Soon to be Rock and Roll Fame inductees Duran Duran played the Hollywood Bowl for three nights along with the iconic Nile Rodgers & Chic this past weekend for the Bowl’s Fireworks Finale. These were the final dates of Duran Duran’s Future Past 40th Anniversary Tour. This was not the first time both groups have played the Hollywood Bowl, as they performed there together back in 2015. Duran Duran and Rodgers’ history goes back to 1984 with their collaboration on “The Reflex,” and with Rodgers co-producing the album Notorious released in 1986. This was a rain or shine event and halfway through Rodgers & Chic the rain began and continued all the way through Duran Duran’s set. This did not stop the audience from having “Good Times.”
Rodgers, known for his hits with Chic also plays a number of songs he produced, played on, or wrote for other artists including Madonna, David Bowie, Sister Sledge, Daft Punk and Diana Ross. Many of these hits were written with bassist Bernard Edwards, his Chic co-founder, who passed away in 1996. Nowadays his low end is held down by longtime bassist Jerry Barnes. The set opened with “Everybody Dance” and “I Want Your Love.” Chic also performed Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” and ended on “Good Times” mixed with Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” another song co-written by Rodgers and Edwards.
Duran Duran is ⅘ of their classic lineup with bassist John Taylor, lead vocalist Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and drummer Roger Taylor. Duran Duran opened with “The Wild Boys,” after an intro video followed by one of their biggest hits “Hungry Like the Wolf.” Rodgers joined in for “Notorious.” Following the James Bond Theme came their theme to “A View to a Kill.” “Ordinary World” was dedicated to the people of Ukraine as the Ukraine flag was displayed on the screens. Duran Duran played a three-song encore joined by the great Mike Garson, David Bowie’s pianist for 40 years. The second encore was dedicated to the U.K’s longest monarch Queen Elizabeth II who passed the day before. During the final song “Rio,” with John Taylor's signature bass line, the fireworks came, ending with a big explosion.
Courtesy Bass Player
