ninth of September 2017, my daughter and I had the opportunity to visit the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff, Wales. For those “Who” are unaware of what that is, it’s an interactive exhibition that showcases Doctor Who with various costumes and props from the show. It starts off with a short film starring Peter Capaldi, recorded specifically for the Experience. A guide takes you through a 30 minuteish adventure following the Doctor’s instructions and takes you to the Tardis console and other sets including awaking Daleks. Your goal, obviously, save the planet and save the Tardis. Once the day is saved, a door opens to the museum and you are free to roam and look at the costumes, props, etc. from various series of the show. You were able to see costumes and props from just about every Doctor, companion, & villain. There is also (as there is always) a gift shop (You have a little shop. I love a little shop. ) that offers a variety of Doctor Who souvenirs you can purchase. Since the day my daughter and I attended was the last day it was open, souvenirs were slim pickings. I was able to buy an official companion guide (Program) and an autographed print of Camille Coduri (aka Jackie Tyler).

There were also a multitude of costumed people walking around the inside as well of outside of the Experience, which made it even more interactive. It was really cool to see live Cybermen, Whisper Men, and even one of Mrs. Rossiter’s Peg Dolls (And it was actually Nathalie Cuzner in the costume) walking around the exhibit. Since the last day was sold out, the Experience asked to limit your time within to only 2.5 hours. So my daughter and I made sure we had seen everything in triplicate. A real good friend of mine at the time (who actually bought our tickets to the DWE) messaged me saying that there was someone I had to meet before I left. Well we were already downstairs. He told me I had to meet Jamie Hill. I knew that Jamie played the Foretold in the Doctor Who episode Mummy on the Orient Express, and the Monk in Extremis, The Pyramid at the End of the World and The Lie of the Land. Well to my surprise Jamie was also a manager at the Experience. I asked the guy in the gift shop if Jamie was around. He told me he should be right inside the exhibit. I told him I couldn’t go back in because of the no in and out policy. I also told him where we hailed from. He was really shocked and excited that we traveled all the way from Texas. He said follow me. And he proceeded to take me back in the exhibit to Jamie. Jamie was actually giving an interview with Christel Dee for the Doctor Who Fan Show. So I waited until he was through and the guy introduced me to Jamie and told him where I was from. We spoke for a couple minutes. I didn’t want to take up too much of his time as technically he was working. But he was a really cool guy. He took a couple photos with me and signed a photo for me with no problem.

So I headed back downstairs to my daughter and we stopped and had a snack in The Blue Box Café’ downstairs. I had seen Christel in the lobby downstairs. We chatted for a couple minutes (just an extremely nice lady) and we took a couple photos together. As my daughter and I were sitting there my friend Tom had messaged me saying that he just had seen on tv that Nick Briggs was inside doing an interview. Nick does the voice of the Daleks. Well unfortunately as I said before the Experience is a no in and out policy. So I couldn’t go back in and get him. But…I could go back into the gift shop which happens to be where the exit is. Lol. My daughter and I went back to the shop and not two minutes later he came out. I got his attention and he signed a photo for me as well and took a photo with me. I told him where we came from and he asked if any of my family were affected by Hurricane Harvey and he expressed deep concern for Texas. We spoke for about five minutes and he was on his way. And so were my daughter and I. We went outside and were going to take a walk around Cardiff Bay to see some of the filming locations of Doctor Who. But before we left, we kept hearing that there was going to be a big sendoff of the Experience. Actors and actresses and writers and directors who frequently visited the Experience would be making an appearance. Just a few that were rumored was Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, and the hilarious Matt Lucas. It was going to have a proper farewell. So we waited and waited and waited. After the last tour went in, they had everyone make their way outside and they locked the doors. Everyone hung around outside expecting something to happen or someone to show up. But alas nothing happened. The crowd kept getting smaller and smaller. Finally we decided to leave and take in the sites and grab a bite to eat.

This was just an all-around great Experience.  From the actual Doctor Who Experience to the BBC Studios across the street to the sights and everything. But I am glad I was able to spend the time and share the “experience” with my awesome daughter Sydnie. And though it’s been going on five years since we’ve been there, it still seems like yesterday. And I’m sure the memories will stay like that forever.

John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten

               I have been a Sex Pistols fan for as far as I can remember. I actually can’t remember exactly when I first started listing to them. It was probably on Z-Rock or something on Crankin’ Craig’s show. From the first time I heard them, I was a fan. Of course they were long disbanded when my fandom started up. Nonetheless, I was still a hardcore fan. Like any other fan, I had to have as much as I could get of the band. This was obviously long before the thought of the internet. So actual merchandise wasn’t easy to come by from a band from another country and a band that had broken up when I was a little over a year and a half years old. There were a few record stores that I could always count on to supply me with my import fix. One being Last Beat in Deep Ellum. From hard to find vinyl, tapes, posters, books, movies & patches. I had (and still have most) it all. I loved the music, the lyrics, and Johnny Rotten’s voice. And even though he didn’t really actually play that much, I was even a huge fan of Sid’s. Sid Vicious was the epitome of “punk” at the time.
                As I grew older, the fandom I had of Sid’s turned to sadness. Sadness because he was a product of his environment. The people around him made him the way he was by taking advantage of his naivety and low self-esteem. He was fed the constant b.s. from McLaren  and his cronies that he had to act a certain way and do certain things that eventually he believed it himself. Which led to his suicidal demise at the age of 21 due to a heroin overdose (later revealed that it was his Mom that gave him his lethal last shot).

                I also fell in love with Lydon’s project after the Pistols called Public Image Ltd. aka P.I.L.. I didn’t have a lot of their merchandise. But I had most of their music. They were more new wave/alternative as opposed to punk the Pistols were. Fast forward a little to about 1992 and their album “That What is Not” came out. I loved this album. It easily became my favorite by them. And on the song “Acid Drops” there was even a sample of “God Save the Queen”. Which made it even cooler. I remember after that record came out, PIL took a hiatus. The rumor at the time was, they had broken up. So I figured that was it. Bands break up all the time. Fast forward once more to 2012, 20 long years after the release of “That What is Not” and guess what I find out, PIL is coming out with a new record. To put the proverbial cherry on top, they are doing a tour to promote said album. I thought to myself “If only they would come to Da…Holy Crap they’re coming to Dallas”. As soon as tickets went on sale, guess who bought his ticket. That’s right, this cat. It was at the Granada Theater off of Greenville Ave. I had been there a few times before and thought that it’s going to be an awesome show. It’s a small venue and there’s not really a bad seat. Well to make my story a little sweeter (to me at least), I find out that PIL is doing a free signing at a local record store the day of the concert. HOLY SHIT!! (Sorry for expletive, but that’s how excited I was) It was in the middle of the day and I had the PT at work, so naturally I took off early. I was excited and bummed out at the same time. Excited that I’m going to get to meet Johnny Rotten himself. Bummed because it was only one item you can get signed and he wasn’t signing Sex Pistols items.                  

                Well I went into a quick panic mode. All of my PIL stuff had been converted to digital. I had one thing of John’s that wasn’t Sex Pistols. I had a vinyl single of World Destruction “Time Zone” he did with Afrika Bambaataa. I had that record since it came out. So it wasn’t in the greatest shape. But it was all I had. I get to Good Records super early. Damn it, I’m going to be first in line. And damn it, I was. Lol I was talking to the owner of the store and he told me that it was changed to three items per person. But still no Sex Pistols. So I bought their new album on vinyl and “This is what you want, this is what you get” on cd. As time is slowly going by, about 30 minutes before the time, I see John outside smoking. He comes in greets the fans and starts signing early. He sits down and I go up to the table and Rambo starts talking to me while he gets ready. So I go up to him with my items and he shakes my hand and introduces himself to me and asked my name and thanked me for coming. He first grabs my Afrika Bambaataa record. His face kind of lights up then goes on with this story of the album and how he invented rap with this song. Huge fan John, but three words, The Sugarhill Gang. Lol. He signed my other items and asked if I was coming to the show. “Of course” I answered. He took a photo with me (Thanks again Scott) and said see you at the show. And there I was front row, right up against the stage. It was such an awesome show and awesome day.  Seems like only yesterday.