Duran Duran Tour North America

Direct from the official Duran Duran website:

August 2nd, 2011

Duran Duran announce the ALL YOU NEED IS NOW North American tour in unique style – via several of their social networks. If you missed it, here’s a run down of the tour dates and where you can see all of the announcements:

September 23rd Everett, WA @ Comcast Arena on sale August 5th at 10a local time via http://comcastarenaeverett.com
Via YouTube: Watch Announcement

September 24th Portland, OR @ Theater of the Clouds on sale August 5th at 10a local time via http://comcasttix.com
Via YouTube: Watch Announ
cement
September 26th Saratoga, CA @ Mountain Winery – already on sale
Via Facebook by way of YouTube: Wa
tch Announcement
September 27th Los Angeles, CA@ Nokia Theater on sale August 12th at 10a a local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via Twitter

September 30th Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint on sale August 6th at 12p a local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 1st Valley Center, CA @Harrah’s Open Sky Theatre on sale August 13th at 10a local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via Twitter

October 4th Broomfield, CO @ 1st Bank Center on sale August 5th at 10a local time via http://tickethorse.com
Via YouTube: Watch Announ
cement
October 6th Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theater on sale August 6th at 10a local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via Twitter by way of YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 7th Baton Rouge, LA @ Baton Rouge River Center
Via Second Life: Watch Announcement

October 8th Mobile, AL @ Bayfest on sale now via http://bayfest.com
Via Facebook by way of YouTube: Watch A
nnouncement
October 10th Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall on sale August 12th at 12p local time via http://rutheckerdhall.com
Via YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 12th Hollywood, FL (details TBA)
Via Twitter

October 13th St. Augustine, FL @ St Augustine Amphitheater on sale August 12th at 12p local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via Facebook by way of YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 14th Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park Amphitheater – already on sale via http://ticketmaster.com
Via TwitPic: See Photo

October 16th Washington, DC @ Constitution Hall on sale August 12th at 10a local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via Facebook by way of YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 17th Philadelphia, PA @ Tower Theatre on sale August 6th at 10a local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via Facebook by way of YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 19th Cleveland, OH @ Playhouse Square Theatre on sale August 12th at 11a local time via http://Playhousesquare.org
Via Facebook

October 21st Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theater on sale August 13th at 10a local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 22nd Windsor, ON @ The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor on sale August 19th at 12p local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 23rd Montreal, QE @ Bell Centre on sale August 13th at 10a local time via http://evenko.ca
Via Facebook by way of YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 25th New York, NY (details TBA)
Via Twitter

October 27th Toronto, ONT @ Air Canada Center on sale August 13th at 10a local time via http://ticketmaster.com
Via Twitter by way of YouTube: Watch Announcement

October 28th Boston, MA (details TBA)
Via Twitter

October 29th Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata on sale August 6th at 10a local time via http://comcasttix.com
Via Facebook

Neon Trees confirmed support act for all dates except 9/26, 10/8, 10/17, 10/22 & 10/29

Please keep checking Duranduran.com for any updates and additions.

This is seriously exciting news.  I hope this means that Simon le Bon's vocal problems have been cured.

Happy Birthday Nick Rhodes

Other than the fact that he is ultra-talented - I think Nick Rhodes is one of the most sarcastically funny people.  On this day, I wish him a very Happy Birthday; and share with you his form of thanks:

June 8th, 2011

Dearest virtual friends,

I was considering a polite handwritten thank you letter to you all, for the kind, thoughtful birthday messages I have received today… then it occurred to me how terribly complicated the procedure could be. First I would have to find my stationary, refill my ink pen and compose my thoughts. Once I had finished drafting the letter, I planned to scan it, then upload it to my computer. From here I would drag the compressed file from my desktop into the body of an email, which would then be sent to Kathryn Krassner at duranduran.com. Once received, she would remove the attachment of the scanned letter from the email, re-size the file and upload it onto the website.

In an attempt to save time and energy and conserve paper and ink, I decided it would be infinitely more simple to surrender to the widely accepted modern forms of communication in such circumstances – text with abbreviations. Regrettably I do not have all of your cellphone numbers in my address book, so the plan to write a short note with a few emoticons, then just blind copy everyone at the press of a button, quickly became even more perplexing. Why don’t you Tweet a message? One of my friends helpfully suggested. Because I don’t have a Twitter account, I responded verbally. They seemed stunned by this revelation, and even more disturbed when I revealed that I do not have a personal Facebook page either.

So, in lieu of my social networking inadequacy, please consider this communication between us, a hybrid of a Tweet (formerly a sentence), a Blog (formerly a paragraph) and a letter (handwritten correspondence between two people, generally delivered via a postal service, now mostly obsolete).
I am relieved that I did not run out of characters before concluding my thought, but I am also mindful not to use up too much storage space in The Cloud,  I simply want to express my gratitude and wish you all a thrilling day.

Yours via satellite,

Nick

Despite the fact that I have and use the above-mentioned forms of social networking (clears throat - like this blog) I agree with his general sentiment. 

A DD Blog Post from Simon le Bon

I got this from the official Duran Duran website.  I must admit that it brought tears to my eyes.  Twice; once when I read it myself and a second time when I read it to my husband.  Here is Simon's post:

It’s over two and a half weeks since the moment in the Cannes party set when I went for a high note, i.e. the “Woah” before the “yeah” in ALL YOU NEED IS NOW and it wasn’t there. And it hasn’t been there since then. I reckon I got 6 semi-tones wiped off the top of my range and to be perfectly honest with you, nobody, myself included, has really been able to explain what has happened. It’s quite difficult not to obsess; it’s very difficult not to worry about it.

I regret terribly having to have cancelled the shows that we have. I know that there are many fans who’ve travelled great distance to see us. I regret terribly the inconvenience caused to all of you; the money that you’ve spent on shows which haven’t happened – I’m very sorry about that.
The shows will of course be re-scheduled. “When?” people ask me; “when?” I ask myself. the simple fact is that I don’t know when. It already seems like an awful long time of not singing to me.

What I do know is that I’m spending an awful lot of time seeing specialists: three otorhinolaryngologists, a speech and voice therapist, a vocal coach, a physio-therapist who specialises in the laryngeal musculature, and of course my super-osteopath brother Jonathan Le Bon. It’s been a long time sitting in London traffic between appointments. last Thursday I saw five different practitioners in one day. It’s hard work.

And I have to tell you that through it all, I have received the goodwill and unconditional support of Nick and John and Roger; and also from you, the fans; from my family, my friends; from Katy, from Wendy, Sharon and all at Magus Entertainment; all those who I work with.  I can’t tell you how grateful that makes me feel. Thank you all for your continued support and understanding and patience.

You will help me prevail.

Simon Le Bon
whooosh
s

I think Simon le Bon is very classy for writing this post.  I wish him a speedy recovery to good health.

Happy Birthday Roger

Happy Birthday Roger Taylor! As Duran Duran finish up a ping-pongish sort of tour of the United States - Roger is celebrating his 51st birthday today.  I hope he has an amazing day and year.  In a message from him on the official Duran Duran site - he had this to say:

Just coming to the end of a whirlwind tour of the U.S , going home via Dominican Republic ..yay! I have to say that it has been the most incredible period for us though, probably peaking at Coachella on the 17th (the after party was pretty good to!). Generally the album and new show have gone down a storm here, and I have to pinch myself to grasp the reality of playing these songs that we conceived in our little room in Battersea to some of the most rapturous audiences that we have ever played to – including the 70,000 people that turned up to sing along during a beautiful and most memorable Californian sunset ..something I will still be re-living for many a year to come..so thanks to Simon , Nick , John , Dom , Anna , Simon Willescroft , Mark Ronson , the incredible team that we have around us in NYC and London, and most importantly, the fans, for making 2011 an incredible year for Duran Duran and a rather wonderful year to celebrate my 51st year in the land of the living!
Adios..onwards and upwards to the UK!
Rt x

I feel super lucky to have been able to see Duran Duran play at the Mayan in March.  and now I look forward to seeing them again when they come back through the U.S.  and according to John Taylor on Twitter - they are attempting to make that happen this Autumn in September and October.  I can't wait.  and once again - Happy Birthday, Roger!

Duran Duran at the Mayan Theatre - March 23, 2011

In case you haven't heard, Duran Duran did a show with David Lynch last night.  It was for the second season of American Express' Unstaged.  It was so very incredible.  I honestly felt like I was witnessing something historic.  The Mayan theatre is gorgeous and very intimate.  It was astonishing to think that the same show I was watching was being transmitted world wide via the internet and YouTube.  Considering they were doing such a thing, thi could easily have become a Greatest Hits sort of show.  Instead, Duran Duran focused on performing their new material from their thirtennth studio album All You Need Is Now.  It's a phenomenal album and I, for one, am quite happy that they played so much of the new stuff.  Of course, there were the requisite hits but they were crowd pleasers, as always.

In addition to the amazing set list, they had great guest appearances by Mark Ronson (the producer of AYNIN), Kelis (who appears on the albums song The Man Who Stole a Leopard), Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) and Beth Ditto (The Gossip).  It was just an amazing show with fantastic guests.  I feel very honored to have been able to see the show live.  And believe me, I will continue to relive the excitement via YouTube.

Now, the full set list:

All You Need Is Now (preceded by a gorgeous string intro)
Being Followed
Planet Earth (with Gerard Way)
Friends of Mine
Notorious (with Beth Ditto)
Blame the Machines
Hungry Like the Wolf
Safe (in the Heat of the Moment)
Leave a Light On
Ordinary World
The Man Who Stole a Leopard (with Kelis)
Girl Panic
Careless Memories
(Reach Up for the) Sunrise
Rio


ENCORE
Come Undone
A View to a Kill (preceded by a beautiful string rendition and Simon singing a ca pella)
Girls on Film

Finally, a few pictures from the show:

Simon le Bon

Dom Brown, Mark Ronson and Nick Rhodes' head in the background (it was near impossible to get a picture of him)

John Taylor, Simon le Bon and Roger Taylor's drum kit (it was hard to get a picture of him, too)

Simon le Bon and Mark Ronson

Everyone (except David Lynch who had seemingly transported else where)

All You Need Is Now - Finally Here

The thirteenth Duran Duran album is finally here - in its astounding entirety.  I can not stop listening to this CD! It is so amazing and so, so worth the wait! Best Buy is selling a deluxe version (extra tracks) of the CD along with a companion DVD.  Of course, this is the version I had to have! Here is the complete track listing:

1. All You Need Is Now
2. Blame the Machines
3. Being Followed
4. Leave a Light On
5. Safe (in the Heat of the Moment)
6. Girl Panic!
7. A Diamond in the Mind
8. The Man Who Stole a Leopard
9. Other People's Lives
10. Mediterranea
11. Too Bad You're So Beautiful
12. Runway Runaway
13. Return to Now
14. Before the Rain
15. Too Close to the Sun
16. Early Summer Nerves
17. Networker Nation

The songs in bold are my my favorites on the album (with the number one being 'Leave a Light On') but honestly, the whole CD is just completely fabulous! And now, I am cautiously excited about going to see Duran Duran at the Mayan in Los Angeles tomorrow night.  I say cautious because I hope there's no trouble getting in with the ticketless tickets.  If you have ever liked Duran Duran in any way, I highly recommend this CD to you.

I will be back later with a review of the DVD.  My husband and I are waiting to watch that until our girls are asleep.  That way we (mainly I) can actually concentrate on what is on there.  And, quite likely, there will be some drooling going on.  I'm just saying.  :)

38 Days -

- and counting down.  On March 22nd thr full length album for All You Need Is Now will finally be available.  Am I excited? Of course I am! New Duran Duran songs and a deluxe package.  I can not wait.

Now if they'd just announce an American tour --

Full Track List for All You Need Is Now

I got this information from a U.K. site called play.com.  According to them the release date for the physical CD of All You Need Is Now is March 21, 2011.  Since that's in the U.K. - I'm hoping that means that the release date will be March 22, 2011 here in the U.S.  Anyway, her is the track listing.  I can not wait to hear the rest of this amazing album.

1. All You Need Is Now
2. Blame The Machines
3. Being Followed
4. Leave A Light On
5. Safe
6. Girl Panic!
7. Diamond In The Mind
8. The Man Who Stole A Leopard
9. Other Peoples Lives
10. Mediterranea
11. Too Bad You're So Beautiful
12. Runway Runaway
13. Return To Now
14. Before The Rain

U.K. Arena Tour Dates

The official tour begins! I got this info directly from the band's official website.  I am ever so hopeful that there will be United States tour dates over the summer.  There probably will be but until it's announced I'll just stick with being excited for the U.K. fans.

DURAN DURAN ANNOUNCE 11 DATE UK ARENA TOUR “All You Need Is Now”
Tickets On Sale Friday 28th January 9:30am
After a long absence from the live performance arena in the UK Duran Duran will return to their home market for a series of highly anticipated concerts in May 2011. The shows will mark the band’s first European performances in support of their critically acclaimed, new album ‘ALL YOU NEED IS NOW’ and the start of a world tour that will last well into 2012.
The original line up of SIMON LE BON, NICK RHODES, JOHN TAYLOR and ROGER TAYLOR will perform to over 150,000 fans in 11 arena concerts throughout the UK in May. The band will showcase material from their new record, along with classic hits from across their 30 year career. The UK leg of the tour will kick off on Wednesday 18th May at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena and will end on Saturday 4th June at Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
Tickets priced at £65/£45/£35 (London) Brighton/Bournemouth/Cardiff £55/£45/£35 and all others £55/£40/£30 will go on sale to the general public on Friday 28th January 2011 at 9:30am online at www.gigsandtours.com / www.ticketmaster.co.uk or through the 24 hour credit card hotline: 0844 811 0051 / 0844 826 2826.
Duran Duran VIP Community members will have access to purchase a limited number of presale tickets and VIP packages for the shows below before the general public beginning Wed, 26th January at 8am GMT. Members Click here for all the presale details.
Note – if you are not a community member, you can purchase your tickets via the public onsale.
The full dates are as follows:
Wednesday 18th May 2011  Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Thursday 19th May 2011  Glasgow SECC
Saturday 21st May 2011  Birmingham LG Arena
Sunday 22nd May 2011  Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Monday 23rd May 2011  Liverpool Echo Arena
Saturday 28th May 2011  London The O2 Arena
Monday 30th May 2011  Brighton Centre
Tuesday 31st May 2011  Bournemouth International Centre
Wednesday 1st June 2011  Cardiff International Arena
Friday 3rd June 2011  Manchester MEN Arena
Saturday 4th June 2011  Sheffield Motorpoint Arena