Live in Dubai: Duran Duran
March 8th, 2012 at The Sevens Stadium

By Mindy Miller
March 14, 2012

Over three decades since they first exploded onto the pop scene, British pop icons Duran Duran showed the enthusiastic crowd at the Sevens Stadium that they’ve still got it, even if their posters may not adorn as many bedroom walls as they once did.

Die-hard ‘Duranees’ hoping to recapture their youth joined hands with younger generations at a concert that was both visually stunning and full of energy. Opening with the atmospheric “Before the Rain,” frontman Simon Le Bon (who still has the moves) made a dramatic entrance in an outfit seemingly inspired by British illusionist Derren Brown. The fans went berserk for a killer version of the band’s first single – 1981's “Planet Earth” – followed by their Bond movie theme “A View To A Kill.”

Duran Duran went on to perform classic cuts including “The Reflex” (which got the requisite ‘Flex-flex-flex-flex-flex’ singalong from the crowd), “Notorious” and “Hungry Like The Wolf,” interspersed with material from last year’s Mark Ronson-produced album All You Need Is Now.

There were a few surprises – an enthusiastic cover of Grandmaster Melle Mel’s “White Lines (Don’t Do It)” and a mash up of “Wild Boys” and Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s famously-banned-by-the-BBC “Relax” both got great responses – but none in the encore, as “Girls On Film” and “Rio” (complete with fireworks) were blasted out to close a brilliant set that was a definite hit with the highly appreciative audience.

Courtesy Rolling Stone