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Duran Duran / Live at O2 London

Duran Duran play (mostly) hits for the London crowd

By Paul Sinclair

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41

Duran Duran live on stage O2 London
Simon Le Bon, John Taylor & Dom Brown on stage at O2 London (photo: Paul Sinclair)

Back in 2021, I was lucky enough to see Duran Duran perform two ‘homecoming’ gigs in Birmingham a month or so before the release of Future Past, the band’s well received 15th studio album. Those gigs delivered a few tracks from the new record, a light sprinkling of deep cuts and hits – lots of them! 20 months on, and the group are touring the UK and playing much bigger crowds, but fundamentally not much has changed.

The muggy, sweaty environment the O2 Institute Birmingham (which has a capacity of just 2000) was replaced by the glitz and glamour afforded by the larger platform of London’s 20,000 capacity O2, which boasted some excellent projected visuals on angled screens (initially on stage with the band, before being hoisted high into the air).

Frontman Simon Le Bon looked great, echoing the ‘sailorboy’ look of his younger self back in the New Romantic days, with a sparkly silver jacket, white trousers and a blue and white stripy T-shirt, while Nick Rhodes, set back stage right in an elevated position, was equally dapper. Roger Taylor was hidden away behind a mountain of drums and cymbals while John Taylor stood to Simon’s right and guitarist Dom Brown was on the left. As in Birmingham, there were two female backing singers.

One of the highlights of the evening was the amount of songs played from Duran Duran, the band’s 1981 debut album; five tracks in total (more than any of their other albums). Granted, they almost always play ‘Girls On Film’ and ‘Planet Earth’ but early ‘flop’ single ‘Careless Memories’ rocked surprisingly hard and got the crowd on their feet while album track ‘Friends Of Mine’ hasn’t been worn down by familiarity. The early songs sound particularly good because of their more stripped-back sound, although starting the show with the relatively low-key ‘Night Boat’ perhaps illustrates the perils of going off-piste too much, because I thought it received a somewhat muted response.

But the evening was primarily about entertainment and that meant giving the capacity crowd what they’d mostly come to hear: hit singles. Duran Duran made no attempt to pretend that they’ve had a long and consistent career: 14 of the 20 songs performed were released between 1981 and 1986. They played three tracks from Future Past (‘Invisible’, ‘Anniversary’ and ‘Give It All Up’), two from 1993’s ‘The Wedding Album’ (‘Ordinary World’ and ‘Come Undone’) and their usual cover of ‘White Lines’, which still remains a ludicrous idea on paper, but always goes down very well! To put it another way, they played nothing from EIGHT ALBUMS released between 1988 and 2020, which is mildly surprising considering that BMG have been reissuing many of those records in recent times, such as the 2004 reunion album Astronaut (which features two hit singles in ‘(Reach Up For The) Sunrise’ and ‘What Happens Tomorrow’).

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There’s still too much backing track/sequencer stuff going on for my liking, with songs like ‘A View To A Kill’ and ‘The Reflex’ being required on stage to sound EXACTLY like their studio counterparts. Apart from Simon’s excellent vocals, Duran Duran have a curiously ‘un-live’ sound. The show would probably benefit from an acoustic-type break in proceedings where they turn off all the computers come to the front of the stage and show us they can actually play (which we know they can).

Like many bands whose glory days were 30 or 40 years ago, Duran Duran are effectively boxed into a corner where if they want to sell out big arenas and make good money, they need to play a greatest hits shows. That rewards the casual fans who heard the hits on the radio but likely disappoints the diehards who would prefer a deeper dive into the albums for tracks like ‘A Matter Of Feeling’, ‘The Edge Of America’, ‘My Antarctica’ or ‘Still Breathing’. I mean, why not start the show with a rousing ‘Big Thing’? I think that would sound great! Sometimes the act of regularly playing songs turns them into well-received classics, even if they were not a big hit at the time (Tears For Fears’ ‘Break It Down Again’ is a good example of this).

Nick smiles from behind his keyboard rig at last night’s show (photo: Paul Sinclair)

To be fair, last night, they did play the Rio album track ‘Last Chance On The Stairway’ so that was was a nod in the right direction, but you can only play so many songs in one hour and 45 minutes and they’ve enjoyed so many hit singles. If they wanted advice from SDE (which I’m sure they don’t) I’d say they should give ‘A View To A Kill’, ‘Wild Boys’ and ‘White Lines’ a rest. I’m actually very surprised that the band haven’t thought of playing Duran Duran (from 1981) and Rio in full, back-to-back. That would still include loads of hits but deliver all the great album tracks from those first two records.

Setlist quibbles to one side, Duran Duran undoubtedly delivered an evening of fun, entertainment and nostalgia. Just in case it was not ‘eighties’ enough for the audience, when the band played ‘Save A Prayer’ in the encore, it was accompanied by filmed visuals of a slow motion dove flapping its wings with feathers flying all over the shop. I’d have expected nothing less.

Duran Duran play the O2 London again tonight and dates in the UK follow afterwards. The America tour starts on 27 May. Tour dates.

Tracklisting

Live O2 London – 1 May 2023. Duran Duran /

    • O2 setlist 1/5/23
      1. Night Boat
      2. Wild Boys
      3. Hungry Like The Wolf
      4. Invisible
      5. A View to a Kill
      6. Notorious
      7. Give it all Up
      8. Last Chance On The Stairway
      9. Is there something I should know?
      10. Friends of Mine
      11. Careless Memories
      12. Ordinary World
      13. Anniversary
      14. Planet Earth
      15. White Lines
      16. The Reflex
      17. Girls on Film
      Encore
      1. Come Undone
      2. Save a Prayer
      3. Rio

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41 Comments

41 thoughts on “Duran Duran / Live at O2 London”

  1. We saw the show in Birmingham and got 21 songs – Last Chance On The Stairway AND Lonely In Your Nightmare. I thought the set was pretty much perfect as it was – loved hearing so much from their debut and Rio. Would have liked to have heard The Chauffeur as well but this was still the best Duran Duran concert I’ve been to in terms of set list, performance and staging etc (and my first was way back in December 1982!).

  2. Have seen practically every tour since the Wedding Album “comeback”. My only complaint would be that their shows are too short. If they played 2 hrs 20 minutes they could do all the big hits and fan favorite deep cuts. Regardless, looking forward to seeing them in September in NYC. As Grace Jones is also on the bill, I’m hoping “Election Day” will make an appearance.

  3. Had to sell our Seattle DD tickets in order to see The Cure in Portland, OR at the end of the month. Bummed as I have never seen DD but couldn’t get Cure tickets for the local show even after pre-registering etc.

    Paul, the pics you took look great. Appears you were up front or had special access to get the shots. Which was it?

      1. Cool, looked like you were right near the stage. Saw them this week in Portland the day after The Cure show and they played a similar set. Great show.

        Velvet Newton (on tape)
        1. Night Boat
        2. The Wild Boys
        3. Hungry Like the Wolf
        The James Bond Theme (John Barry song) (on tape)
        4. A View to a Kill
        5. Notorious
        6. Give it All Up
        7. Lonely in Your Nightmare / Super Freak
        8. Is There Something I Should Know?
        9. Anniversary
        10. Friends of Mine
        11. Careless Memories
        12. Ordinary World
        13. Come Undone
        14. Planet Earth (with band intros)
        15. White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It) (Grandmaster Melle Mel cover)
        16. The Reflex
        17. Girls on Film / Acceptable in the 80’s

        Encore:
        18. Save a Prayer
        19. Rio

  4. just a quick one, I believe the count for tracks from Duran Duran was actually 6 (as long as you include Is There Something I Should Know, which was tacked onto the US reissue). Still amazing that a tour NOT for that album produced so much off that album. Just wow!

    1. Is There Something I Should Know is definitely not part of the first album. It was recorded years later. I don’t think even US fans would try to argue that it belongs there, even if they are used to it.

      1. 100% agreed. It was badly out of place style wise (and volume wise!) tacked onto their debut album – however it would have worked well added to Seven And The Ragged Tiger.

    1. No didn’t notice anything – not sure 2 blokes kicking off in an audience of 20,000 constitutes a ‘brawl’. We stood but had nobody behind us but it was one of those gigs were not everyone wanted to get up off their seats so that’s always a tricky one. If we’d had sitters behind us we’d have probably felt awkward about wanting to get up and dance.

  6. Seen them 3 times – Notorious, Big Thing, and RCM. Notorious was Madison Square Garden, so that was nuts, but the Big Thing tour was at small venue inside San Diego State University – a small stage, and a small crowd. It was the best experience!
    I too would love a complete live playing of the first album – still my favorite, hasn’t been equaled in my opinion. One of my absolute favorite bands of my youth, so happy they’re still putting out music and going strong!

  7. Seen them twice (Big Thing and Astronaut tours) and debating seeing them here in Miami next month. TBH I’m not loving the set list. I feel like “Tonight United” is more of an obvious choice for a song from the new album to be on the setlist. That song could have really used a refresh via a killer remix. Also, I believe they could add their fairly recent, respectable cover of the Bowie song “Five Years” to the setlist.

    They have so many good songs and hits that there are always going to be some glaring omissions. If they do go in the direction of a whole album setlist it would most likely be “Rio”. The setlist would probably be similar to what U2 did with their JT anniversary tour: some hits up front, followed by the whole album, and then a big encore.

    The intermission could have an audio/video montage with the pre-recorded audio being a truly well-done medley mashup of some of the lost classics+dance-oriented tracks: “I Don’t Want Your Love”, “Electric Barbarella”, “Wild Boys”, “Skin Trade”, “All You Need Is Now”, “Meet El Presidente”, “Too Much Information”, “Violence Of Summer”, “White Lines”, “All She Wants Is”, etc.

    Big Thing
    Is There Something I Should Know?
    Serious
    Do You Believe In Shame? or What Happens Tomorrow? (fan choice/vote)
    Union Of The Snake or New Moon On Monday (fan choice/vote)

    Rio (the whole album)
    Intermission Medley

    Encore:
    Ordinary World
    Planet Earth
    Sunrise
    Notorious
    Girls On Film
    The Reflex

  8. Saw the Manchester show (same set – except Simon forgot the words to ‘Anniversary’ – which at least shows it’s not all completely mechanical and fail-safe- no Autocue up there!). I suppose I’m a casual-ish fan compared to a lot of you and only really know the ‘Best Of’, the classic albums and (the excellent) Future Past. I’ve only seen this and the Hyde Park show but I was with a veteran of some early 80s and 90s Duran gigs and we both agreed the hit-packed set was a bit safe and almost exhausting as almost every song was a huge number. I’m not a fan of ‘do the whole album’ sets – but I’d have liked to hear some of those ‘wilderness years’ tunes too, even if they would be new to me, to add a bit of light & shade. The other two guests with us were first timers who only knew the big hits, they loved every minute and were delighted by the energy and youthfulness of Le Bon & co – they’re the target audience for this kind of show and ultimately it was a top night and everyone had a good time. I guess for a band like Duran at Arena level you either go for the obvious songs or play for 3 hours like The Cure and play everything! – I don’t think they could get away with something like Depeche Mode where maybe only half the set is big tunes.
    Safe setlist aside, it made me think they’ve plenty of rock and roll years left in ’em so I’m sure they’ll come around again so there’s a chance they’ll mix it up a bit in future- (although isn’t their next project another covers album with Andy? They’ve done ‘Spellbound’ , ‘Paint it Black’ and ‘Ghost Town’ recently)

  9. I was at the O2 tonight. The show was really good. I saw them the first time. I am not a big fan.But I must say they did it well and they played really live. Simon forgot to connect his earphone with his amplifier when he changed his jacket, so the band started again. But 145£ for a ticket to see the band on the stage and not on the screen is crazy.

  10. I saw them tonight in their 2nd O2 Arena gig. It was my first DD gig and I loved it! I’m a fan of the first two albums and the most recent so the set list was perfect. I even loved White Lines which was a fun singalong!

    Arena gigs are for the crowd-pleasing set lists but being a more regular gig-goer with other bands I can understand the desire for a bit of change. So I’ve got nothing to compare this first & probably last DD gig with but I’m going home happy.

  11. I still buy all the Duran releases but I did decide at my last Paper Gods show, that I wouldn’t see them again as I feel they are playing it easy these days. I have enough great memories of peak tours, when they were at the top of their game.

    Good to see Last Chance and Night Boat back but frankly White Lines and Come Undone can disappear forever. Shows based around individual album sets would make me spend £s but I doubt Mr Rhodes would approve somehow…

    I also doubt, as an example, that a latterday Big Thing set would have the electric thrill of ASWI leading into Planet Earth, the gorgeous Cucurullo playing on Palomino, the house version of GOF or the sheer adrenalin outrage of Big Thing as an opener. Those tours were fresh, vibrant and innovative, something the band could never recreate now.

  12. Duran Duran are playing Dublin this Sunday, May 7th, less than a year after they played a superb outdoor show in a suburban park.

    Unfortunately, I think their quick return to these shores, not to mention a clash of dates with Bruce Springsteen (which I’m going to myself) meant that it seems to have been too ambitious. A 13,000 capacity arena show was reduced to 8,000 by changing the standing floor/balcony arrangement to a fully seated amphitheatre setup.

    Last year’s show was excellent. While I like the idea of getting Friends of Mine and (in particular) Last Chance on the Stairway, The Chauffeur and What Happens Tomorrow (both absent here) were highlights for me last year. 

  13. Just a few comments/ opinions :

    The title track FuturePast is my favourite from the recent lp,yet I notice this song has been abandoned by the band as it hasn’t yet been on any of their set lists.A missed opportunity as this is a great new song that would work well live

    I notice Union of the Snake and New Moon are off the set list again.Two favourites of mine.

    If they are going to start with a slowish lp track I would have chosen The Chauffeur rather than Night Boat.

    For deep cuts they should have dug up Secret Oktober.They have performed this before and it is their strongest b-side and a fan favourite.

    Hold Back the Rain is a great rock track,(an Andy Taylor favourite too,as he used to enjoy playing it)so would have been a much better choice than Last chance…Stairway.

    I also agree that if they insist on a cover version Perfect Day is far superior to White Lines.

    Similar to Depeche Mode Duran Duran setlists stick a bit to rigidly to a few key band preferred songs when most fans want other biggish tunes which are just as good,but performed less.

    Why they are currently obessessed with White Lines and ruining Planet Earth by merging it with Acceptable in the 80’s is a mystery.They have been doing this now for sometime and I just wish they would stop.Just play the Night version of Planet Earth and drop White Lines please!

    1. Minor correction: it’s Girls On Film that they ruined by merging with Acceptable in the ’80s. The transition to/from is so clunky it’s not even clever.

      Planet Earth, thankfully, escaped unscathed!

  14. Cracking show and had great seats. The seldom heard live tracks were the standout for me
    Really loved Stairway. You’re right, Paul if they did the firststwo albums back to back, then maybe an intermission then a hits section (sorta liked the results carpet massacre show at the lyceum). Cake, meet icing.

  15. I’m glad you got to go and enjoyed the performance. I agree with much of what you wrote, but particularly here:

    Sometimes the act of regularly playing songs turns them into well-received classics, even if they were not a big hit at the time (Tears For Fears’ ‘Break It Down Again’ is a good example of this).

    DD have done this with White Lines, to their credit, and I think have tried with other songs, but I guess they haven’t stuck so much.

    Still, DD have done a pretty good job of mixing it up lately, it’s just that they won’t give the big hits a break to make room for other songs. If my changes could be heard, they are:

    • More from Future Past, and braver choices. 

    • Laughing Boy instead of Friends of Mine. 
    • More Joy instead of Careless Memories. 
    • Falling instead of OW

    • My Antartica or Midnight Sun instead of SAP.
    • First Impression or Virus would make a good alternate to White Lines.
    • All She Wants Is instead of Wild Boys
    • Serious instead of Come Undone

  16. I had a BLAST last night during the amazing Duran Duran concert at the O2. The energy and party atmosphere they create is just magical. I think this review is such a let down. They do not deserve to be criticised. Duran Duran should be celebrated. I don’t want to hear deep meaningful recent album tracks at a concert I wasn’t to be uplifted and dance the night away. That is exactly what I did. The heavier tracks I can enjoy in my car while I’m reflecting on the M25. I have seen Duran Duran lots of times but last nights was the absolute perfect concert for me. I was on row 6 and they are in fine form. Give the guys a break it was brilliant!!!! I have been smiling all day. Thank you Duran Duran

  17. I thought they were ace.
    Particularly enjoyed Friends Of Mine, Careless Memories (banger!) and White Lines!
    Is it just me or does who you end up next to really affect the evening however great the band are?
    I was next to an absolute misery who stood (as with everybody else on the floor) but with a face like thunder and his hands in his pockets throughout not applauding for any song apart from Ordinary World (I honestly wondered if it was a medical issue until then) and at the end by which time I had escaped to a vacated space by the aisle for Rio.
    £80 plus a pop… not as if the lady he was with was a young daughter who he had to accompany again his will. Why are you here if you hate it that much?!
    Didn’t hassle me or anything but it made me feel pretty uncomfortable and a bit reluctant to let go too much.

  18. I was at the same show last night – really appreciated the deep cuts – never expected Night Boat. Great set, the only missteps for me were Anniversary (dreadfully strained song anyway) and White Lines (give them something here, they still persist to keep doing this one live).

    I said to my friend last night, the only disappointment was they didn’t incorporate any of the Night Version extra bits into the old songs – that would have been amazing.

  19. Love this! Duran Duran was my very first concert in NYC (Strange Behavior tour 1987) and I don’t think I’ve missed many NY Duran Duran shows since. I love when they do White Lines, at one Jones Beach show years ago it was obvious my friend and I were the only ones who knew all the words! Things have changed since then. I’m seeing them in Forest Hills Queens in September with GRACE JONES! I hope they do Election Day!

  21. I thought there may be a review coming from last night at the O2. I also decided to go along and attend.

    I’d call it a festival set rather than a set to promote the latest album. I agree Careless Memories really rocked last night and was probably my favourite track on the night, got me jumping though too old these days to last too long!

    Instead of ‘White Lines’ as the cover version, I’d rather hear ‘Perfect Day’ which even Lou Reed called the best recoding of one of his songs. The BBC even copied Duran Duran’s version to get to number 1.

    With an extra date added at the O2 this evening, there’s tickets available if anyone wants a big of nostalgia.

  22. Great photo of Nick, Paul.
    That’s one of the things I love about Duran, all their obscure tracks. My Antarctica and Matter of Feeling would make my list. What would be amazing if they did a mini concert halfway through the set of as Arcadia.

  23. ha starting the show with Big Thing?? interesting

    I was at the show and had a great time, I expect a hits heavy show as I know they’re playing to 99% of the audience rather than the 1% who’d like obscure album tracks. I’m very much in the 1%.

    delighted to hear Nightboat and Last chance on the stairway

    they have been playing Sunrise and Pressure Off on recent tours and saw What Happens Tomorrow last year.

    I’d rather the songs sound like they were originally recorded rather than remixed or morphed into something unrecognisable ( see Madonna).

    1. My fave tour of theirs was in 93-94 when they did the acoustic reimaginings of their hits. I realise that was mostly Warren but it was still amazing to hear. It truly ‘dilated my mind’ .

  26. Nice review and i agree with you Paul about the “lost” tracks of Duran Duran or Rio or other albums . Listening to Night Boat after reading it doesn’t fit for me, Anyone Out There should have be a killer intro !

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