Duran Duran returns to San Diego
Posted by LGBT WeeklyFeature Story, Section 4A, Entertainment News, Latest IssueThursday, July 21st, 2016
BY PAUL ALLEY, @PAULALLEY ON TWITTER
Tuesday, Aug. 2
One of the most internationally successful bands ever, Duran Duran, returns to San Diego on the latest leg of their North American Paper Gods Tour with â70s disco sensation Chic featuring Nile Rodgers and upcoming electronic artist Tokimonsta.
Formed 38 years ago in Birmingham, England by Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, the band rose to pandemonium levels of fame with ear grabbing hits like âHungry Like the Wolf,â âGirls on Filmâ and âThe Reflex.â Over the course of almost four decades now, they have sold more than 70 million albums with several No. 1 singles around the world.
Known for their extravagant music videos shot in exotic locations like Sri Lanka and Antigua, Duran Duran hit U.S. shores as part of the second British Invasion with 1982âs âRioâ at the same time as the debut of the revolutionary MTV. The pairing led to millions of screaming fans, world tours and it of course eventually came to a head which splintered the band in 1986. Yet the band persevered as a trio and continued having hits for a couple more years, though not nearing the levels previously seen. But in the midst of the early â90s grunge, an unexpected comeback occurred that fans and even critics loved. By the early 2000s the band was almost at the end when the original five members reunited. First touring and then recording a new album, the band had yet another comeback with Astronaut in 2004.
In September 2015, Duran Duran released their 13th studio album, Paper Gods, debuting at No. 10 on Billboardâs Top 200 Album chartafter signing a deal earlier that year with Warner Bros. It took several years to record after the return to roots Mark Ronson-produced âAll You Need Is Nowâ in 2011. The new album was also produced by Ronson along with Ben âMrâ Hudson and features the most collaborators the band has ever worked with on a single album including Nile Rodgers (Daft Punk, Madonna, David Bowie), Mark Ronson (âUptown Funk,â Adele, Amy Winehouse), Mr Hudson (Jay Z, Kanye West), Janelle MonĂĄe, John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Kiesza (âHideawayâ). âWe found a whole new level of inspiration on this album,â says the bandâs keyboardist and aesthetic overlord, Nick Rhodes.
Lead singer Simon Le Bon has a theory as to why the band are still friends, and still making vital, compelling music. âI think with some artists, as they get into extended careers, itâs like climbing up a rock-face â they start to look down. If you do that, musically, youâre pretty much dead in the water. Weâve always written music that turns us on; weâve never tried to tailor it to any kind of taste.â
For bass guitarist John Taylor, the most satisfying thing about the new album is that it captures the duality, the sense of conflict, at the heart of the bandâs music. âIn the original blueprint for the band, there was this dark, slightly progressive side to us, and it tended to get a little bit trampled on by the poptastic aspect. In that desire for pop satisfaction, you can forget what you set out to do. The new record really goes back to that strange early Duran mix: the hard-edged pop, coexisting with this dark, weird, experimental side.â
With the lead single, âPressure Off,â a song the band recorded in just a few days with Rodgers and Ronson, their sound is as infectious as ever. âIt was the quickest to record. Nile showed up with his guitar that has recorded $1 billion of songs. Its known as âthe hitmaker,ââ says drummer Roger Taylor. Adding, âThe good stuff comes really quickly. We recorded âHungry Like the Wolfâ in just a couple days as well.â
John says that âLast Night in the Cityâ was recorded as a remix in a manner of speaking, adding âWe EDMed it out.â He also said, âI am not terribly excited about the art of the remix right now. I am not hearing any super remixes where Iâm like âwow, I want a piece of that.â
âI know that artists always like to say this,â Nick continues, âbut truly, without a doubt, I think this is our best record since The Wedding Album. Being in this band is like being married to three other people. We take care of each other, but we also argue all the time, too, particularly about music. But thatâs essential. If you donât argue, donât have strong opinions, thatâs when you end up producing junk. We fight for every note â literally. But it doesnât feel like a battle. It feels like a victory.â
The Paper Gods Tour first came to San Diego last fall at a sold out show and was a spectacular performance that preceded the bandâs first appearance at the renowned Hollywood Bowl a couple days later. John says of the show now, âItâs just getting better. Itâs tighter with more punch. And itâs dynamic.â
John also says, âItâs a visual, multimedia show. The screen content we have put a lot into which has a way of bringing all the material together so that you donât quite feel the pull of time between where a song is 20 years old and the next is only a year old.â
Roger added, âThe stage set is largely designed by Nick and the bandâs lighting designer Vince which gives a whole new dimension to the show.â
Also appearing with Duran Duran is Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, who also toured with them last fall. With hits like âGood Times,â âLe Freakâ and âDance, Dance, Dance,â Chic amplifies the audience to dance frenzy before Duran Duran take the stage. Later in the show, Nile Rodgers returns to the stage to perform with Duran Duran on the classic hit he produced and played guitar on, âNotorious,â along with âPressure Off.â
Roger says, âWe did a great U.K. tour just before Christmas and the new stuff is coming together amazingly.â With John adding, âThe key is to keep the excitement throughout so that the audience is on that journey with us through the show.â
The show opens with the title track from Paper Gods, a daring song, its polemical lyrics set to a soundtrack of fierce originality and menace. âItâs a song about our obsession, with money, with material things,â says Simon, âand how we trivialize our lives, and humanity. Itâs definitely the angriest song on the album.â
But both the casual and fanatic can come expecting to hear the songs they know and love while catching something new. John says that itâs a retrospective show that features the new album prominently. Recent shows have included the beautiful 1993 top 10 hit âOrdinary Worldâ along with âCome Undoneâ from The Wedding Album, âGirls on Film,â âThe Wild Boysâ and â(Reach Up for the) Sunrise.â
The show also features a tribute to the late David Bowie, a major influence for the band, performing Bowieâs âSpace Oddityâ interlaced with the bandâs debut single âPlanet Earth.â Roger says, âI donât know if there would be a Duran Duran without David Bowie. I know I wouldnât be playing drums.â
John commented on how the glam rock which Bowie was part of revolutionizing ties into the bands unique connection with the LGBT community, saying âGlam rock was something I got into at 13. Most of my ideas about people come from music. Music is one of those things where people respond to it universally.â
âSometimes I feel like I am being manipulated by the media, the church, or even a country to think âI am differentâ be from one country to another or Northern California versus Southern California. But really we are all the same. Our passions are all the same. Our loves are the same. We want the same things.â
John added, âThere are so many gay people in my life â clothing designers, hair dressers, set designers. They are such a huge part of what makes our culture what it is.â
Duran Duran with special guest Chic featuring Nile Rodgers and Tokimonsta perform live at Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be bought through Live Nation.
Special performance note: Keyboardist Nick Rhodes had to leave the tour earlier this month for a short period due to an urgent family matter. Standing in for Nick will be long-time friend and collaborator, artist MNDR.