British glam legends DURAN DURAN are not retired yet, although they’ve been around since 1978. So far they canned 15 LPs, with Future Past as the most recent one, released in 2021.
Back now to the past, back to 26 March 1983, 40 years ago when DD topped
the UK Singles Charts with IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW?. It was
also a success in the US where it peaked at #4.
Band: DURAN DURAN Who: Hits machine from Birmingham, UK Active: 1978-present / 15 studio LPs with last
year’s Future Past as the most recent one.
Anniversary album: RIO – their 2nd longplayer Released: 10 May 1982 – 40 years ago today Score: #2 in the UK, #1 in Canada and Australia
Pitchfork said: “With Rio, Duran Duran became a group of ultra-proficient musicians,
capable of churning out chart-topping pop songs with effortless aplomb, as well as a teen-baiting boy band, setting schoolgirls’ hearts aflame with their sharp clothes and packaged personas. It was simultaneously style-over-substance and substance-over-style; even the album’s neon and pastel cover art became something of a shorthand for the gilded excess
of the ’80s.”
Turn Up The Volume: The glam and glitter boys band knew exactly how to
attract armies of fans worldwide. Looking flashy, sounding sickly sticking, and
acting like the coolest band on the planet is what DD all did back in the day.
Singles/clips: My Own Way / Hungry Like The Wolf / Save A Prayer
Ultimate Classic Rock Magazine says: “That album title looks
ahead as much as it glances backward, and the music itself aims
to combine these moments in time, as well. But Duran Duran are
at their best here when they don’t try to escape their legacy – like
how “Tonight United” adopts the new wave bounce of “Planet Earth”
for yet another new decade. Embrace it, guys. You’ve earned that right.”
Turn Up The Volume: Today the veteran wild boys sound exactly
like the young wild boys of 40 years ago. The same old glam and
glitter, but also the same old catchiness. It’s called growing older
in style and with pop grace.
Singles/clips: Invisible / Give It All Up / Anniversary
Single/clip: ANNIVERSARY
One of the four singles from
the upcoming LP
John Taylor (bassist and the band’s co-founder) said: “ANNIVERSARY’ is
a special song for us. Obviously, we were conscious of our own impending
40th anniversary of making music together, but we wanted the song’s meaning
to be inclusive in the broadest possible way. After playing and working together
for so long, we very much appreciate what ‘being together’ and ’staying together’
can really mean, it’s not something we would have thought song-worthy 40 years
ago but we do today! It was also fun to build a track with hints of previous Duran
hits, they’re like Easter eggs, for the fans to find.”
The glam gentlemen still know how to write energetic and magnetic pop
earworms. They still have the right reflexes after 40 years. Yes, they grow
older in flashing style.
The video clip features lookalike stars including Elton John,
Madonna, Stormzy, Brad Pitt, Daniel Craig and more.
Simon Le Bon (frontman): “Nick suggested some girlish voices
on “MORE JOY!” and I knew exactly where to find them — CHAI,
post- modern, all-girl Japanese punk band, whose energy and
pure sense of fun might actually blow your ears off! We are
honoured to have them sprinkle their pink neon magic spikey
dust onto our song. “
The glam boys still know how to nail it
Have more joy here…
80s Brit-glam stars DURAN DURAN have no intention to retire.
Five years after Paper Gods they have a new longplayer in the
pipeline. FUTURE PAST arrives on 22 October. They invited
several guests to join them for the new record.
For the new single INVISIBLE they called Blur‘s guitarist Graham Coxon
to pass by. If I didn’t read the press statement I wouldn’t have a clue Coxon
was somewhere on it.
