On this night of much mutton and little lamb, one of the first thoughts that spring to mind is “I really hope the crowd doesn’t re-enact the ‘Girls On Film’ video. After a long break Duran Duran have returned to Australian shores in support of their new album, All You Need Is Now, playing a one night only show at a packed Rod Laver Arena,
As the house lights dim the seated area on the floor is transformed into what is best described as a middle aged mosh. When the familiar faces of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor make their way on to the stage, it is the mid forties female equivalent of a screaming teen at a Justin Bieber concert. “Before The Rain” with its dark war imagery projected onto the screens is a strange choice of opening song but the entire arena is quickly on its feet regardless. Thankfully, they roll out their first big hit “Planet Earth” next to much singing along. To the surprise and delight of this reviewer, Le Bon’s voice has survived the excesses of the 80s and is able to reach all the way to the furthest seat in the house. Joining bassist John Taylor on the platform at the front of the stage, it is clear to see that Le Bon also still has the heartthrob good looks he did all those years ago. Seems 20 years of waking up next to a supermodel does the body good.
Without a single pause, they move on to the James Bond theme “A View To Kill” complete with Bond Girl silhouettes. Addressing the crowd for the first time Le Bon simply says, “The name of this band is Duran Duran and we are here for your pleasure” before breaking into the titular track from their new album All You Need Is Now. A song met with polite clapping rather than the all out screaming which follows old favourites.
Nick Rhodes, who in a sequinned blazer with white hair resembles a fabulously mad professor, regales the audience with a list of technological breakthroughs to come out of Melbourne before segueing into “Blame The Machines”. Speaking of machines, it must be mentioned that the four sets of lights on crane like arms moving up and down on the stage are a great touch. The entire stage production in fact is simplistic, futuristic and incredibly slick apart from a screen at the back of the stage which seems to be causing some grief.
Duran Duran’s new songs also get a far cooler reception than expected. Though they actually aren’t bad at all, “Girl Planet” with its supermodels-as-Duran Duran video just about steals the show, a good portion of the crowd seem lost. The only catch of having a well loved 30 year career is that your fans have had 30 years worth of loving your older material. Granted this is not a greatest hits or farewell tour, but keeping your best known material dotted few and far between is a brave if not dangerous choice.
Thankfully even in their slowest moments Duran Duran ooze likability, from Simon Le Bon’s daggy dad dancing to John Taylor’s ankle bashing pants you cannot help but pull for the guys; they still know how to wow a crowd. Recovering from a particularly dry patch with a costume change and “The Reflex” closely tailed by “Notorious”, Le Bon slows things down to draw attention to the plight of the Syrian people which is met by golf claps. Just when he seems to be wading deeply into Bono territory he redeems himself by performing an extremely beautiful version of “Ordinary World”. The opening notes of “Hungry Like The Wolf” are met with the sound of thousands of members of the audience previously riveted to their seats to rocketing to their feet.
“Reach Up For The Sunrise” and a mix of “Wild Boys” with “Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood spliced into it cap off the show. Needless to say, there is an encore. Before Duran Duran begin to play again, John Taylor says, “We don’t usually dedicate our shows but well dedicate this one to Molly [Meldrum] who we love to death”. “Girls On Film” sees any stragglers still sitting up on their feet and a stellar performance of “Rio” brings the show to a close.
For whatever one may think of them, Duran Duran fused art, sex and popular music long before Lady Gaga tottered into her first pair of McQueen’s. The fact that they still look and sound as good now as they did 20 something years ago is both a testament to how talented they really are and how so many artists clogging up the airwaves these days will not be capable of the same thing. I’m looking at you Lana Del Ray.
– Madison Thomas
