It’s another year in the books for Duran Duran, a band now approaching their 45th anniversary.
Duran’s 2024 included a few new songs, an exhilarating run of concerts and an honor for singer Simon Le Bon.
Live shows
Duran Duran played select dates on a spring U.S. tour, including the Cruel World Festival in California and a show at a small venue in Nebraska. They were back in the States in the fall, in time for Halloween, on which they performed at a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden in New York. The band members donned costumes and played much of their latest album, Danse Macabre, as well as deep cuts like Arcadia’s “Missing.” The show also aired multiple times on Sirius XM radio.
Danse De Luxe
Duran Duran dropped an expanded edition of their Halloween-themed album, which was available on some formats in time for the holiday. New songs on Danse Macabre De Luxe include a cover of ELO’s “Evil Woman”; a reimagining of their own hit, “New Moon (Dark Phase)”; and the instrumental “Masque Of The Pink Death.” An expanded vinyl box set includes four additional tracks: the Classics IV cover “Spooky,” the spoken-word “Instructions For A Seance,” and the instrumentals “Dialogues Of The Dead” and “The Visitor.”
Simon Le Bon, MBE
The singer was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to music and charity in November. Le Bon called the honor “unexpected” and said he hoped it would raise awareness for charities he has been involved with, including the conservation group Blue Marine Foundation and Centrepointe, which tackles youth homelessness.
A big year ahead?
While new music isn’t yet on the horizon for 2025, the band members have hyped a huge European tour happening next summer. In particular, bassist John Taylor said the band is going to be performing in many countries they haven’t played in a long time. And given the spontaneity behind their last studio album, more big news is surely ahead for Duran Duran.
At top: Le Bon in Omaha. (Photo by Karen Duran Windle)
