Their first arena tour in nine years, Duran Duran returned to Ireland on Sunday night (7th May 2023), for an indoor show that followed on from their St. Anne's Park Spectacular in the city in 2022. Taking place at a sold out 3Arena, the wild boys proved that four decades in, they still possess the electric energy that drove them to the top.
Duran Duran at Electric Picnic 2019. Photo; Darren McLoughlin.
It has, in many ways, been a vintage twelve months for Duran Duran. Celebrating just over 40 years together, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 along with fellow Birmingham boys Judas Priest. This however, was tempered by the news that founding guitarist Andy Taylor is battling cancer. Taylor had been due to join the rest of the band - Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor - on stage at the Hall of Fame ceremony, and although no longer a member, his presence looms large over their most enduring material.
Despite the latter, the 2023 U.K. and Ireland arena run feels like a well deserved victory lap, and on the evidence of tonight's show, new romantic leaders are enjoying these years every bit as much as their pop pin-up heyday.
Arriving directly from space (according to the snazzy intro film), the four-piece ambled onto the carnivorous 3Arena stage like returning heroes. Having made their last few appearances in Ireland outdoors, the filled to capacity enormo-dome felt deceptively intimate.
Kicking off with a recently-revived debut album gem, the understated 'Night Boat' (the first of five from their 1981 eponymous album), evergreen anthem 'Wild Boys' followed, with the crowd leaping to their feet and singing along to its infectious refrain.
'Hungry Like the Wolf' produced more of the same euphoria, before an otherworldly 'Invisible' - one of the highlights of 2021's stellar 'Future Past' album.
The hits kept coming; from 007 theme 'A View To a Kill', which really showed off the undeniable skills of bassist John Taylor, to funk workout 'Notorious'.
Greeting the crowd, Le Bon grinned; "it is a massive pleasure for us to be back in this town. I've had a lot of fun in this country", he declared, before telling a tale of his trip to the town of Lisdoonvarna in County Clare the late 1970's.
Changing tempo for the dreamscape trance of 'Give it All Up' which featured the passionate vocals of "Derry girl" Rachel O'Connor, Simon quipped; "that's the best she's ever sung that. I think it's because her mum and dad are in the audience!"
With the excitement getting perhaps a little too much, a miscue lead to 'Lonely in Your Nightmare' being restarted, with the lead singer offering his sincere apologies to keyboardist Nick Rhodes for his bunder.
He needn't have worried, and changing gear again, Le Bon confessed; "we wrote this in 1993 at a time when we were at an all time low, and it just resurrected the entire thing that was Duran Duran", ahead of a simply stunning 'Ordinary World'. Featuring a star turn from guitarist and eonmusic interviewee Dom Brown, in a night crammed with highlights, it proved a real standout.
Encoring with another from their '90s era, in a beautiful 'Come Undone', 'Save a Prayer' crowned the night on what had been, a star turn. Taking their bows to obligatory closer 'Rio', the icons signed off on a high.
On tonight's evidence, their purple patch looks long set to continue.
Despite the latter, the 2023 U.K. and Ireland arena run feels like a well deserved victory lap, and on the evidence of tonight's show, new romantic leaders are enjoying these years every bit as much as their pop pin-up heyday.
Arriving directly from space (according to the snazzy intro film), the four-piece ambled onto the carnivorous 3Arena stage like returning heroes. Having made their last few appearances in Ireland outdoors, the filled to capacity enormo-dome felt deceptively intimate.
Kicking off with a recently-revived debut album gem, the understated 'Night Boat' (the first of five from their 1981 eponymous album), evergreen anthem 'Wild Boys' followed, with the crowd leaping to their feet and singing along to its infectious refrain.
'Hungry Like the Wolf' produced more of the same euphoria, before an otherworldly 'Invisible' - one of the highlights of 2021's stellar 'Future Past' album.
The hits kept coming; from 007 theme 'A View To a Kill', which really showed off the undeniable skills of bassist John Taylor, to funk workout 'Notorious'.
Greeting the crowd, Le Bon grinned; "it is a massive pleasure for us to be back in this town. I've had a lot of fun in this country", he declared, before telling a tale of his trip to the town of Lisdoonvarna in County Clare the late 1970's.
Changing tempo for the dreamscape trance of 'Give it All Up' which featured the passionate vocals of "Derry girl" Rachel O'Connor, Simon quipped; "that's the best she's ever sung that. I think it's because her mum and dad are in the audience!"
With the excitement getting perhaps a little too much, a miscue lead to 'Lonely in Your Nightmare' being restarted, with the lead singer offering his sincere apologies to keyboardist Nick Rhodes for his bunder.
He needn't have worried, and changing gear again, Le Bon confessed; "we wrote this in 1993 at a time when we were at an all time low, and it just resurrected the entire thing that was Duran Duran", ahead of a simply stunning 'Ordinary World'. Featuring a star turn from guitarist and eonmusic interviewee Dom Brown, in a night crammed with highlights, it proved a real standout.
Encoring with another from their '90s era, in a beautiful 'Come Undone', 'Save a Prayer' crowned the night on what had been, a star turn. Taking their bows to obligatory closer 'Rio', the icons signed off on a high.
On tonight's evidence, their purple patch looks long set to continue.
