One Direction: heading down under to hunt the world's most famous boy band
When I was tasked with writing about One Direction ahead of their concert in Hong Kong at AsiaWorld-Arena on March 18, I had no real expectations: I'd never heard their music, nor was I aware that they're the only British band to have all four of their albums debut at number one in the United States.
It's just gone 10 in the morning and already they've called security on me. "There's a man here trying to film the young girls."
I want to tell the parking lot attendant that I'm only doing my job, but to be honest I don't really know what I'm doing here at all.
When I was tasked with writing about One Direction ahead of their concert in Hong Kong at AsiaWorld-Arena on March 18, I had no real expectations: I'd never heard their music, nor was I aware that they're the only British band to have all four of their albums debut at number one in the United States, or that in one year they earned an estimated US$75 million - making them the second highest paid performers under 30 in the UK. Still, the assignment sounded fun enough: fly to Brisbane, do a quick interview and catch the show. "No drama," as the Australians say. How wrong I was.
First of all, I should have shaved. I couldn't help being about 1.85 metres tall and nearly two decades too old, but I could have got my beard under control. Our assigned photographer wasn't helping either - his facial hair was what he would later describe as "homeless style".
Second, I learned there would be no interview. No meet and greet, no backstage passes, nothing. All the promoters were providing was access to the photographers' pit in front of the stage, and two tickets to the show.
Screw that, I thought; I'm getting backstage. I'm going to meet the band and they're going to love me. Maybe they would ask me to join them on their private jet.