Exploring the Pen Name
With a Post About Nicholas James Bates

(During the month of June, here at Today the Dragon Wins we explore the use of pseudonyms. Don't forget to participate in the discussion in the comment field to enter the contest for a copy of the eBook version of Choices Meant for Gods. Details were posted June 1.)

He's the Synthesist for Duran Duran

You may know him as Nick Rhodes, but that's his pseudonym. That's the moniker he uses as the controller in the legendary rock band Duran Duran. Tomorrow, June 8, he celebrates his 46th birthday. I have utmost respect and admiration for this gentleman not only because he helped John Taylor form Duran Duran, not only because he has impeccable style and taste, not only because he exudes a calm, rational manner amid a raucous, fun-loving group of guys (and industry), not only because he must have the highest IQ in rock-n-roll, not only because he smiled and spoke kindly to me while I prattled mindlessly thanking him for the gift in the VIP totes when I met him in Orlando last month, but also because he was kind and friendly and gave his time to my best friend when she met him in St. Louis during the Astronaut tour, and again the next day in Kansas City. (She has adored him for about a quarter of a century, you see.)

It's not many rock stars who can take day after day and night after night of fans bombarding them with shrieks and what-have-you; but when Christine approached him (very calmly, I might add), Nick Rhodes was a perfectly patient and kindly gentleman. She's got it on instant recall in her head. You can ask her for any detail and she can replay it for you.

Now. For those of you who have read Choices Meant for Gods, no, General Nicolas Lont is NOT based on Nick Rhodes. Please note that the book is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents depicted therein are either products of my imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Having said that, anyone looking for a character who might have been "influenced by" Nick Rhodes should revisit the god Parrin Aeschere.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: pseudonym, Nick Rhodes, Nicolas James Bates, Duran Duran, Choices Meant for Gods