Duran Duran headed to Tel Aviv
By DAVID BRINN
04/26/2011 21:59

More than a few hearts went a-flutter on Tuesday upon the announcement that 1980s pop rock idols Duran Duran are going to perform in Israel on July 30 at the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds as part of the Pic.Nic festival which is also hosting Moby on July 12 and Jane’s Addiction on September 1.

Before there was Justin Bieber, there was Simon LeBon with his good looks and his British band’s sleek new wave sound and almost Beatlemania-like popularity. Driven by the onset of MTV and stylish songs “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Girls on Film” and “A View to a Kill,” the Birmingham- based band was one of the most successful recording and touring units of the 1980s, selling upwards of 100 million records throughout their long career.

While they’ve never split up, the band’s fortunes waned following their initial span of fame with various personnel changes ensuing. The original lineup of John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor (none related), Nick Rhodes and Le Bon reunited in the early 2000s, and Andy Taylor has since left the group again to be replaced by guitarist Dom Brown. The quintet of the two remaining Taylors, Rhodes, Le Bon and Brown just released Duran Duran’s 13th studio album, All You Need is Now – produced by Mark Ronson – and are launching a world tour in its support.

“We’re excited to be appearing in Tel Aviv in the framework of the Pic.nic festival. This is an important tour for us and we’re glad that Israel is part of it,” Le Bon said in a statement issued by promoter Shuki Weiss. Duran Duran last performed in Israel in 1993.

Courtesy Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Music/Article.aspx?id=217982