More than four decades into its career, Duran Duran had a banner year in 2022.
At times in between the band's highest points during the '80s and early '90s, and many times afterward, it was hard to believe that things might someday unfold like they did this past year. Duran is finishing 2022 as new inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — as well as the fan vote winners — headliners on stages around the world, and at last, the elder statesmen of new wave.
RRHOF
In the spring, Duran finally made the roster of nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and it didn't take long for the band to soar to the top of the fan poll. Duran traded the lead a few times with rapper Eminem before pulling away for good. In the end, the band won with a commanding 934,880 votes. But the fan vote was just one piece of the puzzle. While good for publicity, it counted for little in the overall scheme of things. But no matter: Duran was indeed selected to be inducted in November.
When the day finally arrived, the band opened the show, no less. Duran was inducted by actor Robert Downey Jr. and performed "Girls On Film," "Hungry Like the Wolf," and "Ordinary World." But something was missing: guitarist Andy Taylor, who had announced that he was planning to perform. (The sixth inductee, guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, never officially confirmed plans to be there.) But Taylor's news stole the show: He has stage four metastatic prostate cancer, and a setback prevented him from being there on the big night. Singer Simon Le Bon shared a heartfelt note from the guitarist. Later that evening, Le Bon returned to the stage for the show-closing jam with Dolly Parton.
DuranLive
Duran played some big shows in 2022: BST Hyde Park, the Queen's Jubilee, and the opening of the Commonwealth Games, to name a few. But the biggest show for me took place in Fort Worth, Texas, during the band's U.S. tour. The concert on Aug. 30 was a culmination of a more than six-year wait between live shows. The "Future Past" tour opener in Minnesota was how it was supposed to start. But that concert was canceled at the last minute due to storms, and the show at Dickie's Arena in Fort Worth turned out to be a totally worthwhile pivot. Two months later, the band mixed up its act big time with a Halloween-themed show in Las Vegas that received glowing reviews from fans, even ones left a bit jaded over the band's live set list.
Resurgence
More than anything in 2022, there was a feeling that Duran's time as a respected force in music had finally come. In the days leading up to the Rock Hall induction, the band had a concert film playing in theaters around the world and were on the cover of a publication on most major newstands, a special edition of Life magazine. Once again, it was a great time to be a Duranie.
The future
2023 is likely to include more live shows, the band's bread and butter. A brief tour of the U.K. is certain to be followed by more U.S. shows. Duran seems ready: The band will ring in the year in New York's Times Square as the main act for "New Year's Rockin' Eve."
At top, Duran Duran plays to a packed arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Christopher Windle
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