Roger's 2022 Year End
Event(s) of the Year (Not Duran Duran related) -
I think it was the passing of the Queen. It was such a big deal, certainly in Europe. We were in Los Angeles when it happened and I heard about it from my son James. I've never known a life without the Queen; she was a wonderful woman and part of the fabric of our lives.
Best movie and/or TV Show (series) of 2022 –
For movie, I think it was "The Outfit" staring Mark Rylance, he plays a tailor who made clothing for gangsters. I DO have a series this year - "All Quiet on the Western Front." It takes place during World War I and shows the POV of German soldiers. We never see anything from their perspective as compared to British soldiers. Also, an amazing soundtrack.
Best book and/or podcast of 2022 –
I loved "The Islander." I love autobiographies and this one is by Chris Blackwell, who discovered Bob Marley and started Island Records. I also sat next to Pete Townsend on a recent flight back to the UK so I got his autobiography as well.
Best Music You heard in 2022 –
One of the best thing I heard this year was Erol Alkan's remix of "Give it all Up." He keeps all the original parts of the song and the sensibility of the original song. The other great thing I heard was a 10 minute remix of the Cure's "Lullaby" that Pete Tong did on the fly when he opened for us in Ibiza. Also really liked the new album by Florence and the Machines, "Dance Fever."
Favourite Duran Duran moment of 2022 –
The year we've had! It has been so incredible - so many great things happened with us but the first one that popped in to my mind is our performance at Hyde Park. It was so special, it felt like the whole of London had come to see us.
Best moment of the Rock Hall induction –
Apart from receiving the Award, watching Judas Priest. I hadn't seen them live since I was a kid. It was great. Oh, and meeting Dave Grohl.
Most looking forward to in 2023 -
We have more live dates coming up ! We are playing the UK, America, maybe more places. It will be hard to top last year but we're going to try!
Simon's 2022 Year End
Event(s) of the Year (Not Duran Duran related) -
The death of Queen Elizabeth's reign. She still resonates and I felt that losing her was a year defining event.
Best movie and/or TV Show (series) of 2022 –
I really liked "The Outfit" staring Mark Rylance. For TV, I LOVED Apple TV's "Slow Horses" starting Gary Oldman. The show is about British Intelligence agents.
Best book and/or podcast of 2022 –
As you know, I like true crime podcasts and listen to podcasts on BBC. The best book I read (actually read!) was SAS Rogue Heroes by Ben MacIntyre.
Best Music You heard in 2022 –
It's so hard! I choose 11 new tracks every week for my show with Katy, WHOOOSH! I am in a big punk phase right now. I love the song "Baby Drummer" by Bad Nerves, "Bad Disease" by Stiff Richards, Wine Lips "Eyes", "Billy Big Bollocks" from Bilk, "Tennis" by Courting. I have a long list.
Favourite Duran Duran moment of 2022 –
Being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Robert Downey Jr. And singing with Dolly Parton, but that's just mine.
Favourite Holiday Drink -
A Sloegasm. It's champagne and sloe gin. Beware, you can't drink too many.
Most looking forward to in 2023 -
Duran Duran tour dates!! Picking up and continuing where we left off.
Nick's 2022 Year End
Event(s) of the Year (Not Duran Duran related) -
Queen Elizabeth II dying. She was extraordinary. Her reign will never be replicated. She was a positive force whether you were a big supporter of the Monarchy or not. For me, personally, the event of the year was that I could go to events again! I went to Stephen Gill's exhibit in January. I think he's one of the the most important living photographers. When we're on tour, John and I like to find museums in whatever city we're in and one that stood out is the Uffizi Museum. The whole band went to the Edvard Munch Museum, which was a joy. I also saw some shows: "O" in Las Vegas, Punch Drunk's "The Burnt City," which is interactive theatre, and, what may have been best of all, "Cages," which is a very modern musical.
Best movie and/or TV Show (series) of 2022 –
My favorite movie (that I saw in 2022) was "Parallel Mothers." I am besotted with every movie Almodóvar makes. I also loved "The Power of the Dog," which I saw this year, and I believe got an Oscar for Best Director.
For television I loved "Stranger Things" and "The Andy Warhol Diaries." The format for the "Warhol Diaries" was so clever.
Best book and/or podcast of 2022 –
It's always a photographic book for me. I bought one called "I'll Be Looking at the Moon but I'll Be Seeing You" by Hari Katragadda and Shweta Upadhyay. They're a married couple and they made - literally it's handmade - a magical book.
Best Music You heard in 2022 –
Have to hand it to WHOOOSH!, the playlists are incredible! I loved Allison Ponthier's "Hollywood Forever Cemetery" and am also curious about an artist Simon has played called Lynks. WHOOOSH! is like having our own private curator.
Favourite Duran Duran moment of 2022 –
Easy - October 31st, 2022: the first Duran Duran Halloween themed concert in Las Vegas. I said to everyone, do you fancy doing a Halloween show? And there it was. However, I don't want to forget other great moments for us including our Ibiza Weekend, the Queen's Jubilee, Rock in Rio in Lisbon, headlining a show in Hyde Park, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, 3 nights at The Hollywood Bowl and winning the fan vote for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Most looking forward to in 2023 -
I am excited and energized about 2023. We have some upcoming UK dates, will likely announce more US dates, hoping to visit some other countries too and a Halloween album coming in October!
John's 2022 Year End
Event(s) of the Year (Not Duran Duran related) -
For me it was US politics, and the threatening of abortion rights. For awhile, it felt like society was going down the toilet. Also, this year represented the demise of Donald Trump.
Best movie and/or TV Show (series) of 2022 –
I went back to the cinema this year, for the first time since Covid. Recently I saw "TAR." It was very long and it was deep. It really stuck with me. For television, I have loved "The English" starting Emily Blunt. Also like "White Lotus" on HBO.
Best book and/or podcast of 2022 –
While we were touring Europe I was listening to a biography of Mozart while I was practicing bass. It was fantastic because I got to listen and play at the same time. I also liked Chris Blackwell's autobiography, "The Islander," as read by Bill Nighy.
Best Music You heard in 2022 –
I've liked a band called Butcher Brown , the new Bruce Springsteen album, "Only the Strong Survive," new Kendrick Lamar "Mr Morale & the Big Steppers," ...and listened to Beatles a lot after seeing "Get Back."
Favourite Duran Duran moment of 2022 –
Here are a few: Rock in Rio, Hyde Park (which felt like a homecoming), Lytham St Annes (it poured but it felt like that every person who had followed us since the beginning was at that show), Madison Square Garden (not the first time we've played there, but the best show we've played there), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (amazing!).
Best moment of the Rock Hall induction –
For me, it was Lionel Richie. He had so much presence and poise, he was a master class in being a singer. His speech was also authentic and smart.
Most looking forward to in 2023 -
2022 has been so extraordinary for Duran Duran. I'm still trying to climb down from it! I'm hoping we can continue to build on what we've achieved. Looking forward to shows in the UK and going back to US cities we missed in 2022. I have a lot of gratitude for being able to do what we do, and loved the shows last year with Chic & Nile - it was a 1-2 punch, and I really felt our audience was with us all the way.
