April Date: March 25th, 2004 Location: Wiltern Theatre
My friends call me a big NERD cause I'm such a big N*E*R*D/Neptunes fan. I have seen them about 7 times (I lost count already.) I had a few close encounters with N*E*R*D, such as clinging onto Pharrell when he came off stage during their Shortlist Music Awards performance.
I FINALLY met N*E*R*D during their N*E*R*D Tour 2004 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. The show was unbelievable. Can you say "Only is Los Angeles"? I still could not believe that Justin Timberlake performed alongside Black Eyes Peas and N*E*R*D. I felt like I was dreaming. There were numerous times in which I have seen JT and Pharrell perform together, but not the way they performed that night. I was just in total shock. After being in the front row, I went to the back and watched them from afar.
Before the concert ended, I lined up at the FYE booth where I had bought the cd (again .. I think i have 4 copies now) in order to get a wristband to meet the guys. When they came out I couldn't wait to meet them. Despite how tired they looked and must have been, they did their thing with their fans. I wanted a picture with them, but the security people wouldn't let me. I'm sure that someday I'll get a picture with them. I am proud of the Neptunes/N*E*R*D. They've come along way.
Candice Date: July 22nd, 2003 Location: Houston, Texas
I remember it like it was yesterday...
To be exact, it was July 22, 2003. I had received a phone call from a friend of mine at 7:30 in the morning telling me that Pharrell was going to be in my city, Houston, Texas to do a meet and greet to promote the Clones CD. By this time, I was going crazy trying to win passes over the radio with no luck. Being his "number one fan," I took matters into my own hands and decided that I was going to try to meet him on my own despite the fact that I didn't have a "pass" of some sort to do so.
I got dressed and drove over to my friend Whitney's house and tried to convince her and her cousin Stephanie to come join me on my quest to meet Pharrell. They were looking at me like I was insane and saying "Girl, get real," and "You're crazy!" Well, somehow through all the screaming and jumping, I got them to come along. I went the whole nine yards and decorated my car windows with shoe polish with sayings like "I love Pharrell" and "N. E. R. D. Rules" and stuff like that. The radio station said that Pharrell would be at the studio around 3pm, so we were on our way downtown. We drove around the studio building for a long time with the radio on listening to see when he would get on the air. Time drew on. We stopped at Burger King and ate. He still wasn't there. Finally, around 5pm, the radio station dejay announced "Pharrell is in the building!" I was estatic.
We rushed to the studio and stood outside the glass doors waiting for some sign of the one-half of The Neptunes. We waited...and waited. Then, through the glare of the windows, I saw him. "Is that him? Are you sure that's him? How do you know that's him?" My friend Whitney asked. "Girl, that's him. I'd know the back of that head anywhere!" I exclaimed. I was in a daze. I was almost a couple of feet away from the super-celebrity and my dream, Pharrell Williams. We stood there just staring at him until a radio station exec told us that we had to wait downstairs because fans weren't allowed to wait outside the studio. My heart dropped. There was no way that I was going to meet him now. Me and my friends went downstairs and waited. He was going to have to come out sometime.
After what seemed like eons of waiting, I heard the elevator doors open and out stepped a dream. It was HIM!!!!! He walked up to me and said "What's up?" I stammered "Hi, I'm your number one fan and I was wondering if you would sign my hat and take a picture with me." "Sure, man would you look at her, she's beautiful!" He said to the others with him. "How old are you?" He asked me. "I'm 18." "Man, if you were old enough I'd take you back to Virginia with me." He joked. I was thinking in my head, "Take me now!!" Well to make a long story short, he signed my hat, gave me a hug and took pictures with me.
Then it was time to leave. We both said bye, waved, and drifted away from each other. I remember looking back, and then he disappeared into a huge black van with his crew and bodyguards. Me and my friends started screaming and jumping up and down. "I did it! I we did it! We met him!" I hollered. And like that. It was over. I got back in my car and we drove home. Still, that was a great way to end a day. I think I will never forget that day as long as I live. I doubt that he will remember me, but I will always have the Memories and proof of that eventful day. And to top it all off, he wrote a message on my hat: "I love Candice, Love Pharrell. You're a true friend, not a fan!"
Thanks Pharrell.
Ryan Date: March 29th, 2003 Location: Warfield, California
So I went to the concert monday 3-29-04 at the Warfield in San Francisco California. AMAZING!!!!! I cant begin to describe how incredible it was. We got there around 5 doors opened at 7. I was in the front row, and was VERY close I even got a couple winks from Shae at the beginning of the set. He was really into the crowd and making eye contact. Pharrell was such a great performer. I held a rose out for him to grab and he took it smelled it and smiled. Then I blew him a kiss and he winked. Later he came over and leaned down to grab my hand and sang right to me. It was great. I was so excited to have seen them and be so close to the stage. After the show we were going back to our car and we saw this guy who worked the back door and he said that Pharrell and Shae would be coming out that way. We had already been there for over 7 hours so what was only 15-20 mins. After 30 min of waiting tho..... nothing. Then some guy that worked there came out and asked why we were standing in the cold. I said because we wanted some autographs and that we thought the guys would be coming out this way. So he said c'mon follow me, its too damn cold out here. He proceeded to take us back stage through some doors and around the corner I heard some voices. Then voila !!! we were standing in front of Shae and Pharrell and the Black Eyed Peas. I went up to Shae and thanked him for a great show. I apologized for having cold hands as we were outside and he said sorry that we could not have gotten in sooner. He also said thanks for sticking around and that he saw me rocking out in the front row. He took a picture with me then signed my In Search Of and Fly Or Die album covers and my ticket. Then he slid them over to Pharrell. I walked over to him and smiled. He was humming to himself and happily signed my stuff "Pharrell loves you" I thanked him for an awesome show and great new album. And asked if I could take a pic with him. With no hesitation he stood up and we snapped a pic cheek to cheek. He was so down to earth and easy to talk to. I made a joke about him taking me home with him. He said "Sorry but I already got a girl in my bed, but next time I am in Frisco I will be sure to leave room for you" I smiled and said that I would hold him to it. We talked for a couple more minutes about their tour and music ETC, then he stood up again and reached out to hug me. He gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and thanked me again for all the love. I told him to keep the music coming and come back to Frisco soon. He smiled and said ok. It was so Surreal. Here were these 2 guys that are icons and unbelievably talented and famous. Sitting face to face talking to there fans. Each one as if they were the first. They are very humbled by all the love that they get. And it makes them that much better people. I skipped away to my car and rode home. I will never forget that concert.
Kim Date: March 2004 Location: Four Seasons Hotel, California
I've been fortunate enough to meet Pharrell Williams twice, once in Aug 03 and the latest in Mar 04(Houston Texas) which was my best to date! My crew and I hung out at the Four Seasons hotel for the most of the day hoping to catch a glimpse of the boys and after a while of waiting we had no such luck! So we showed up at the Verizon Wireless Theater an hour before show time and we were surprised to see about 15 people already in front of us! I was disappointed that we wouldnt have a good spot in line because the venue was pretty small, but boy was I wrong..we were front and center!
Black Eyed Peas came on first and did an awesome set. Will-I-Am kept pointing at me during the show and Fergie waved and smiled. They did a crazy freestyle and had the crowd completely amped! After Black Eyed Peas did their set we waited about 20 minutes for N*E*R*D* to take the stage and they came out with a bang! They came out and did "Preservation" first and really got us hyped! Ive seen N*E*R*D* twice but I was just as excited and overjoyed as I was the first time I seen them! During those rare quiet moments during the show I would scream Shae's name and he would smile and wave at me! Spymob were awesome and they loved that I knew all the words to "Maybe" because the album wasnt even out yet! I think Pharrell definitely has a way with the ladies because he had us all going absolutely nuts! He knelt right down in front of me and sang "Provider" and mouthed the word "sexy" to me and I just couldnt take it! He also came back during "Frontin" and sang to me a little more. He even gave the mic to my friend and had her sing the words to "Breakout" and asked for her NERD hat to wear during the song!
We had heard that after the show the boys (NO CHAD) would be signing autographs for people who bought wristbands but we didnt! Everyone started to clear out and we werent leaving untill we met Shae and P! Suddenly most of the people with wristbands just started leaving the venue and we spoke with a security guard who told us to go through a certain exit and that the boys would be coming out soon. We waited for a few minutes and out comes SHAE!! He was really sweet and down to earth and asked us our names and posed for pictures. The guys from Spymob came out and we chatted with John about the upcoming album and he signed autographs. Finally, the moment we were waiting for .....Pharrell came out! He chatted with my friend and signed her NERD hat and thanked her for knowing all the songs..I nervously said hi and he asked me what my name was and how I was doing..I nervously responded and asked him if he would take a pic with me and he said sure in his Virginia accent! He also gave me a huge hug! He was so humble and softspoken when he talked to us. He thanked us for coming and he gave my friend his sharpie that he was signing with! We walked away screaming like kids on the way to our car cause it was the best day of our lives!! Thanks Shae & P for being so down to earth and kind, you really made our day!
April
