Screaming teenagers hail Duran Duran (ANANOVA)

Duran Duran have been besieged by teenagers as they toured a school funded by the Brit Awards.

In the run-up to next week's music ceremony, the winners of the outstanding achievement award met the students of the Brit School in Croydon.

Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor were met with screams of delight by the schoolchildren.

Looking utterly bemused - as the scenes were reminscent of the band's early days - the three were enveloped by the jubilant crowd as they posed for photographers.

The band inspected the dance studio, theatre, recording studio and technology labs before facing a grilling in a Q&A session from 50 students.

Le Bon, 45, seemed overwhelmed by the response at the school. "We did not come here expecting anything - they are very confident children."

Referring to the campus, he said: "I am very impressed. It is just fantastic and I wish I had gone to a school like this. The kids are so happy."

The Brit School, which was set up in 1991, is jointly funded by proceeds from the Brit Awards and the Department for Education and Skills. It takes children aged 14-19 and accepts 750 students every year.

"I really did not know about this school before today," said Le Bon. "Suddenly, it makes a lot more sense - the whole Brits thing. Awards ceremonies are slightly bogus if that's all there is."

The singer said he was "very excited" about next week's award but would not disclose what the band would be singing.

He said: "We are performing but I don't want to spoil the surprise," he said, but he added: "I won't be lip-synching."

Story filed: 16:09 Wednesday 11th February 2004

Music Legends Besieged on School Tour
By Caroline Gammell, PA News

Music legends Duran Duran were besieged by teenagers today as they toured a school funded by the Brit Awards.

In the run-up to next week’s music ceremony, the winners of the outstanding achievement award met the students of the Brit School in Croydon.

Singer Simon Le Bon, keyboard player Nick Rhodes and drummer Roger Taylor were met with screams of delight by the schoolchildren.

Looking utterly bemused, the three were enveloped by the jubilant crowd as they posed for photographers.

Wearing jeans, grey jackets and freshly highlighted hair, they looked the part of contemporary pop stars.

The band inspected the dance studio, theatre, recording studio and technology labs before facing a grilling in a Q&A session from 50 students.

Le Bon, 45, seemed overwhelmed by the response at the school. “We did not come here expecting anything – they are very confident children.”

Referring to the campus, he said: “I am very impressed. It is just fantastic and I wish I had gone to a school like this.

“The kids are so happy.”

The Brit School, which was set up in 1991, is jointly funded by proceeds from the Brit Awards and the Department for Education and Skills. It takes children aged 14-19 and accepts 750 students every year.

“I really did not know about this school before today,” said Le Bon.

“Suddenly, it makes a lot more sense – the whole Brits thing.

“Awards ceremonies are slightly bogus if that’s all there is.”

The lead singer said he was “very excited” about next week’s award but would not disclose what the band would be singing.

He said: “We are performing but I don’t want to spoil the surprise,” he said, but he added: “I won’t be lip-synching.”

Duran Duran – which first got together in the spring of 1978 – have had a string of hits over the decades, including Girls On Film, Rio and Notorious.

They staged a comeback in the early 90s with the hit single Ordinary World and have sold more than 100,000 tickets for their forthcoming UK tour in April.

“It is incredible,” said 43-year-old Roger Taylor. “We are back up to the same numbers as we were in the 80s. And after that many years away from the game, to get this response has been amazing.”

Taylor was equally impressed with the school, which he said would teach the students about the reality of the music industry.

“When we started out, we were more interested in the music and just signed whatever,” he said.

“Now, they have got some idea of the business of the industry, which is just as important.”