Duran Duran announces four UK arena shows, which sell out almost immediately. They perform 17 shows to over 200,000 people across Britain. The last two shows, at London’s Wembley Arena, are filmed. The band is invited to participate in the US Super Bowl in Houston, TX. The song “Wild Boys” is broadcast to over one billion people worldwide.

NASA sends a second Mars Exploration Rover into Space called Opportunity, whose main task is to investigate whether Mars ever had environments that were suitable for sustaining life. Each morning the Rover is awoken by a song, and in early February NASA chooses Duran Duran’s “Is There Something I Should Know?” in hopes of “encouraging” Opportunity tofind some more answers.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) announces that they will honour the band at their February Awards show, The Brits, with the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. The Award is presented to the band by Justin Timberlake, who surprised the band at August’s MTV Awards by telling them what a big influence they had been on him.

An after party is thrown for Duran Duran in honour of the win at The Brits. The bash is held at the Adam Street private members’ club, and is attended by Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Keys, Philip Treacy, Jamelia, The Queens of Noize, Stephen Fry, Badly Drawn Boy, Timbaland, and others. Harpers & Queen magazine covers the event with a pictorial.

Indie favorites Goldfrapp & The Scissor Sisters are announced as special guests for the UK dates, with Goldfrapp taking the first nine shows and Scissor Sisters the last six.

A group of Duran Duran fans attend every UK show of the tour, sponsored by the automobile company KIA, who provide the women with a KIA Rio as transportation.

Simon, Nick and Roger visit the BRIT school in Croydon, England, where they inspect the dance studio, theatre, recording studio and technology labs before facing a grilling in a Q&A session from 50 students. Duran Duran plays to more than a quarter of a million people on their UK tour and break the house record on May 1st at their final UK Wembley Arena show. Wembley Arena is subsequently demolished – so the record will remain.

A new track, “Sunrise” mixed by Jason Nevins, is included on Capitol Records’ Queer Eye For the Straight Guy soundtrack.

Due to the success of the Singles Box Set and Greatest DVD, which was certified Platinum, EMI releases the Sing Blue Silver documentary and Arena/Making of Arena live concert film on DVD as well as a mini box set containing Duran Duran, Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger.

Duran Duran attends the FIFA 100 Charity Auction & Tribute Ceremony, honouring the top 100 living football (soccer) players, at the Natural History Museum in London. The band allows FIFA to use “Beautiful Colours” as an accompaniment to a video clip showing great football moments of the last fifty years.

John is the center of a six-page feature in THE FACE magazine, where he reports on how it feels to be a transplanted Englishman in Los Angeles.

Nick is asked to Oxford University for their annual debate. He is partnered with U2 Manager Paul McGuiness as they discuss “This House believes that reality T.V is killing real music.” Nick & Paul believe this to be true, but do not win the debate.

Official Duran Duran ringtones become available for the first time, featuring songs “Rio,” “Girls on Film,” “Planet Earth,” “Wild Boys,” “Ordinary World” and “Notorious.”

Nick Rhodes is asked to photograph guests attending the Serpentine Gallery’s Annual Summer Party. His work appears as a spread in Tatler magazine.

Duran Duran returns to the Studio in London, where they work with Producers Don Gilmore and Dallas Austin, and re-mixer Jason Nevins.

EMI releases Box Set Number 2, featuring songs from the band’s catalogue from 1986 through 1995.

Duran Duran’s single, “(Reach Up for the) Sunrise” is released off their upcoming CD in September, 2004 and quickly rises up the charts worldwide, hitting Number 1 on the Billboard Dance Charts and becoming a Top 5 smash nearly all over the world.

“(Reach Up for the) Sunrise” is used on a commercial for TIM Mobile phones in Italy, as well as the theme song for the UK version of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and the Australian Morning Show, Sunrise.

Duran Duran appears at In Store appearances at Saturn (Berlin), HMV (Birmingham and London) and Virgin MegaStore (New York and Los Angeles) to rapturous crowds who camp out overnight to meet the band.

Epic releases Duran Duran’s Astronaut on October 11/12th, the first album of new material featuring the original line up since Seven and the Ragged Tiger.

Top US morning show, Good Morning America, shut down 44th Street, in New York, for the first time in the show’s history, for a three song performance by Duran Duran on the day of the album’s release.

The band embarks on endless promotion for their single, appearing on the television shows Top of the Pops, The Lottery, Time Lovejoy’s All Stars, The Jonathan Ross Show, TRL in the UK and Italy, The Tonight Show Featuring Jay Leno, The Late Late Show, Last Call withCarson Daly, Ellen, Good Morning America, Live! With Regis and Kelly and many others.

Beginning in October, guitarist Dom Brown is brought in to help out while Andy recovers from an illness. Dom was able to learn the set in under 2 days without any rehearsals. He stood in for 6 weeks and Dom’s second show was in Atlanta to 15,000 people.

Duran Duran appear on ABC’s Good Morning America live in Times Square on October 12, 2004 in New York City.

In November, Duran Duran is honoured with the Ondas Award for Musical Achievement in Barcelona, Spain.

Deep Visual develops a projection for the Duran Duran UK Tour, featuring a Manga cartoon during the song “Careless Memories.”

Duran Duran’s Astronaut is released in the following formats: CD, CD with Bonus Track (Japan), CD/DVD (with footage of the band’s Wembley performances and behind-the-scenesfootage), Double 12” Vinyl.

Duran Duran’s Astronaut hits #1 on the Billboard Download chart the first week of release.

“(Reach up for the) Sunrise” gets the re-mix treatment from Alex G, Jason Nevins, Eric Prydz, Ferry Corsten & Full Intention.

The video for “What Happens Tomorrow” is filmed in Los Angeles with Directors Smith N Boran.

Nick Rhodes participates in the Guy Oseary book On The Record: Over 150 Of The Most Talented People In Music Share The Secrets Of Their Success.

Duran Duran appears on the cover of the Radio Times in London with respected Newscasters dressed up as “The Wild Boys” to support the Children in Need charity.

Kelis mixes the Duran Duran song “Notorious” in to her single “Trick Me”.