Duran Duran’s top moments of 2017 ... and a look ahead

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The Duran Duran touring juggernaut rolled on in 2017, with the band hitting places like Asia and North America for scattered dates extending the “Paper Gods” tour. The band performed in Hawaii for the first time and also played before huge crowds at Lollapalooza in South America, a highlight especially for singer Simon Le Bon. Two of the highest-profile shows were once again in the United States, with the band playing a Sirius XM concert in Miami that could be heard on the excellent First Wave satellite radio station and a New Year’s weekend gig in Las Vegas.

Projects

With tour dates limited for the foreseeable future, it’s likely Duran’s attention will turn toward to the studio. Though new Duran music is likely a ways off, in 2017, there were cryptic hints of a “top secret project” involving members of the band and performers like Izzy Bizu, Vanessa White, Aled Phillips, and John Taylor (of Young Guns). The possibility that the TSP is John Taylor (that JT) and Nick Rhodes’ long-talked about musical is good; John recently said the project is “really starting to come together.” Nick went as far as saying it’s nearly done.

Cultural impact

Duran popped up several places in pop culture in 2017. Patrick Nagel's "Rio" cover emblazoned an Urban Decay lipstick palette that sold out almost as soon as it was available. Duran was also the go-to shirt for a quick change in the latest "Thor" movie and the TV series "The Goldbergs." And Duran music finally appeared in the 1980s-set "Stranger Things" in the form of "Girls on Film."

Anniversaries

It was a big year for Duran album anniversaries, with “Rio” hitting its 35th, “Notorious” its 30th, and “Medazzaland” its 20th, among others. It was a good reminder of the lasting impact of “Rio,” the Nile Rodgers-produced grooves of “Notorious," and the groundbreaking “Medazzaland,” which heralded the future of the music industry with the first digitally sold single. More milestones loom: a 25th anniversary next year for “The Wedding Album,” and in 2019-20, Duran itself will celebrate its 40-year mark. Nick says the band will "start some new recordings in the studio" in 2018 and has "a lot of things we are planning" for Duran's 40th.

Photo by Christopher Windle

Top five live shows of 2017

1. The Damned

The heart and soul of the band, goth god singer Dave Vanian and lovable goofball Captain Sensible on guitar, are still touring in top form and visited the Summit Music Hall in Denver in April. The Damned managed to touch on nearly every era of its career, from the first punk single, "New Rose," to "Alone Again Or," a cover of a Love song that was a hit in the late '80s. In all, the band played 23 songs, several more than many acts years younger manage to play. But 40 years on, the Damned is not the typical band just rolling through the hits. A new album is coming soon; the band recently previewed new song "Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow" live.

All photos by Christopher Windle.

2. The Buttertones

The Buttertones, a sharp-dressed five-piece with a ton of musical talent, brought a riveting live show to Omaha's Slowdown in August. Although the Los Angeles group reminds one of a certain band in the '80s at times, instead of Chic and Roxy Music, The Buttertones' musical style has been described as Johnny Kidd and the Pirates meets The Gun Club. The band played a slick and energetic set of songs off current album "Gravedigging" as well as tracks from further back in its six-year career. The band proved with its live show that it's the next big thing, and it will be exciting to see what's next. The review of this show also had the honor of being our most-read blog of the year, thanks to Facebook likes from "The Butterdads." Our comparisons to Duran elicited a "Well done, boys!"

3. Blondie

Blondie, with an assist from Garbage, a fellow band that helped define music over four decades with its fierce, age-defying female singer, came to a steamy Stir Cove in Council Bluffs in July. Despite the new songs, the reason to see Blondie live are the timeless originals: "One Way or Another," covered and used in commercials to the point that it's forever in the public consciousness. "Dreaming," a slice of '50s-inspired pop perfection. "Atomic," a keyboard-driven opus that helped inspire new wavers like Duran Duran. And "Rapture," a tour de force live, during which Debbie Harry hit the high notes and strutted to the front of the stage for the first and best female-led rap. At 72, it's clear that Harry, and Blondie, have still got it.

4. Wilco

Wilco, led by original members Jeff Tweedy and John Stirratt, came back to Nebraska for the first time in a decade to usher in fall on a summerlike September evening in Lincoln. While there were songs left unplayed, "War on War" and "Bull Black Nova" especially missed, Wilco proved that it's no slouch. The band touched on nine of its 10 studio albums, playing 26 songs and two encores, connecting with the audience on every level, encouraging cheers, sing-alongs and even boos.

5. X

The seminal punk band played Omaha just a few months after John Doe and Exene were in town to open for Blondie and Garbage. But the show at the Waiting Room was all X, and the Los Angeles band impressed with an extensive set list and boundless energy. Though guitarist Billy Zoom now sits on stage, that’s the only clue that the band members aren’t a young and hungry punk outfit.

Honorable mentions:

Echo and the Bunnymen, the Black Angels, Combichrist (opening for Lords of Acid), Ohgr (opening for KMFDM), Revolting Cocks and Frontline Assembly

Band Aid, and Duran Duran, help start a movement

About 33 years ago this week, a star-studded Christmas single had just been released and was about to rocket to the top of the pop charts. 

Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was the brainchild of Sir Bob Geldof, featured the top U.K. musical acts of the 1980s, and raised awareness and funds to aid victims of the famine in Africa.

The song also launched a charitable movement that would grow to include USA for Africa and Live Aid.

Duran Duran was instrumental in 1984's Band Aid and would headline Live Aid the following year.

Duran's Simon Le Bon sang alongside Bono, George Michael, and others. Le Bon also harmonized with Sting, and he would do the same later on Duran side project Arcadia.

Sting and Duran's John Taylor both played bass for Band Aid, Taylor wrote in his memoir, "In the Pleasure Groove.”

The single was born out of '80s excess and was penned quickly by Midge Ure and Geldof, who once told The Daily Mail that it was the worst song in the world.

But "Do They Know It's Christmas?" raised millions for charity. The song would be rerecorded twice, and the Live Aid concept was revived to raise awareness of climate change, as well. Duran would take part in Live Earth in 2007.

The members of Duran Duran still do their part for charity, including Taylor's efforts with the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which provides rehab for teens, and Le Bon's role with Children's Air Ambulance, which transfers critically ill youngsters across England and Wales for care.

When you hear “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” this holiday season, reflect on what Le Bon recently told Rolling Stone:

Band Aid “wasn’t about politics, it was about saving lives.”

And by raising funds and awareness, it did.

Adapted from original post from Dec. 7, 2012