April 8 2012 | Happy Easter! | The band has just concluded a successful australasia tour. They played 10 shows in 20 days travelling from Dubai to Singapore, from Seoul to Hong Kong heading to Australia where they played six more fantastic shows.

This new installement is almost entirely dedicated to this new recent chapter of the All You Need Is Now World Tour. We have some cool reports and reviews from our friends around the globe, pics, exclusive scans and video downloads.

The band has got some of their most positive reviews ever just like this one from Time Out Melbourne but most of all they have made happy thousand of persons in every city they visited. This tour is definitely a party for both, the band and the audience!

dates are still in the working progress mode.

Meanwhile Duran have announced some more dates of their Summer 2012 tour. Thus far, 10 European and 12 North American dates... Yeah, more shows in the Us that they already toured twice since the new album release.

So far the band has eleven U.S. cities lined up from coast to coast, with most venues not yet announced. The band will continue to update their website as more shows are added or confirmed.

The band has a great fan following in Usa and unlike what Spin magazine says, Duran is actually one of the most loved UK band of all time. For the record we have to report that they made the Spin magazine list of the the most hated rockstars in Pop History [Duran Duran at # 21 - # 1 were Milli Vanilli and #2 Limp Bizkit]. Original article here

21 DURAN DURAN

CHARGE AGAINST: British neo-colonialist fops whose clunky dance pop kept funk off '80s radio.

CASE FILES: In the early 1980s, Duran-bashing was the favorite pastime of insecure, jealous high school dudes (and insecure, jealous dads) policing the sexual fantasy lives of teenage girls who craved swishy pretty boys. In Talking to Girls About Duran Duran, author Rob Sheffield says the band inspired the most venomous arguments around his high school cafeteria tables. But even to hard-core music fans, they often seemed like a blight: At a time when George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" was struggling for airplay, radio programmers insisted that young Americans dance to these limp Brits, who, to make matters worse, had shouldered past more interesting new-wave countrymen like ABC and the Psychedelic Furs on their way across the Atlantic. Said Robert Christgau: "These imperialist wimps are the most deplorable pop stars of the post-punk if not post-Presley era."

THE DEFENSE: The '60s generation can keep "Like a Rolling Stone." Our text is poptimism, cool synth sounds, and "Save a Prayer," and we're not apologizing for it. K.H.

The band have a six-date South American jaunt getting underway April 28 in Brazil, followed by a monthlong run through Europe, which includes a headlining slot at the Exit Festival on July 12, and wraps with a July 25 appearance at the Sporting Club Summer Festival in Monte Carlo. The band is also supposed to play in London on july 27 2012, that's also the day the Olympic Games begin in London... that's why more than one fan suspects that this show might be part of the Olympics games celebrations.

South America

04/28 – Brasilia, BR | Nilson Nelson
04/30 – Rio de Janerio, BR | Citibank Hall
05/02 – Sao Paulo, BR | Credicard Hall
05/04 – Buenos Aires, AR | Luna Park
05/05 – Buenos Aires, AR | Luna Park
05/08 – Santiago, CL | Espacio Riesco

Europe

06/27 – Prague, CZ | O2 Arena
06/28 – Budapest, HR | Papp Laszlo Sport Arena
07/06 – Thessaloniki, GR | Earth Open Air
07/12 – Novi Sad, SR | Exit Festival
07/16 – Verona, IT | Verona Arena
07/18 – Rome, IT | Foro Italica
07/20 – Cattolica, IT | Arena Della Regina
07/21 – Lucca, IT | Piazza Napoleone
07/23 – Carcassonne, FR | The Theatre Jean Deschamps
07/25 – Monte Carlo, MC | Sporting Club Summer Festival

Current News: Simon in Japan

While I write this Simon is about to leave Tokio, he has spent some time with his friend, music producer Nick Wood, writing material for some upcoming SYN projects.

Simon, Nick Wood and his wife Noriko have been tweeting comments and pics of their trip to Shimoda [where the duo went for some song writing inspiration] and also from the studio.

On April 5 Simon said:

"Nick Wood & me in the studio at SYN. Two really good little song seeds planted... one got shoots already."

Below a cool pic of Simon and Nick Wood taken on April 5 at Hanami. Wood says on his blog "Last night Syn celebrated Hanami [cherry blossom festival] at Yasukuni Shrine. The Syn team enjoyed themselves under the cherry blossoms with food, drinks, and laughter.

News originally posted on Nick Wood's blog

"Simon Le Bon, co-founder and Chairman of Syn paid a visit to the British Ambassador Sir David Warren at his official residence yesterday April 5th."

A Diamond is Forever

According to amazon.co.uk the dvd will be released on July 2, 2012

Prodouct details

Format: PAL
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 1
Classification: Exempt
Studio: Eagle Vision HD
DVD Release Date: 2 July 2012
Run Time: 116 minutes
ASIN: B007RONF0Y

Whilst we all wait to get our hands on this fan-tastic dvd and write down our own comments let's just read the flattering review of that Manchester show published by the prestigious english music bible 'Redord Collector' magazine [transcription by Salvo].

Duran Duran
Manchester MEN Arena
16/12/11
View: front

Opening with Before The Rain, a sedate track from their new album, the fans were already on their feet, and just as well, given that the cult anthem, Planet Earth, followed. LeBon was in fine voice and the rhythmic agility of the band impressive — a winning formula boasting intricate, creative percussive embellishments and John Taylor’s funk-driven bass. Girl Panic pumped out adrenalin with its energetic Latino groove, while the accompanying controversial video was screened. Amazingly, all the new cuts merged seamlessly with the staples — as if there was a few years rather than decades between them. The Reflex continues to inject a youthful, feel—good hit into the bloodstream, Tiger Tiger remains as dreamy and exotic an instrumental as ever, and Careless Memories was another flashback to their iconic debut. The energy level was well and truly rocked up for the encore Wild Boys, and the closer, Rio, left the audience on a high. J. Forrest.

Australasia Tour Celebration

It's time to relive the recent shows with lots of reports, articles, pics, scans, videos and tidbits. Enjoy!

Duran Duran rock Dubai Dubai

"After 90-odd minutes of delivering one stirring melody after another the band dived into Rio , a mighty offering that consolidated they place in the hearts of each and every person present at the 7evens."

gulfnews.com

The guys played at the fantastic 7evens Stadium. The stadium works brilliantly with the abundance of space that offered everyone a good view of the stage even when standing. It also allowed for lots of dancing and singing along from the fans.

A 7000 strong crowd greeted the group with enthusiasm. With Dubai being the first show of Duran Duran’s Asian tour, the group’s performance was energetic and full of sparkle, courtesy of the singer Simon Le Bon’s disco-tastic shirt and the keyboardist Nick Rhodes’s sequinned Blues Brothers suit.

While the melodramatic and sombre Before the Rain was an odd choice for an opener, it at least signalled that Le Bon’s voice was back in order

In a tender moment, Le Bon dedicated the regal ballad Ordinary World “to the people of Syria”, before the group stormed home with Wild Boys, Girls on Film and Rio complete with fireworks.

[Gulfnews and The National]

Lost in Dubai with Duran Duran

Fabrizia and Federica, twins, long time fans and great friends of mine reports from Dubai.

Wow! That's all we can say after living a three days long dream... three long Duran-days!

My sister and I decided to have a little holiday in march and it actually coincided with the Duran show in Dubai. When we first decided to go to there we couldn't imagine that we were going to experience such a fantastic and intense Duran adventure.

It all started meeting the guys at the airport, all except John who arrived from LA the next day. They obviously were tired but sweet and surprised to see us there. From that night on we had many occasion to see the band and the crew, they were all very nice and friendly people.

The crew is like a big family and they made us feel like we were part of the the group in those days.

March 8th was probably the best day of the whole vacation, it was the show day! We took a taxi to the Sevens Stadium, which is located right in the middle of the desert, such a fantastic venue... we have to say that it was all very well organized.

Most of the crowd were european with lots of english people.

We managed to get front row, right in front of John. We waited for hours the beginning of the show but it wasn't a boring, they played a lot of 80s cool music and they projected onto the screen some Duran Duran videos... all this framed by a wonderful and surreal sunset. A breathtaking view.
The show started at 9 pm. John was surprised to see us there [we weren't lucky enough to see to see him before the show] and he smiled to us more than once.

The band sounded and looked fantastic, they played every song masterfully!

The crowd was enthusiastic, danced, clapped and sang a long all the songs but always in an orderly manner, not like we have experienced in Italy where is always hard to get front row without being pushed all the time. So it was a pleasure to see the show in such a great condition, front row and with enough human space around us.

The stage set was the same they used on the Uk tour except for the masks which were missing, we guess it wasn't easy to travel them around the world since they were so big.

Simon dedicated Ordinary World to the Syrian people, that was such a great moment of the concert and John at the end of the show thanked all the people who flew in to see them in Dubai... how sweet!

Last but not least, something quite unxpected, the fireworks! We couldn't belive our eyes, what a show! Duran in the desert and the fireworks... was that a dream?
After the show we had one more week to relax and enjoy the Dubai area and the beach...

We returned to Italy with a bag full of great memories but the ones we most treasure are about attending the Duran show and spending some quality time with the guys.

We just want to say thanks to Simon, Roger, Nick and John and all the fantastic people of the crew. You really made our holiday so special.

Durasian shows

Eunhee & Nakyoung's tour diaries

Airport Arrival
Duran Duran were scheduled to arrive at Singapore airport in the evening, so we [Eunhee, Nakyoung and two other Korean fans] went to the airport to welcome them. There were about ten fans waiting for Duran Duran. When Duran Duran came out of the gate, we gave them flowers saying "Welcome to Asia". Duran Duran smiled at us and thanked us.
Roger wasn't with them at that time. We later found out that there were some problems with his passport, so he took the next flight. Amber was also at the airport waiting for Simon. As soon as she saw him, she hugged him and they looked both happy. Duran Duran left the airport escorted by the produciton crew.

Hotel
Next morning we went to the hotel they're staying and met Duran Duran. When we met John in the lobby, he took the picture of us and tweeted it. Yeah!
In the afternoon, Nick went to Andy Warhol Exhibition and when he returned, we asked him to say hello to Korean fans. It was very kind of him to say nice words for Korean fans.

Right click, save target as. It's a .avi video and you can watch it easily with a vlc media player

Show
When the show began, we felt a little bizzare because the audience on John's side mostly were still sitting.
When we bought presale tickets as soon as they opened in December, John-side front tickets weren' t available. Maybe that explains.
The setlist was shorter than the UK shows we attended last year in December. Other than that, the show was great as always. Accordingly 5,500 audience cheered Duran Duran and sang along together.

Funny anecdote: at one moment Simon seemed not to be able to read the setlist, complaining that there wasn't enough light.
John made a joke, "You need spectacles, Charlie. Ahahah."

Airport Arrival
The next day, Duran Duran took Korean Air to fly to Korea. The flight landed very late at night.
There were many flights arriving around that time, so Duran Duran had to stay in a long queue to pass the immigration.
Thank God, one official finally came and helped out John, Roger and some other staff. We were waiting for Duran Duran to pass the immingration wearing pink hats with pink D-logo attached to our bag carrier.
When John and Roger came out, we said "Welcome back to Korea". Craig Duffy, the tour manager, took a picture of us as posted on Duran Duran facebook.
At that time many Korean fans were waiting for Duran Duran outside the gate and when Duran Duran finally came out... the fans screamed and gave them flowers and presents they prepared. It seemed Duran Duran really enjoyed the fandemonium as John tweeted.

Right click, save target as. It's a .avi video and you can watch it easily with a vlc media player

Show
The venue, Olmpic Hall, was filled with pink D-lights and pink Duran Duran banners.
This show was third Duran Duran show in Korea after 1989 and 2008. We remember in our schooldays about 80% of schoolmates were into Duran Duran.
Now most of fans are in their late thirties or early forties but Duran Duran definitely brought back our teenage girliness.
From start to end, the audience was very enthusiastic about the show. Fans cheered and jumped with excitement and sang along songs the whole time.
Simon said he would like to dedicate Ordinary World to Syrian people as he did in Singapore.
When Come Undone started to play, fans flew paper airplanes toward the stage which made a beautiful scene.
Before the encore songs, Simon said "Kamsahamnida" [Thank you in Korean] and "Saranghaiyo"[Love you in Korean]. Obviously fans all went crazy!

Airport Departure
Korean fans were again at the airport to see Duran Duran off next day. Duran Duran were so nice to fans, taking pictures and giving them autographs. John even autographed on his hotel key card and gave it to one of the fans waiting!

Show
Hong Kong audience was kind of wild and loud. Personally, we didn't like the crowd very much as we prefer crowd concentrating on music more.
This time Simon dedicated Ordinary World to Japanese People. Maybe because of one year anniversary of Tsunami in Japan.
We noticed Yasmin joined Amber and they also enjoyed the show near the stage.
Since it was the last show in Asia, we all couldn't help bursting into tears when the encore songs were played.

Airport Departure
Next morning, Duran Duran left for Brisbane. We of course saw them off at the airport before we took our flight back to Korea. Craig and Nick respectively asked us if we were going to any Austrailian shows as well.
We joked, "Nope, we're almost bankrupt now after reheasal shows in September, UK shows in December and these Asia shows." Hahah!

Back Home
The dream is over, shows in Asia are over... we're still full of mixed emotions. Sometimes we feel like crying, sometimes we laugh out loud.
Friends and colleagues say we seem out of our mind. Yes, how can't we after being following Duran Duran on tour?
All we can say is that we look forward to seeing them again soon even though we don't know when. We just hope Duran Duran keep hitting the road with their music again and again and again.

Fan report: Dian reviews the Singaporean show

The guys are in the best shape ever, very tight! I have watched them once in the 90s and twice in the noughties. this formation with Dom on guitar is just lethal.

The performance was much better than the previous ones. Like in a football team, everybody passes the ball accurately and knows their team mates’ next movement.

Simon was in a good mood, had good interaction with the crowds and his vocal performance was solid, better than I have ever remembered it. John and Roger’s interlocking rhythm was stellar...second to none. We were totally immersed! Nick was consistent and creative. Dom was outstanding…the guitar was spot on throughout, he nailed each song perfectly. The solo on Ordinary World, for example, was clean and done neatly.

Before the Rain was a perfect opener, it warmed up the audiences nicely.Girl Panic! received the most rapturous reception. the band also showed the Girl Panic! video during the song. Cool is an understatement.

I can understand how a lot of fans feel Safe to be the weakest track on the album but watching it played live really did the song more justice. the performance of Anna Ross was great. we enjoyed her best on Safe as she took the centre stage. Great fun... and it provided a bit of variety to the show.

Simon Willescroft was versatile, we saw him played saxophone then a bit of keyboard with Nick and later percussions on Girl Panic!

There was some funny moments on the show when Simon had to stop awhile and tie his shoe lace in between songs. also when he had to see John’s set list because he couldn’t see his properly... and John asked him where he has put his spectacles…the crowds were spontaneously amused. During the introduction of the band, Simon asked a female fan to introduce him, the girl did so without hesitating and shouted something like “this is the amazing and the only one: Simon Le Bon and I always wanted to marry him!”

The band looked focused yet relaxed, played music seriously yet entertaining, matured display yet with the energy of the young.This is the band that was designed to make people party, and how incredibly they did, every time.

Excerpt from the revirew published here

The 5,500 strong gig goers comprising mostly fans in their late 30s and 40s included groups of MILFs clad in the tackiest of 80s Top of the Pops fashion alongside folks shouting the clichéd “Simon, I love you, Marry me” or “John, Play me like a bass guitar”

Opening with the dramatic, melancholic “Before the Rain” from the Mark Ronson produced “All You Need Is Now” LP, one could already sense that the night was going to be unforgettable as the crystal clear; pitch perfect famed vocals from 53 year old Le Bon resonated. He might be 20 kilograms heavier than in 1982 but that didn’t deter him from showcasing his deft dance moves.

In fact their new songs like “The Man Who Stole a Leopard” and “Girl Panic!” shared similar traits to vintage 80s Duran Duran vibes with the hypnotic synth lines, delirious bass poundings and processed live drums.

And the night wasn’t just about the core quartet of Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor, as their supporting artistes of the leggy femme fatale, back-up singer Anna Ross who wouldn’t have looked out of place in any of the band’s famous music videos, saxophonist Simon Willescroft and guitarist Dominic Brown performed with consummate gusto as the usual set ended with the popular “Wild Boys” and a cover of “Relax [Don’t Do It]”, the 80s shag anthem by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

A Concert For The Fans

Jeanette Chin

Review published here

Duran Duran played the Singapore Indoor Stadium and treated everyone to a Saturday night filled with a selection of their greatest hits and songs from their latest album, All You Need Is Now. The band gave a tremendous performance, emphasizing they are first and foremost a live band.

Opening the show in dramatic fashion with instrumental number “Return To Now”, leading into the lyrically poetic “Before The Rain”, the band then launched into an energetic rendition of “Planet Earth” and James Bond theme “A View To A Kill”. Mixing fast songs with ballads, the band delivered wave after wave of musical ecstasy.

Spending 2010 promoting All You Need Is Now, the band embarked on a tour spanning the globe in 2011, taking them through UK, Europe, North America, Dubai and Singapore. They will also be heading to Seoul, Hong Kong, Australia, and South America.

Midway through the tour, lead singer Simon Le Bon had encountered problems with his voice, forcing the band to take pause and wonder about a possible future without him. Tour dates were re-scheduled, so that he could recover, and after 3 months, they were back on the road again.

On Saturday night, Simon was in fine form. His voice was buttery smooth in “Come Undone” and showed no sign of strain throughout the evening, not even with hard-hitting tracks like “Wild Boys”.

Seoul: Stay With The Music

Duran Duran at Incheon Airport in Seoul
I've never gone to the airport to greet Duran Duran. I've never gone to the airport to greet anyone other than family or friends, actually. But, Duran Duran are like old friends to me [at least, in my mind] so I thought I'd give it a go.

This is only their third time in Korea. They came to Seoul for the first time in 1989 and then again in 2008 and then... tonight. It was pandemonium.

In Korea, it would seem that it is still the 80s.Roger was the first one through the gate. He saw the crowd. He heard the screaming... He turned around and went back in. My new friend Joon said, "Why did he go back in?" I said, "Because he's Roger." Ten minutes later...Nick and Simon emerged. Then, Roger came back out...got swarmed, poor thing.

Deena Roth

"Uber-cool keyboardist Nick Rhodes, 49, pounded out the chords on his decks with unremitting panache.
So much so that, later, when Le Bon was introducing the band, Rhodes was referred to as "the future of the human race... from outer space".

AsiaOne

Hong Kong

Duran Duran - Hong Kong Asia World Expo 14 March 2012

Only four years since their last concert, DD came back to Hong Kong on 14 March 2012. When I saw them in 2008 on the Red Carpet Massacre Tour, it had been almost 20 years since the tour of 1988/89 tour I'd followed all over the UK, just before I left the UK to live in Hong Kong.

In 2008, they had played an unusual outdoor venue. This gig was the venue where Lady GaGa has just sold out four nights that holds 14,000 people but Duran Duran were playing in a smaller hall - Hall 10 - that holds almost 6,000. It also wasn't sold out.

I was part of a small welcoming party to greet them at the airport the evening before the gig. The guys were tired but very sweet.

At about 8:40pm without any support, the guys took to the stage opening with 'Before the rain'. Unfamiliar to a lot of the audience, it was a little of a sombre start which was obviously deliberate when we heard the opening of the next song, 'Planet Earth' and the audience went nuts!

Simon looked good and was striking all the usual poses. While his dancing hasn't really improved over the years, it is his very own style and he does it well. Simon's energy throughout the show was impressive, since the other band members get a pretty easy time of it. Simon's daughter, Amber, showed similar [inherited?] energy in the wings, dancing away the whole show.

At two points, Simon descended into the audience. The first time picking a guy to sing in The Reflex with the 'Wai ai ai ai ai...' & the second picking a woman to introduce him. Both times, audience members grabbed him and kissed him and he didn't seem to mind at all!

The huge TV screens at the back alternately showed the band members' faces and other footage. I felt the 'Girl Panic' video to be a bit intrusive and detracted from the guys on stage. I'd never seen The fake 'Leopard' newsreel which was funny.

They played plenty of old classics, mixed with AYNIN tracks and the relatively recent classic, 'Ordinary World' which Simon dedicated to the victims and survivors of the Tsunami in Japan which had happened a year and a few days earlier.'White Lines' doesn't really fit, if you ask me, but that's just my opinion. Not sure if the guys are trying to sell the song's message, but it's a bit old now.

The other band members were great. Andy wasn't missed at all with the string skills of Dom Brown. Simon Willescroft claims to be a saxophonist but he is much more. He started out with Nick at the keyboards, did play some sax and also drums. Multi-talented.

After two upbeat songs, 'Sunrise' and 'Wild Boys', we saw the guys leave the stage and leave us wanting more. Only a few minutes later, they returned to finish with 'Girls on Film' and 'Rio'.

Nick took quite a few shots of the audience as he joined the others for a final bow and then they were gone. Simon did promise to 'make up for' Duran Duran's lack of tour dates in this part of the world over their career and I can only hope he lives up to that promise. If it's another 20 years, I doubt any of us will be able to rock it out like we did the night of 14 March 2012.

Great new interview to Simon in Hong Kongonese newspaer

That’s because, on an earlier leg of the tour last year, singer Simon Le Bon – icon of suaveness, the voice that launched a thousand hits, and so on – suddenly lost the ability to sing. “I had a problem in May,” he says. “I was onstage in Cannes and I went for a high note and it just wasn’t there. I lost the top third of my range, which is about an octave. I wasn’t able to access that for more than three months. It was a long and challenging recovery period.”

The five-week swing through the US followed by some dates in Europe, he adds ruefully, “was supposed to lower me back in” before the band embarked on their most ambitious tour of their native Britain. “The most I can hope to do is five shows a week, and we were back to that almost straight away.”

For a man who has been one of the world’s most successful singers and songwriters for more than three decades, losing the very thing he’s famous for was, to say the least, a scary experience. “There were definitely some times during those three months” when he feared he might never get his full range back, he says. “In the first two to three weeks, there was no improvement at all. I was going to five or six different consultations a week; I had four therapists and a vocal coach. I spent a lot of time to no avail.

“It became very depressing. I questioned my whole career, my whole reason for being here. People tend to define themselves by the job they do, especially as they get older,” says the 53-year-old.

“It was a frightening thought: what would I do with my life? After a month, I cancelled all my therapy sessions and went on holiday – I went sailing with my family around the coast of Croatia, which is so beautiful. It took the pressure off. When I got home, I sat down at the piano to see what I could do, and of the 12 semitones that had been missing, I was able to get to five. Then I knew it was going to get better. You can imagine the sense of triumph and relief.”

Triumph and relief are emotions the band have felt quite a bit since the release of the 2010 album from which the tour takes its name. After a series of releases that were only moderately successful, All You Need is Now has not only notched up impressive sales [and been accompanied by a rapturously received tour which Le Bon describes as among the most rewarding he’s done] it has also been their most critically acclaimed album for a long time. “We really want to get this album out there,” says Le Bon. “More people have heard this album than the previous three put together, probably.”

In fact, pretty much every album since their third, 1983’s Seven and the Ragged Tiger, has been compared unfavourably by critics to previous releases – in particular to the benchmark they set in 1982 with the album that brought them to worldwide attention: Rio, featuring the singles Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf and Save a Prayer. But then critics have often been so blinded by their mistrust of the band’s good looks and carefully crafted pop image that they forget to listen to the music. Fortunately that doesn’t really bother the band, or their fans, who have bought more than 100 million of their records over the years.

Australia: "home away from home"

Reviews

Excerpt from canberratimes.com.au's review

Sidney Entertainment Centre, March 27

Their rock-heavy, synthed-up, oh-so '80s style translated seamlessly into 2012, in part thanks to the recent resurgence of young bands recycling '80s synth-pop and new wave, in part because they have actually never stopped making music.

The crisp electro of Blame the Machines, taken from their 2010 album All You Need Is Now, nestled in comfortably beside the dreamy chillwave of 1983's Tiger Tiger and the anthemic first song from their first album, Girls on Film.

There were moments that bordered on the abysmally lame (Simon Le Bon's demi-god pose as the final applause raged, his daggy dad dance moves, a couple of recent songs like Before the Rain and All You Need Is Now which are just plain bad) but wouldn't you be disappointed if there weren't? Nostalgia ain't nostalgia if there's no cringe factor.

By the two-hour mark, the fab five had roared through a mini-medley of Hungry Like a Wolf, Sunrise, a cheeky glimpse of Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Wild Boys and still had energy to go.

In between the hits, the burning sax solos and the irresistible guitar riffs, there was banter that made this ol' gal, Sydney, feel like we were the only one.

Most of all, it felt like they actually wanted to be there. They were actually enjoying themselves. And so were we.

"The nucleus of a tour is never the old songs, it’s always the new songs and even if you end up only playing two or three songs off your new album, by the end of the tour you still feel that’s the direction you’ve taken the show in.”

Simon Le Bon, March 2012

Excerpt from creammagazine.com

Sandalfords, Swan Valley March 24 | therockpit.net, By Mark Diggins   There was a time when Duran Duran was one of the biggest bands in the world and to many gathered here tonight at a packed Sandalford Winery, on a beautiful night in the beautiful Swan Valley they probably still are. Tonight’s openers from Sydney, Red Ink, consists of a female singer and two guys behind decks, they’re pretty uninspiring and get a lukewarm response from the crowd except when they either throw in a snatch of a familiar song by another artist into their mix, or mention the name of tonight’s openers ‘Duran Duran’. Despite being slightly late on stage and beset with technical issues [with the power twice cutting out during the show meaning that at one point they are off stage for twenty minutes] nothing either dampens the spirit of the massive crowd gathered here or the band themselves tonight. We get off to a surprisingly low-key start though, as the band walks out and Simon stands in the deep blue shadows. A lot of the crowd is expecting they will kick the show off with something big. Instead we get the slightly morose ‘Before The Rain’ and although it’s immediately apparent that many of the crowd know the song you can’t help but notice the rise in the intensity of response for ‘Planet Earth’ and the further increase in crowd volume that meets ‘A View to a Kill’.

A band like Duran Duran, that is still a going concern and recording new music, is always going to have that slightly sticky predicament of giving the crowd what the majority obviously want – a set of the Greatest Hits, and plugging their later catalogue. They seem to almost get the balance right tonight, though the back to back placement of newer songs in the set like ‘All You Need Is Now’ with ‘Blame the Machines’ and later on ‘Girl Panic’, ‘The Man Who Stole The Leopard’ and ‘Tiger Tiger’ does try the patience of some, but it keeps the bars busy so at the end of the day everyone is happy. Duran Duran was first in WA back in 1983 when they played the old Entertainment Centre, and Simon enquires of the crowd [in between banter about stromatolites and the water in London] how many were there on that warm November evening – the answer seems to be that there were quite a few [and quite a few more that probably wish they were and so shout out anyway]. So almost 30 year later he we are, and after a subdued ‘Blame the Machines’ from 2010, Simon is out into the crowd to find a likely participant to help him with the next song. And it’s Mick, plucked from a few rows back, who proves up to the task of making the appropriate opening noises for ‘The Reflex’ which receives the biggest ovation of the evening so far. Rather than capitalise on that though they launch into ‘Come Undone’ which despite being a US Top Ten single back in the ‘90s seems to be less than familiar with most of the crowd. Despite few missteps tonight: ‘Safe’ probably gets the most subdued of crowd reactions before the audience lights up again for ‘Is There Something I Should Know?’ before the power cuts out for the first time. While we are waiting we almost get a joke from Simon but as it’s only two minutes before we’re back up and running I guess we’ll never know how a career as a stand-up would suit him?

As the ‘Careless Memories’ track kicks it, it’s interesting to think the song is 31 years old this year. But before we really get going the band is off the stage for 20 minutes as the power cuts out again. Coming back with the new single ‘Girl Panic!’ might quite not be what most of the crowd was after, especially after a few more wines. But Simon gets the participation going for ‘The Man Who Stole a Leopard’ with it’s fake news broadcast intro. For a band with such a huge back-catalogue it’s clear though where people’s hearts lie – and it’s that decade called the ‘80s where Duran ruled the roost. ‘Notorious’ goes down a treat [though I always found it a little innocuous], as does the cover of “White Lines’ [though some are asking why a cover when there are still so many hits to play] but the best is still to come. The laid-back ‘Ordinary World’; with Simon pondering the plight of the Syrian rebels, and dedicating the song to their cause; leads into the hysteria and mass crowd boogie that greets ‘Hungry Like The Wolf’ and it’s all light and shade as ‘Sunrise’ leads into a riotous ‘The Wild Boys’ which includes a smattering of Frankie’s Relax…

It’s a funny way to end as ‘Wild Boys’ clearly hasn’t dated as well as most of their catalogue – though I suspect that may very much be the point! Duran Duran has left the stage. After only the shortest of breaks, we’re back for the encores and an extended ‘Girls On Film’ that includes an extended jam and thorough introduction to the band including Simon getting another random patron – this time - Sarah to introduce him. And a great job she does of it too. The band closes with a sublime rendition of ‘Rio’ and with the condensed package of eighties pop in just those two songs everyone goes home happy. The band bows and are gone; and we wander off under the stars…

I meet Duran Duran with the help from all over the world

The above kiss picture was taken in Melbourne on March 19 during the band intro in Girls On Film. Pic by Kim

I looked at my friend who was coming with me to the Tempus Two concert and I was feeling uneasy about my meet and greet because I had chosen my cousin to come with me and my friend would have to be along while we went, As I was looking at her with amazement, I handed it to her, I felt such a feeling of excitment that I was able to give her this opportunity as well, I was so excited awaiting to hear of her experiance. I was waiting at the back of the centre with about another 80 to 100 fans, then suddenly screams, Simon just came out of the back stage doorand walk along the fence line signing, he got to me and sign my book then I asked him if he could sign my arm near my tattoo, he stopped looked and signed an S. with a full stop, now John and Nick were on the way to me as John had just past me some smarty pants behind me shouted, Oh come on John Smile, then with big grin he says ok that's all and walked to the car, it was Nick's turn he had a silver pen and signed my book I reached out and touched his hand and thanked him he smiled at me, Roger was half way down the line and then he was ushered to the car as the others were waiting, I was so sad I missed him. Magical night, concert number two, two days leading too it I am shaking like crazy, so nervus, thinking omg I'm gonna say something so stupid and the words will not come out when I open my mouth. Ok we had to be seated in our seats by 7pm, it was ten to seven when we arrived, I was freaking thinking I was going to be too late, I had decorated some little clip on Koala toys and glued some instraments on them to repsent each member of the band and left them in the car, I want to clip them on my bag strap and hope it to be a talking point and wanted to give them to them, well that didn't happen, nearly running to my seat. I meet the other KOFM winers and were al excited to meet the band, but I was the only one dressed up, so now I felt awesome that I made an effort for the ocasion, but one guy had a mullet wig, which was cool. OMG here comes the lady with our special sparkly blue armbands and we al stood up and march through the crowd felling on top of the world, going through the gate to go behind the stage, I had prepared my self for this moment I knew I would be so nervus I took two anxiety tablets and had a double shot of Kaluah and soda. Simon just walked past us and no one notice, I said Simon just walked pas us did anyone see him, the SAX Player, and only one girl said oh was that him, I was so worthy to be there! Someone comes out of a mobile building and said come thru, we had to line up along the fence like school kids. Then around from the corner walks Simon, Nick, John then Roger, it was like the world had stopped moving, I'm sure my face looked like the scream mask lol, I kept telling myself stay calm, they stood infront of a well lit wall and looked like they were posing for us to get a photo of them, but we were all getting our own photo with them...

I could not beleive this was happening I was standing there with them only a metre or two away, It was my turn, I walked up to them and said thank so much I'm one of their greatest fans, [straight away I thought, why did I speak] John said, Oh thats right! I turned to get my photo, I was so nervus and excited at the same time, it was my cousins time after mine, in her photo Nick is looking at my direction where I was standing. He must had ben looking at my decorated Pirate shirt with photos and logos of them all over it! We were all asked to move back as the last person got their photo and and the security guard said thank you everyone that's it, straight away I thought noo, they all walked away. I asked the guard if he could please take my book and pen for Roger to sign it as I had the other three already, he took it and then Nick turned around and came back and said ok what can i sign, someone got their tour book signed I asked if he could sign my shirt and with his hand on my shoulder and the other writing it felt so soft and slow as he was writhing I could have just screamed. I turned and thanked him and touched his hand once again, my cousin got her picture signed and the guard returned with my book, then we had to leave. I was shaking uncontrollable right then with such excitment. we went back to our seats but mine was far right to the stage on Dom's side and I stopped at the spot to be infront of Simon, none complained to me that I was standing infront of them so there I stayed, the night was full of magic times all through the night. They seemed so happy on stage and Simon was clowning around a bit having fun, he did his Na Na NA with someone in the crowd and a few songs later he came back down climbed up on the fence turned around and fell back in the crowd I got such a shock I could have touched him, he was been past back about two metres and the dick heads droped him, he went to the ground... the guards were going to just jump on me and push me aside and I was standing next to a nine year old girl with her mum and aunty, she was frightened from the guard going to jump in between us, but Simon got up and girl were diing at him but he got his way back through and up on stage again. Ok, that was unexpected excitment, wow what a night and to top of my wild Duran Duran ride I ended up with Rogers Drum stick, I screamed out "yes!" looked up and I saw Nick smiling at me, OMG I feel so blessed right now. I just want to thank you all the people that made my dream come true.

Simon and the sea

Article originally published on the Australian Courier Mail on March 24, 2012

Le Bon onboard

Years back, well the late ’70s and ’80s, when pop group Duran Duran were international celebrities, Toni Ferguson [pictured right] had a pin-up of lead singer Simon Le Bon. Imagine her surprise when the Gold Coast girl, who is married to businessman Tony Burnett, found a bearded Le Bon on their boat last week. The history was that, years back, a good friend of Toni’s went to a Duran Duran afterparty when Le Bon, a keen yachtie, asked if anyone had a boat so that he could go out the next day and experience the Coast’s waterways. Toni’s friend did and so began a regular tradition. Duran Duran were in town last week and her friend phoned asking if they could use her boat as they had sold theirs. ‘‘He was absolutely charming and very down to earth,’’ she said. ‘‘He even captained the boat back.’’

During the Australian tour Simon spent most of his free time on a boats... In the pics collage below you can see Simon and his wife Yasmin, with part of the the touring crew, enjoying a trip on a yatch, near the port of Sydney.

'80s Megastar, Simon Le Bon drove the delightful Swan 90, at Nautor’s Swan Australia Rally'

"Simon too shared in the enthusiasm surrounding the rally and was delighted to not only be involved, but also talk with fellow guests and have his picture taken."

Gold for Nautor’s Swan Australia Rally | article originally published on sail-world.com

'80s Megastar, Simon Le Bon drove the delightful Swan 90, Die Swane. - Nautor’s Swan Australia Rally'

Since 1966, the craftsmen at Nautor’s Swan have toiled, mostly in the cold and dark at Jakobstad, which is above the Arctic Circle in their native Finland, to produce just on 2000 of their iconic vessels.

On a sunny Friday at the end of March, after a dreary and wet Summer, something like 0.5% of this total came to swan about on Sydney’s magnificent harbour. However, when you consider our geographic location, literally at the dichotomous end of the globe and also the size of our population, relative to that of the whole world, this small percentage was more than a significant achievement.

As a testament to the high standards of these craft, which epitomise the zenith of build quality, the 10 vessels that came along for the Nautor’s Swan Australia Rally ranged in age from 1974 to 2004. As such, they also spanned all of the designers who have applied their typical visual cues to each and every one of the Swans. Firstly there was Sparkman and Stephens, briefly Ron Holland, then German Frers and most recently, his son, Mani.

Certainly the owner of the Swan 90, Die Swaene, was very happy to be out and about with all his fellow sailors. Stuart Gibson is a jovial Scot and seemed to have not only had a great time, but quite literally the best he’s ever had across many avenues of activity. Such were the laughs from all present as he recounted his day, that you almost did not notice just how ramped he was – and Stuart did not even drive.

That particular duty he happily passed on to Simon Le Bon, the very same 80s icon who is no stranger to yachts. Simon too shared in the enthusiasm surrounding the rally and was delighted to not only be involved, but also talk with fellow guests and have his picture taken. Alas, word of his seaward adventures had escaped, for there was a growing armada following Stuart’s impressive vessel, as they made their way around the harbour an under the other icon of 80 - the Sydney Harbour Bridge itself.

Simon Le Bon's Guide To Matrimony

Article originally posted on express.co.uk

He has been married to a supermodel for more than 26 years – now rock star Simon Le Bon has slammed divorcing couples, claiming many give up on their lives together too easily.

The Duran Duran front man, 53, who is married to model Yasmin Le Bon, reckons too many modern-day marriages come a cropper.

“These days I think people give up too easily,” he says.

“Everyone says it’s about compromise, which it is. Love, compromise, promises, presents, help. But ultimately it’s about not giving up. People are led to believe that if it’s not perfect then just ditch it and change it, these days. That’s a mistake.”

Simon married Yasmin, now 47, in December 1985 after seeing her picture on a magazine cover the year before. They have three daughters – Amber, 22, Saffron, 19, and Tallulah, 17.

The singer admits it hasn’t been easy seeing his girls bring boyfriends home.

“It’s hard because you know what they are thinking,” he laughs.

“But they are great girls with strong shoulders and it would seem they also have great taste because the boys they are with are great guys.”

Duran Duran rocking the fashion world

Excerpt from the interview originally posted on 7days.me

• “I remember it very clearly, we were playing a show at Newcastle City Hall (in the UK) and Roger Taylor was suffering with sweat running down his face into his eyes.
  “He got a towel, tore a strip off it and tied it around his head. I looked at it and thought ‘that looks kind of Jimi Hendrix-ish’ so I did it as well. That was on the Friday night and by Monday, all of our fans were doing it. And then, look what happened with the headband in the 1980s!”

Taylor x 2 book update and a film in the works?

Andy Taylor [ex Duran Duran] and Luke Sky [fashion] to publish book on Birmingham scene

According to thisisnotretro.com former Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor and Luke Sky of Fashion are currently writing a book on the Birmingham punk and new wave scene with Sky promising 'This will not be your usual autobiography, it's a whole new slant on Fashion, Duran Duran and the Birmingham punk/new wave scene of the 80s'. More details to follow closer to publication.

'In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death and Duran Duran'

According to amazon.co.uk the title for John Taylor's autobiography is 'In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death and Duran Duran' [but we assume that it might be just a working title].

A film about Duran Duran in the writing process?

According to this article Bret Easton Ellis is discussing a film about Duran Duran. Ellis tells Paris Review: “Every one of my books is an exercise in voice and character, an exploration…of the pain I’m dealing with in my life.” But in recent years he’s lost interest in novels and now spends all his time writing screenplays and TV series.

“What are you working on right now?”

“Well, a shark movie is taking up a lot of time. It’s set in Tampa, but for certain tax reasons it has to be shot in Spain.” He’s also discussing a film about Duran Duran, the English pop group of the 1980s. “Unfortunately,” he notes, Duran Duran offers no tragic material: “They’re all very well off and very nice and they live in castles. They’re married to beautiful women. No one died of a drug overdose.” Ellis says he also has more interesting projects. “But today? A shark and Duran Duran.”

Below John Taylor's comments from a recent intervierw published on ahlanlive.com

"I have no idea what next year is going to look like, I have no idea what the next music that we write is going to sound like.

I have no idea who’s going to produce the next album; if there’s even going to be a next album! I just don’t know. I’m up for it; if that’s the way it rolls out.

When you’re in I think we always have to keep the energy flowing, there’s nothing worse than art that’s devoid of energy and new ideas. Otherwise it starts to get flat and boring, and we’ve been through phases like that.

Anybody that’s been making albums for 30 years is going to have flat and boring albums in that mix, you just have to make sure the next one isn’t one of them."

International press scans!

7days 8 january 2012

7days 22 dececember 2011

7days Dubai advert

7days Dubai advert 2

7days Dubai march 4 2012

7days Dubai march 4 2012 cover

7days Dubai march 6 2012

7days Dubai march 8 2012

Daily Telegraph Le Bons

A&M issue 16 winter 2011

Apple Entertainment Hong Kong march 2012

Daily Telegraph Sidney march 26 2012

Friday magazine 2 march 2012 Dubai

Gulf News Tabloid march 6 2012 article

Gulf News Tabloid march 8 2012

Time Out Hong Kong march 14 2012

Gulf News Tabloid march 8 2012 article

Gulf News Tabloid march 11 2012

Herald Sun march 20 2012

Korea Vogue march 2012

OK!_mag ME version 368 march 2012

Record Collector 2 12

The Straits Times Life! feb 24 2012 cover

The Straits Times march 12 2012