eonmusic: music for life.
  • Home
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Features

Duran Duran Close Out BST Hyde Park Celebrating 40 Years in Pop.

11/7/2022

0 Comments

 
Duran Duran closed out the American Express Presents BST run of events in Hyde Park, London on Sunday night (10th July 2022), with a spectacular set that saw the Wild Boys celebrate four decades in pop. Touching on all corners of their career, the show also witnessed Nile Rodgers join the band for a brace of classic tracks.
Picture
Photo: Louise Morris.
The show was the last of three weekends of events that featured some of the biggest names in music on stage in the leafy corner of London. Other acts to appear included The Rolling Stones, Adele, Pearl Jam - who played a pair of back to back nights ahead of Duran Duran - and Elton John, who opened up the event at the end of June.

Bringing the hits, a stunning visual production, and a party atmosphere, Duran Duran were a fitting closing act, seeing out the Hyde Park happening on a glorious high.

Going right back to their earliest days, the Birmingham band kicked off with and explosive 'The Wild Boys' from 1984 sophomore album 'Arena', enrapturing the 70,000 strong audience from the off.

Greeting the crowd from the magnificent Great Oak stage, front man Simon Le Bon said simply; "Good old London town, how are you doing!?"

Dropping in ‘Invisible’ and ‘All of You’ from 2021’s excellent ‘Future Past’ album, the band showed their faith in the newer material from the off, with the new songs effortlessly slipping in among the catalogue of songs that defined a generation.

007 theme 'A View to a Kill' followed, with the atmosphere raising fever pitch as Nick Rhodes' keyboard stabs rang out dramatically over the stunning London sunset. 

Addressing the electric atmosphere in the park Simon asked; "Can you feel that?" before thanking the bands that had opened up the day; "You've had some amazing acts play today", he said, adding; "This has been an incredible day of music here in Hyde Park".

In a weekend of collaborations that had already seen Johnny Marr step up with Pearl Jam, Duran Duran had one of their own prepared.

With Nile Rodgers, the man behind the desk on their 1986 hit album 'Notorious' on the bill - having played a disco-heavy set of his own with Chic - only a fool would have bet against his presence on stage with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. And that's exactly what happened.

"We're going to introduce somebody we worked with in the '80s", announced Simon; "If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be around. Please give your biggest welcome to Nile Rodgers. Today this man becomes an honorary member of Duran Duran!" With its instantly recognisable guitar lick - played by Rodgers along with long time guitarist Dom Brown - and the tasty bass runs of the uber-cool John Taylor, the slinky track provided one of the night's most memorable moments.

As with last month's show in Dublin's St. Anne's Park, the set was of course packed with the high-octane hits that built their reputation; from the anthemic ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’ to the iconic 'The Reflex’, and the out of this world ‘Plant Earth’.

However the evening’s most poignant moment came during a heartfelt ‘Ordinary World’. Introducing the track, Le Bon said; “I'd like to take a moment and spare a thought for our brothers and sisters out in the Ukraine. We wish them peace in their country and in their lives”.

With the night coming to an end, the singer’s endearing boyish enthusiasm was writ large, with Le Bon admitting; "I've got to do this once... Hyde Park, make some noise!" ahead of closer 'Rio'. 

Signing off on what had been an unforgettable night, and the perfect way to end BST’s 2022 run, Simon said; “London town, you couldn't be better”, declaring the capital the; “Greatest city in the world!” 

From the reception they received, it's safe to say that feeling is mutual in London, with Duran Duran still one of the greatest bands in the world.  

Duran Duran's 'Future Past' is out now. For limited edition vinyl, CD and more, click here. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    His love of U2, and Anthrax's "Big" plans for 2021: We Talk 'Silver Linings' with Charlie Benante.
    Picture
    EXCLUSIVE: Rex Brown on Pantera's Rise and Fall, & Why Their Glam Years Will Remain Buried.
    Picture
    WORLD EXCLUSIVE: "There will definitely be no more Sabbath – it’s done", says Geezer Butler.
    Picture
    EXCLUSIVE: David Coverdale's Plans to Remix Whitesnake's Works, & His Pride and Joy in Coverdale Page.
    Picture
    Steve Lukather on the end of Toto, and the loss of Eddie Van Halen.
    Picture
    EXCLUSIVE: Trey Spruance Charts the Return of Mr. Bungle.
    Picture
    Rory Gallagher Remembered; 25 Years Gone.

    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    September 2015

© 2016 - 2022 eonmusic.co.uk

Contact: info@eonmusic.co.uk
ABOUT
  • Home
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Features