In “What year is this?” news, the band that made many a teenager swoon back in the 80s, Duran Duran, is touring the States in support of their latest album, Paper Gods. If you haven’t heard the new album, it’s pretty good, and the single “Pressure Off”, featuring Nile Rodgers and Janelle Monáe, is pretty damn catchy. And, bonus, the guys are still holding on to their teen idol looks.
The tour, which runs through September, features the band singing a few new tunes from Paper Gods, along with hits “The Reflex,” “Wild Boys,” “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Rio.” So, if you’re a fan, there’s not much time to go to the bathroom during this show. You can see the setlist and pictures on the band’s Facebook page, if you’re curious. Sadly, keyboard player Nick Rhodes has had to take a leave of absence from the tour, returning to the UK to deal with some family issues, but lead singer Simon Le Bon, drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Taylor are still out there being all handsome and musically talented.
In the latest issue of PEOPLE, which is available on newsstands today, Simon, who I can’t believe is 57, reminisced about the bands heyday and dealing with love-crazed Duranies, telling the magazine that “people would go to quite extreme lengths to get into our personal space or to our underpants.” He delivers more detail on that as well as life on the road in the interview.
On the band’s longevity: The band is more important than any one of us. Plus, we’re friends. We all still want to make new music and go and play every night.
On life on the road, then vs. now: We used to spend a lot of time going out to parties after shows, but we don’t do that so much now because you really need all your energy. But fans still try to find out where we’re staying!
On their craziest fan encounter: It was in a hotel in Japan, and a girl was in my closet when I checked in. I was slightly frantic. It was definitely an inside job.
I don’t know about you, but I would still hide in a Japanese hotel room closet to get into John Taylor’s “personal space.” What a hunk. #duranie4life
Photo credit: WENN.com, Getty Images
Yep. Boys in bands are that for life. My husband’s dad is a career musician, won a Juno back in the day and never really hit it big after that. He still has seven bands, plus his random projects and his teaching music to his grandchildren and students, and I think he still plays in his sleep lol
My friend and I went to their show last weekend. It’s the fifth time I’ve seen them live. Their shows just keep getting better and better! And yes, I’m still crushing hard on John Taylor. #Duranie4life
I love him. He is my teenage crush
Mine too. Still is in fact.
Mine too! I’m going to see them on Sunday and cannot wait!
And mine! I kissed his lips on a poster until the paper dissolved!
This is really great, love them. My teenage son is in a band and he knows 80s music pretty well, he’s pretty heavily influenced by some artists from back then, but Duran Duran hasn’t been on his radar (despite my vinyl copy of Rio in the stack of records he listens to!). I was just trying to describe the depths of their popularity to him last week when I read something about the tour, I could tell he didn’t get it.
As for the attraction, I was more of a Morrissey fangirl but I still found them all pretty compelling. That whole era was magical for me. 🙂
The guys are aging well.
I’ll say! I was wondering why they put some young guy in the pic for a story about Simon Le Bon!
While I was a Police (Sting) fangirl in the 80s, I did save room in my heart for Duran Duran, Adam Ant and Robert Palmer. Sigh….John Taylor was/is such a pretty man.
John Taylor soo cute!!!
He still is!!
http://img2-1.timeinc.net/people/i/2012/news/john-taylor-300.jpg
I just saw them in Nashville last week and they put on a great show. Nile Rodgers got everyone up out if their seats also, if you have a chance to see them live I would go.
Vegas residency? Please?
I love some Duran Duran, but am I the only one that thought the music video to Hungry like the Wolf was creepy?
Yes.:-)
But I can see how through today’s filters, a guy pursuing a woman as ardently as Simon did would seem like a stalking creep.
A really hot stalking creep ree. That I so would hit it.
Thank goodness we did not have Swipe Left in the 80s!
It wasn’t that Lebon came off as a stalker (it’s an 80’s video and not to be taken THAT seriously) it’s more the way it was filmed has a creepy atmosphere to it. Like they were going for old Hollywood mixed with 80’s cheese but ended up somewhere in unsettling territory (I’m not sure that makes sense to anyonw but me) The close ups of Lebon especially for some reason. IDK I can’t really explain it. But having just rewatched it, I think it reminds me of a movie that has similar shots and actually was scary. Just can’t think of what that is. I’m going to be thinking about this all day now lol
Interesting. To me it’s just such a quintessential 80s video, in all its cheesy glory, that I can feel nothing but fondness and nostalgia. I remember thinking it was just SO edgy at the time. So many of those videos do not hold up at all.
I agree Esmom. Their videos were so interesting to watch. I even enjoyed their live video of The Reflex when it was on heavy rotation on MTV. Back when MTV actually showed videos all day long.
The cover art for RIO is still one of my all-time favorites.
Bonzo, I miss the original incarnation of MTV so much! And yes the Rio cover art is great. I still like to gaze at a lot of the 80s album art.
every time I mock Beliebers and the fans like them I silently remember my teen self crying when Simon Lebon got married.
Yes! And I can’t believe he is still married to Yasmin. It must be love (sniffle, sniffle) 😉
I still remember their wives/girlfriend’s names 30 years later… gah! I wasn’t jealous of Yasmine or Julianne (Nick’s wife), but I was jealous of Renee and Giovanna (John & Roger’s SOs).
I can still remember running down to the store every Thursday to check out Teen Beat and other teenybopper mags for any pieces on the band. Ahhh… so many waiting for news in the pre-internet days!
I always crushed on Simon so much. Still do.
Yep. Still pretty. *Leaves to listen to Come Undone*
They all look great, and it’s nice that they’re still doing well to this day.
It’s nice to see they’re all ALIVE and still making music. I don’t know about the rest, but I was thrilled to hear that John kicked his drug/alcohol problems and got his life together.
Love him, love Duran Duran. I’ve seen them in concert so many times, including the Paper Gods tour. They put on a great show and the older songs still hold up. Duranie for life.
Saw them this past Wednesday night for the first time since their ’93/94 tour and I was pleasantly surprised at how tight they sounded and how great Simon’s voice is holding up.
It was such a fun show – love that they played mostly old stuff. We had an excellent time dancing our butts off with the crowd. I’m still singing ‘Wild Boys’ and ‘A View to a Kill’ this many days later.
A quick glance had me thinking Bradley Cooper vibes.
Me too, Kaiser. John Taylor was my teenage crush and I still think he’s good lookin’ dude 30 years later! #duranie4life
ETA: Joy William’s cover of Ordinary World is worth checking out. So hauntingly beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h09XFa49lM
Love them! Met them John & Simon when I was 15. Lost my mind. Pretty sure 30 years later, I’d have the same response. Duranie for life.
He can play with me every night. They all can.
Team Roger. I broke my parents’ DVD player stopping, rewinding & pausing DD videos.