Single review: Duran Duran feat. Nile Rodgers 'Free To Love'

Duran Duran return in time for a big run of live shows this spring and summer with their long-awaited new single, ‘Free To Love.’

The song, left over from the Danse Macabre sessions, is co-written with longtime collaborator and friend Nile Rodgers, who also adds an infectious guitar riff.

The song gives off both Chic and Daft Punk vibes: the former with its echo in the chorus of ‘Good Times’ and the latter with its guitar riff, bass groove and (slightly) processed vocals, also musical highlights of Daft Punk’s massive hit ‘Get Lucky’ and its more chill cousin, ‘Move Yourself To Dance,’ both featuring Rodgers on guitar.

In a welcome move in recent years, Duran Duran have released a proper video at the same time as the single. The clip, directed by previous collaborator Jonas Åkerlund (‘Girl Panic!’, ‘Black Moonlight’) harks back to Top Of The Pops and Soul Train. The band are joined by an array of energetic disco dancers as well as TV presenter Clara Amfo. The video is presented by luxury perfume house Xerjoff, in a similar move to the band’s previous collaboration with Swarovski Elements on the clip for ‘Girl Panic!’

The song is by no means deep: It’s a feel-good slice of nostalgia well-timed for the spring and summer concerts. It delivers a universal (if slightly cliché) message that speaks to these divided times, with lines like ‘Chasing a dream in all the confusion.’

As singer Simon Le Bon states in the official press release accompanying the single, ‘It’s about loving the modern world instead of hating it, and that is something we need right now.’ Keyboardist Nick Rhodes goes as far as calling the song ‘an anthem for freedom.’

The single may not be what every Duranie wants from the band in 2026 (that would probably be the almost-mythical album Reportage), but it might be a track that resonates with a wider audience, or at least one nostalgic for the disco era.

Despite any fan’s opinion of the song, it’s good that Duran Duran are still moving into the future – as always – with ‘love in their hearts and an eye on the charts.’

Duran Duran's top moments of 2025

While 2025 wasn’t a huge year for Duran Duran, there were still a number of happenings that kept the Duranie flame alive.

‘Owning’ Halloween

Duran continued to lean in to Halloween, with an elaborate concert on the holiday in Manchester and a reimagined new version of ‘Shadows On Your Side.’ The Halloween festivities followed a summer European tour as well as other live shows throughout the year.

Global anti-hunger anthem

Duran Duran took part in ‘The Next Verse’ for the 100 Billion Meals Challenge on Dec. 16, along with Stevie Wonder, Dr. Dre and others. Their name even appeared on the list of musical artists above superstar Janet Jackson, a longtime collaborator of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who helmed the new recording. ‘Someday Has Begun, Part 1’ was released on Christmas Day. The spirt of the recording harks back to the UK Christmas number one charity single by Band Aid, ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’

‘Duran Duran On Track’

The band joined the extensive list of musical acts covered in the On Track series when my contribution was published in July in the UK. A US release followed on Halloween, and it has continued to appear on a key music book sales chart on Amazon UK through the end of the year.

I was honored to cover all of Duran’s studio output from a fan’s perspective and have been humbled by readers’ responses to the book. I have especially enjoyed chatting with fans online and in person before signing a copy for them. There was even a book release party, where family, friends and other area Duranies gathered together. The event was held at Vive Le Rock! Lounge and Record Store, which treated guests to a playlist of Duran Duran songs and also served a signature cocktail, Girls On Film, which was created for the occasion and remains on the menu. (If you’re ever in Omaha, be sure to check out this rock ‘n’ roll-themed lounge!)

Rio-themed cake designed by Alexandra E. Andersen.
Photo by Michelle Napoli

The Power Station reissue and more to come in 2026

The Power Station’s debut album will get a deluxe reissue treatment in January. Also that month, Duran are set to film a video with director Jonas Åkerlund, presumably for their spring/summer single with Nile Rodgers. 

As for other unreleased music, three out of four members recently confirmed that the ‘lost’ album Reportage could finally see the light of day.

‘I really want to finish working on REPORTAGE. There are some great tracks on it, and I am ready to get it out,’ singer Simon Le Bon said in his year-end list on DuranDuran.com. Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes also suggested that the LP could be released, possibly next year.

At top: Duran Duran in Omaha in 2024. Photo by Karen Duran Windle

Review: Duran Duran delivers a Halloween album for any season with 'Danse Macabre'

Duran Duran revisits some of the darker songs in its catalog, conjures up some inspiring covers of other artists’ work, and adds three tantalizing original tracks on “Danse Macabre” (Tape Modern/BMG).

Twenty-eight years have passed since the band’s first covers effort, the ill-fated “Thank You,” and much has changed. Duran has had a late-career renaissance: After its rise back to the charts with “The Wedding Album,” the band began a commercial dip with “Thank You,” reunited its Fab Five lineup, and has now had a return to prominence—culminating in its induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year. While “Thank You” had its moments (and was certified gold on the back of “The Wedding Album’s” success), the 1995 album was harshly panned by critics and is considered a mixed bag by fans. 

In 2023, Duran has mostly cast aside the conventional classic rock of “Thank You” (aside from The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black”) and avoided hip-hop this time around (unless one counts Simon Le Bon’s “spoken-word” vocal on the band’s own “Danse Macabre”). The album features a confident-sounding Duran Duran, a band capable of turning around a full studio effort in under a year and mature enough to invite both former guitarists back into the fold—while finding space for its current guitarist as well as past collaborators Nile Rodgers and Mr Hudson.

“Danse Macabre” is an ambitious effort that manages to make a collection of covers and new songs sound surprisingly cohesive. From the moody “Nightboat” and the majestic “Secret Oktober 31st” (two of 10 songs to feature original guitarist Andy Taylor) to the funky “Love Voudou” featuring “comeback-era” axeman Warren Cuccurullo, the band rightfully owns the reboots of its classic songs here. Duran also dips into a diverse mix of covers, taking on disco (Cerrone’s “Supernature”), goth/post-punk (Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Spellbound”), new wave (Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”), and more. The latter song is delightful, featuring funky guitar from Taylor and Dom Brown, “Psycho”-esque keyboard stabs by Nick Rhodes, fantastic drumming by Roger Taylor, and dual bass from John Taylor and Måneskin’s Victoria De Angelis.

But the originals are the standout tracks, and perhaps as diverse as three different Duran songs can be. “Black Moonlight” is a would-be dance-floor smash featuring Rodgers and Taylor on guitar. “Danse Macabre”—aside from Le Bon’s dad-rap delivery—slaps musically, with Cuccurullo back on guitar (and additional guitar by John Taylor). And “Confession in the Afterlife” closes the album in that classic Duran fashion, harking back to Arcadia in its loveliness.

Much has been made of “Danse Macabre” being a Halloween album. But just as every day is Halloween for those of us who relish in the gothic side of life, “Danse Macabre” is a timeless effort for any season. It’s a joyful gift for Duranies that’s clearly made with love.

At Red Rocks, Duran Duran lights up a majestic venue

As Duran Duran steered the mothership (let’s call it the HMS Night Boat) into Red Rocks, a venue that’s been likened to an ancient alien spaceship, the excitement was palpable for the two-night stand ahead.

Already, Nile Rodgers and Chic had masterfully navigated through its standard, though no less thrilling, set list. The Chic Organization is always a class act, even in pouring rain. On Monday, the band added one of Rodgers’ latest successes, Beyoncé’s “Cuff It,” to its string of hits by Chic and others who’ve been aided by the super-producer.

Storm clouds loomed over Red Rocks on Monday,
but Duran held back the rain for its set.
All photos by Christopher Windle.

Bastille followed, with singer Dan Smith seemingly humbled by the band’s spot on the bill between two legendary acts. The group had been sidelined for the previous show in Las Vegas but managed to admirably perform its dance-rock hits at a venue it had headlined a few years ago.

Then, there was Duran, landing at the amphitheater outside Denver, Colorado, that singer Simon Le Bon calls his favorite concert venue in the world. The band took the stage amid adoring roars from the crowd as “Velvet Newton” played, along with a video of their avatars controlling a spaceship landing in a “Bladerunner”-esque world. The opening song, a sublime reworking of “Night Boat,” couldn’t have been more perfect and gave Le Bon a chance to warm up his voice.

“The Wild Boys,” a spectacular opener for last year’s U.S. tour, followed, and then an array of huge hits: “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “A View to a Kill,” and “Notorious.” On this “Future Past” tour, only two songs from the album made the cut, “Give It All Up” and “Anniversary,” which sounded surprisingly good, even as the band bundled up against the cold wind and Le Bon swathed his neck in a scarf.

Looming amid all the excitement of the Red Rocks shows was the pending announcement of Duran’s new studio album, a Halloween-flavored effort titled “Danse Macabre.” The first single of the same name had just enjoyed its premier days after most fans had already heard the prematurely released/leaked song. Duran teased the opening of the song between bands and was even selling “Danse Macabre” T-shirts. 

But the new song wasn’t played live. Aside from “Night Boat,” the only song from the forthcoming album was “Super Lonely Freak.” The creepy singing doll and freaky dancing skeleton visuals certainly set a Halloween-time mood (and the weather was a bit fall-like, too).

The reworked “Rio”-era ballad ushered in the highlights of the show. “Is There Something I Should Know?” made its triumphant return to the set list, with teen magazine visuals to match. The aforementioned “Anniversary” was followed by “Friends of Mine” and “Careless Memories,” two of Duran’s best live songs, hands down.

Le Bon dedicated “Ordinary World” to the people of Ukraine and Maui, which was followed by fellow “Wedding Album” smash “Come Undone.” Then it was “Planet Earth” and “White Lines” (or for me, a chance to beat the line to the restroom). “The Reflex” and “Girls on Film” closed out the main set list. So many hits, so little time.

During the encore, thousands of cellphones lit up the majestic venue for “Save a Prayer,” a sight to behold. And “Rio” was the closing number that the vast majority of concertgoers came for.

Le Bon in silhouette. At top, “Save a Prayer.”

Monday’s show was fantastic and a true feat given the weather, rain followed by a drop in temperatures and fierce wind. I’d imagine that few in the crowd left unsatisfied.

And on Tuesday, it was a case of deja vu. There were a few differences. Chic and Bastille switched slots. Le Bon, bassist John Taylor, and drummer Roger Taylor wore different shirts. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes went all out, dressed in a sparkly suit and donning a shiny conductor’s cap for the encore.

But the set list was exactly the same as at Monday’s show. There were a lot of repeat customers who likely noticed the similarities, too. It was the first time I opted to leave a Duran show early, joining the others who also wanted to beat traffic out of the venue. 

If there was any way to make two shows in a standout venue even more special, adding or swapping out a song would have done the trick.

It seems the only surprises in store will be those in the new music: a madcap single featuring guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, of all people. An album release two years after the last (Durantime be damned!). And the re-emergence of Andy Taylor in the Duraniverse. 

Still, it would have been nice to hear a new song.

Duran Duran Future Past Radio’s run extended. Are Duranies making a difference?

Duran Duran Future Past Radio will be available for at least another month on the Sirius XM app.

The channel was originally slated to end its run on the app on June 2 and had also been added to the satellite radio station’s on-air lineup for a week in May. Future Past Radio will now be available on the SXM App through July 4.

The channel is a celebration of Duran’s ongoing U.S. tour. Highlights so far have included three episodes of “Celeb Fan Takeover,” featuring Nile Rodgers, “The Goldbergs” actress Wendi McLendon Covey, and Bastille, an opening act on Duran’s summer tour along with Rodger’s Chic. The streaming channel has also been playing a mix of band and fan favorites, hits, and remixes, including Erol Alkan’s reworking of “All Of You.”

It’s not known whether further episodes of “Celeb Fan Takeover” are planned. And it’s also unclear whether a grassroots campaign by Duranies played a role in the monthlong extension for the channel. Fans have been clamoring for Sirius to make Future Past Radio a permanent part of its lineup.

Sirius subscribers can send feedback directly via the app. Or send your positive feedback via the link here! There are handy drop-down menu options. Just select “Music,” Rock,” and “Duran Duran Future Past” before submitting your message.

Photo by Christopher Windle

Duran Duran’s ‘spontaneous’ new project starts to take shape

Duran Duran’s latest studio effort, described as a Halloween-themed project, is taking shape.

Members of the band say the project will include old and new Duran songs, as well as covers, according to recent media interviews. The idea for the project was sparked by the band’s successful show last Halloween.

In Las Vegas on Oct. 31, the Durans donned costumes and played songs a bit on the spooky side, including “Night Boat,” “Secret Oktober,” and a medley of “Lonely In Your Nightmare” and “Super Freak.” The band has since added the latter to its set list.

Duran also played covers at the show, including the Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” and Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Spellbound.” In a short interview on Duran Duran Future Past Radio, Nick Rhodes revealed that the band has recorded a version of “Spellbound” that would be out in a bit. Guitarist Andy Taylor, who features on the project, has called the Siouxie cover “particularly great.”

Other covers reportedly in the mix: the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” The Specials’ “Ghost Town,” and Cerrone’s “Supernature.”

Also on the band’s Sirius XM channel, producer Nile Rodgers said he and Duran had just wrote a couple of songs together. In addition, the band spent time in the studio with “Paper Gods” producer Mr. Hudson, John Taylor says. The new songs, three in total, may or may not make the finished product, according to Taylor.

The project is “spontaneous,” Simon Le Bon told the NME, and the Halloween theme behind the new music is one that the singer says he had to be talked into.

Le Bon also spoke about his working relationship with Andy Taylor. Le Bon traveled to Ibiza this year to work with the guitarist, who has Stage 4 cancer. “Music is the king” in the room when the two are together, Le Bon said.

The fact that the band booked studio time before heading out on a summer tour bodes well for a planned Halloween 2023 release—though the specter of “Durantime” always looms.

The band’s North American tour kicks off this week in California with a performance at BottleRock Napa Valley and runs through September. Highlights along the way include two nights at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado, and a closing show at Forest Hills Stadium in New York.

At top: Le Bon wore a “Queen Sioux” T-shirt onstage in Dallas last year. Now, Duran Duran has recorded a cover of a Siouxsie and the Banshees song.

Photo by Christopher Windle

Duran Duran Future Past Radio takes Sirius XM by storm

Duran Duran added yet another accolade to its collection with the debut of a radio channel dedicated solely to the band on Sirius XM.

Duran Duran Future Past Radio has been streaming on the Sirius app for a couple of weeks, but it was officially added to the satellite radio airwaves on May 18.

In honor of the channel’s first day on the air, Duran producer and superfan Nile Rodgers staged a celeb fan takeover. Rodgers, who described himself as “like the other dude in Duran Duran,” got the party started by playing Duran favorites and sharing stories from his more than 40 years as a friend of the band.

The streaming channel has been playing a slew of Duran fan favorites and rarities, songs as varied as “Winter Marches On” (played by its producer, Rodgers), “Ball of Confusion,” and even “Fragment” (a “Pop Trash” instrumental). Duran members’ faves are played as well; an atmospheric remix of Tame Impala’s “Is It True” worked particularly well before Duran’s own “Mediterranea.” Of course, all of the band’s biggest hits are represented, too.

Meantime, a grassroots campaign is brewing to make Future Past Radio a permanent fixture on Sirius. If you’re a Sirius subscriber, you can send feedback directly via the app. 

As one longtime Duranie says, “Let’s do a RRHOF fan vote and tell Sirius to make Future Past Radio permanent.” Last year, Duranies made a huge difference by scoring Duran a decisive first-place finish in the fan poll and helping propel the band into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame.

So send your positive feedback via the app or the link here!

Review: Duran Duran leans in to future, past in Fort Worth

 

As Duran Duran took the stage to the strains of "Velvet Newton" and launched into "The Wild Boys" in Texas on Aug. 30, it was a culmination of a more than six-year wait between live shows.

For me, the "Future Past" tour opener was how it was supposed to start. A week and a half prior, the ill-fated show in my home state of Minnesota was canceled at the last minute due to storms. The show at Dickie's Arena in Fort Worth was a pivot, and one that definitely proved to be worthwhile.

Chic opened the show masterfully, drawing the solidly numbered crowd to their spots in the 14,000-seat arena. Nile Rodgers and his band of skilled musicians put on a tour de force of Chic songs and assorted hits from the songwriter/superproducer's past. Everything from Diana Ross, Madonna, Bowie and Daft Punk was played. Rodgers always gets the party started for his brothers in Duran Duran.

Duran also rarely disappoints live, but there was something different this time. There seemed to be a new energy behind the band, now soon-to-be-inducted members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"The Wild Boys" was a commanding burst of energy, aided by video-game like onscreen graphics in which the band members seemed to dance in and out of the fire. New graphics were also employed during "Hungry Like the Wolf" before the band played its first two songs off "Future Past." "Invisible" is always a solid live track, and “All of You" a pleasant add to the set list (though Simon Le Bon flubbed the first line of the chorus).

Le Bon sounded mostly in top form, only straining a bit on some high notes during "All of You" and "A View to a Kill." Le Bon, wearing a "Queen Sioux" T-shirt from Punk Masters and the beginnings of "Le Beard," was an energetic presence onstage. Between songs, he joked about how the neighboring city of Dallas was "booted and suited," while Fort Worth was more laid-back, though he was willing to give Dallas a shout-out later in the show.

Duran also played "Notorious," but this time without Rodgers, who joined the band onstage at prior shows. "Come Undone" was a showcase for backup singer Anna Ross, while Rachael O'Connor shined on the "Future Past" single "Give It All Up."

But the show really took off as Duran leaned in to nostalgia, playing a few "old friends" that compelled the crowd to dance and sing along. "Union of the Snake," "Friends of Mine" and the cracking "Careless Memories" may be the holy trinity of the "Future Past" tour. "Union" is a recent welcome addition to the set list, a song that's too often overlooked. "Friends of Mine" pointed to the band's upcoming Halloween shows in Las Vegas with clips from Hammer's "Dracula" playing on the screen above.

The band slowed things down with "Ordinary World" and a heartfelt dedication to the people of Ukraine. It was well-received in Fort Worth, where Duran seemingly could do no wrong with the audience, even when playing its newest and perhaps weakest single off "Future Past," "Tonight United."

"Planet Earth" led into "Hold Back the Rain" as images from Duran's early days flashed onscreen. The sound and vision brought fans back to when the Fab Five "were a gang, a SWAT team, best friends," as Nick Rhodes writes in the "Future Past" tour book. "Nothing seemed out of reach." 

As expected, Duran saved its biggest hits and a crowd-pleaser for last. "The Reflex" had the audience singing and dancing with abandon, and it made no difference that "White Lines" wasn't a Duran song. The band and an impressive Dom Brown made the song their own, on this night, at least.

"Girl on Film" closed the main set with a batch of fresh graphics and a segue into the Calvin Harris hit "Acceptable in the '80s." The encore of "Save a Prayer" and "Rio" delivered what the crowd wanted. Those songs may seem a bit stale to some diehard Duranies, but seeing them performed live restored faith in this band.

Over the past decade, Duran Duran has evolved into a Hall of Fame-caliber act whose music now belongs to a wider audience than the band enjoyed even during its heyday. Duran must continually straddle the line between its future and its past, its best-known songs and its fan favorites. The band manages to accomplish all that, and does it exceedingly well. See it, and believe it.

All photos by Christopher Windle

Duran Duran leads Rock & Roll Hall of Fame fan vote after scoring first nomination

Duran Duran has finally been nominated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, more than 40 years after the band's debut album. 

And a sweet side note on Valentine’s Day: Duran has taken the lead in the fan vote.

Duran long ago crossed the 25-year threshold of eligibility, as it was deemed a "mascara" band, doomed to be passed over by the hall (something I wrote about in 2016). But times have changed. In addition to Duran's 2022 nomination, other overlooked '80s bands like Depeche Mode and the Cure have been inducted, along with Duran heroes Roxy Music, who Simon Le Bon and John Taylor inducted themselves. 

Duran has also continued to stay relevant, releasing a critically praised new album, “Future Past,” last year.

If Duran makes the cut as a first-time nominee, Le Bon, Taylor, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor, as well as departed guitarists Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo, are to be inducted, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

A turning of the tide at the rock hall may have taken place when Rolling Stone's Jann Wenner stepped aside as the hall's chairman and was replaced by MTV co-founder John Sykes. Since then, the influence of Duranies like Nile Rodgers and Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield has also risen. 

Duran's "army of fans" is making a difference in the fan voting. After the band's nomination, Le Bon thanked fans from "around the world" for their unwavering support over four decades.

Fans can vote once a day, and their top five favorites will make up a fans' ballot that will count toward a vote in the overall contest.

Duranies, instead of feeling resignation over the band being passed over another year, are now speculating whether Andy Taylor and/or Cuccurullo will join their old bandmates if they are indeed inducted. But that may be a better discussion for another day. For now, Duranies can continue to make a small difference in the outcome by taking a moment each day to vote for their favorite band.

So keep voting, now until April 29, here.

Happy birthday, JT: How 2020 made a longtime Duranie a John girl

I’ve been a Duran Duran fan for nearly a quarter-century, and band founders Nick Rhodes and John Taylor have vied for my affection over those years.

John was my favorite member until the late '90s, around the time that he departed the band; Nick has been my fave the rest of that time.

My Nick fandom was solidified when I met the keyboard guru in person during a tour after John left. It’s an encounter that’s immortalized in my Blogger profile picture.

I haven’t soured on Nick. But 2020 has been a bigger year for John than for any other member of the band. And now I think I may be back in the John-girl camp.

During the coronavirus pandemic, it has been hard for any band to be at center stage, when new releases (like Duran’s forthcoming 15th studio album) and concerts have been postponed. 

And John was personally affected by the pandemic when he became infected, subsequently recovered, and posted about his bout with the virus and his recovery in a hopeful message on social media.

John has added another bright spot to dark times with his “Stone Love Bass Odyssey” series of tutorials and interviews, of which there have been six. With his trusty drum machine and behind-the-scenes help from wife Gela, John has taken Duranies on a joyful ride through some of his biggest hits: “Planet Earth,” “Girls on Film,” “Rio,” “The Reflex,” “A View to a Kill,” and the Power Station’s “Some Like It Hot.” Appealing to more than just musicians, he not only offers tips about technique but also talks about the background of how the songs came to be.

Following the bass tutorials, he’s had a fascinating run of interviews with Duranie friends and colleagues: David Macklovitch from Chromeo (and fiance of John’s daughter Atlanta), Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, Mark Ronson, Nile Rodgers, Billy Idol, and his partner in rhythm, Roger Taylor.

Despite John’s admittance that he’s not the most technically savvy, he dives head-first into the online interview. He’s a natural, sharing his enthusiasm for music and getting interesting tidbits out of his subjects. Some might fault a lack of fan questions, but really, does anyone actually care what Duran thinks of Depeche Mode?

Instead we get to hear about how one of super-producer Ronson’s favorite songs that he’s ever worked on is “All You Need Is Now.” (Now just play it live again!) We hear about Rodgers’ non-musical passions, like cooking with vegetables and civil rights. And we see a softer side of Billy Idol, who said he was serious about the quarantine so he could meet his new granddaughter.

Roger shares the story of how he played briefly with punk icons the Damned, taking Rat Scabies’ seat behind the drum kit before Brian James kicked him off the stage mid-song. We get an update on the new album (Duran is working on the mixes) and meet his new dog, Luna.

Hopefully, John continues his odyssey with a new series: There’s still “Notorious,” “Sin of the City,” and countless other songs to revisit ... and two more members of the band to interview.

For now, watch all six in the series. You won’t regret it. You might even become a John girl (or guy) in the process.

Photo by Christopher Windle

Getting ready for DuranLive

In almost a month, Duran Duran will kick off its 2016 North American tour.

All photos by Christopher Windle.

I was reminded of this while I watched Duran Duran on MTV World Stage, the 2015 concert from Milan that recently aired in the U.S. for the first time on MTV Live (formerly Palladia). The hit fest, with an added dose of cool from special guest Mark Ronson, will reair at 10 p.m. Central time Thursday on MTV Live and at 11 p.m. Friday on VH1 Classic.

An impending tour always has Duranies wondering what's in store. Nick Rhodes recently told Billboard that Duran is taking out the stage production it used in the U.K. last year. If the set lists are similar, the band could play gems like "Only In Dreams," "Love Voodoo," "I Don't Want Your Love" and "New Moon On Monday."

Even for a band with so many hits, there are a lot of certainties. "The Wild Boys," "Notorious," "Girls On Film" (in some form) and "Ordinary World" are live staples. Everyone expects "Rio." I was at a show once at which the band didn't play it, and it wasn't a pretty view.

That makes up a good quarter of the set list. Expect a handful of new songs, minor hit "Pressure Off" key among them, to make up another quarter. After that is where the surprises could come in.

Some fans are clamoring for Duran to drop "White Lines" from the live show, though the 1995 cover always gets a good reception from the audience as a whole. Still, axing that song means a chance for one more Duran original. Here's a shoutout for "Union Of The Snake," for my husband.

The chance is ripe for a cover of a different kind. A tribute to David Bowie in the form of "Starman," "Fame" or a new song (maybe off the Nile Rodger's produced "Let's Dance") would be fitting. A recent poster on the Duran Duran message board said they'd like to hear John Taylor play the baseline to "Ashes to Ashes."

The time also might be right for new arrangements of old standards. I'm always partial to the Unplugged-era reworkings. Throw a little more of Bowie's "TVC15" onto "Hungry Like The Wolf" and I will totally never say I could take or leave that song live again.


But I'm accustomed to present-day Duran not getting too wild with the set list. I'm happy with the little surprises.

What songs would you like to hear?