Duran Duran – Here to Party

Tonight, you could feel the electricity in the air as the crowd started settling into their seats anticipating what was in store for them. Chic featuring Nile Rodgers will be opening the show for Britain’s Fab Five and they will be featured in an upcoming issue of Backstage360, as they well deserve it. Nothing stopped Duran Duran from giving the crowd a nearly flawless set of songs. They opened with the title track from their latest album, “Paper Gods”, the band established that they were still the same global musical force that dominated MTV in the ’80s. Simon Le Bon took total control of the crowd as he jumped into “Wild Boys” and “Hungry Like The Wolf.” The famous James Bond gun barrel opening played behind the group during their rendition of “A View to A Kill.” You could sense the cockiness Le Bon projected on stage when he was hitting those high notes. In nearly 40 years together, it was clear Duran Duran had not lost their swagger or chops.

One thing was very obvious, Duran Duran were here to party and show everyone what a good time should look like. Niles Rodgers joined the band to assist with a rendition of “Notorious,” which he produced back in 1986, and Duran Duran’s latest single, the infectious “Pressure Off.” Le Bon praised Niles for helping give them their first number one hit with his remix of “The Reflex.” Seeing Niles on stage playing along side his friends was a truly touching moment, especially after Rodgers spoke earlier about continuing to be inexhaustible despite a cancer diagnosis. He also announced that he is now cancer-free.

Continuing the party, Duran Duran paid their respects to David Bowie by segueing from “Planet Earth” into Bowie’s first hit, “Space Oddity.” The dance party kept going with songs like “The Reflex” and a fun cover of Grandmaster Flash’s “White Lines,” both showcasing chemistry between the original rhythm section of bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor (no relation). Duran Duran sent the fans home on a high note by closing with their hit “Rio.” This was one of the best concerts I have seen and with the addition of Chic and Niles Rodgers it was an Epic night to remember. Oh what a night!