Post by Tin on Oct 14, 2011 23:23:38 GMT -5
The first time I saw Duran Duran was in 1984. I’d been a fan for about 4 years, but had no idea that the concert I saw that night would change my life, forever. Okay, I know what you might be saying. You probably think I’m crazy or something, but think about it… we were all changed by something. Duran Duran was it for me. It’s like Simon le Bon says in “A Matter of Feeling” from the Notorious CD… “Try to explain it, but nothing really gets them that high”. I don’t get Fantasy Football… but I get PASSION for something, and for me, it’s Duran Duran.
Duran Duran shaped my future. I started working at a record store right out of high school, ’cause I wanted to meet them. That lead me to a career in radio, where eventually I DID meet them. Several times in fact. And they were awesome, and so cool every time!!!
I had a Tiger pendant necklace made, exactly like the one Simon wore in the “Hungry Like The Wolf” video. The first time I met him, he was amazed by it. He said he had never seen one that looked even close to his, and mine was identical. When I saw him again the following year, walking backstage at the venue they were about to play, Simon yelled “Hey, Tiger Boy!!!”. That was a thrill for me. That day I had the pleasure of introducing them on-stage. My whole life had lead up to that moment…LOL
That first night I also met Nick Rhodes, of course. I asked him why “Rose Arcana”, the instrumental from the Arcadia album ‘So red The Rose’, was so short? That was back before CD’s, and he told me there was literally not enough space on the vinyl album for the entire song. He took the time to tell me where I could get an unedited version. So I flew all the way to NYC, to a store in The Village called Record Runners, to buy it. And guess what… the next time I saw Nick, he remembered me and asked if I had found it… THAT’S the kind of guys Duran Duran are.
I’ve seen DD play 31 times. I saw them open for David Bowie’s “Glass Spider Tour” in 1987 up in Toronto, Canada. I’ve seen them as far west as Los Angeles, and as far south as Miami. I’ve seen them here at home in Jacksonville, Fl several times. Atlanta, Tampa, Austin… I’ve seen them play in HUGE arenas, and dive bars. But I can honestly say, the concert I saw Thursday night, at the St Augustine Amphitheatre in Florida, was in the Top 3 concerts I have ever seen them put on!!! It was FANTASTIC!!!
They opened with ‘Before The Rain’ from their latest CD ‘All You Need Is Now’. I thought it was an odd choice, and wondered if I was about to see the most mellow DD concert ever?!? But then, they busted out with ‘Planet Earth’, and the energy just got better and better as the night progressed. The guys seemed to be having the BEST time onstage. I mean you could FEEL that they were having fun. That energy just kept going back and forth, from the crowd, to the band, and back to the crowd again. It was building and building. At one point, after a 5 minute break and just before the encore, Simon said that the band had a quick meeting and decided that we were the BEST audience on the tour so far!!! You know what, I actually believe him. I know, I know…. he probably says that at EVERY show, but I’m telling you, the crowd was SO into it!!!
There we several great moments for me at Thursday nights show, but one of the best was a performance of ‘Secret Oktober’, the B-side of ‘Union of The Snake’. I don’t think I’ve ever heard DD play ‘Secret Oktober’ live, and it was simply magical for me!!!
They also played ‘Careless Memories’, which is my favorite song from their debut album “Duran Duran”. This song has SO much energy, and such an angst!!! I remember driving around as a (late) teen and pounding the Hell out of my steering wheel as I belted out the lyrics with Simon. I did the same thing Thursday night, and have to apologize to the nice teacher sitting next to me!!! It’s like I’m a different person at a Duran show… lol
The band was phenomenal!!! Simon le Bon’s voice has never sounded better. John Taylor plays that funky bass like no one’s business. Nick Rhodes is a perfectionist on keys, and Roger Taylor’s unique drumming style gives DD it’s distinct sound. Joining the band for the new album & tour, is guitarist Dom Brown. John Taylor says Brown in a British guitarist in the tradition of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. He brings a fresh new sound to DD, even switching up some of the solo/bridge parts that we know from the DD records. I think he’s a great new addition to the band!!!
It’s hard to believe how many hits they had, until you look at their play list and see what all they DIDN’T play. For this particular show, no ‘Rio’, ‘Is The Something I Should Know’, ‘Too Much Information’, ‘Save A Prayer’, ‘Union of The Snake’, ‘New Moon On Monday’, ‘I Don’t Want Your Love’, ‘All She Wants Is’, ‘The Violence of Summer’, ‘Skin Trade’, ‘Serious’… the list goes on and on. I mean they could have played another hour and still left us wanting more. But that’s why we go back NEXT tour…lol
Below I have the entire play list from the show. It’s damn near perfect, with the exception of 2 songs from the new CD that I would LOVED to have heard live. ‘Runway Runaway’ and ‘Being Followed’. Oh well, maybe next tour…
The guys are still on tour in the US and Canada, thru the end of October. If you’ve never seen them, or if it’s just been a while, do NOT miss this tour!!! You can find all the tour dates at www.duranduran.com and click on the “Enter Main Site” option. The tour is as great as the new CD, and I think it just may be the best tour since that first time I saw them in 1984…
theunofficialvoice.com/2011/10/14/duran-duran-concert-review/
Duran Duran shaped my future. I started working at a record store right out of high school, ’cause I wanted to meet them. That lead me to a career in radio, where eventually I DID meet them. Several times in fact. And they were awesome, and so cool every time!!!
I had a Tiger pendant necklace made, exactly like the one Simon wore in the “Hungry Like The Wolf” video. The first time I met him, he was amazed by it. He said he had never seen one that looked even close to his, and mine was identical. When I saw him again the following year, walking backstage at the venue they were about to play, Simon yelled “Hey, Tiger Boy!!!”. That was a thrill for me. That day I had the pleasure of introducing them on-stage. My whole life had lead up to that moment…LOL
That first night I also met Nick Rhodes, of course. I asked him why “Rose Arcana”, the instrumental from the Arcadia album ‘So red The Rose’, was so short? That was back before CD’s, and he told me there was literally not enough space on the vinyl album for the entire song. He took the time to tell me where I could get an unedited version. So I flew all the way to NYC, to a store in The Village called Record Runners, to buy it. And guess what… the next time I saw Nick, he remembered me and asked if I had found it… THAT’S the kind of guys Duran Duran are.
I’ve seen DD play 31 times. I saw them open for David Bowie’s “Glass Spider Tour” in 1987 up in Toronto, Canada. I’ve seen them as far west as Los Angeles, and as far south as Miami. I’ve seen them here at home in Jacksonville, Fl several times. Atlanta, Tampa, Austin… I’ve seen them play in HUGE arenas, and dive bars. But I can honestly say, the concert I saw Thursday night, at the St Augustine Amphitheatre in Florida, was in the Top 3 concerts I have ever seen them put on!!! It was FANTASTIC!!!
They opened with ‘Before The Rain’ from their latest CD ‘All You Need Is Now’. I thought it was an odd choice, and wondered if I was about to see the most mellow DD concert ever?!? But then, they busted out with ‘Planet Earth’, and the energy just got better and better as the night progressed. The guys seemed to be having the BEST time onstage. I mean you could FEEL that they were having fun. That energy just kept going back and forth, from the crowd, to the band, and back to the crowd again. It was building and building. At one point, after a 5 minute break and just before the encore, Simon said that the band had a quick meeting and decided that we were the BEST audience on the tour so far!!! You know what, I actually believe him. I know, I know…. he probably says that at EVERY show, but I’m telling you, the crowd was SO into it!!!
There we several great moments for me at Thursday nights show, but one of the best was a performance of ‘Secret Oktober’, the B-side of ‘Union of The Snake’. I don’t think I’ve ever heard DD play ‘Secret Oktober’ live, and it was simply magical for me!!!
They also played ‘Careless Memories’, which is my favorite song from their debut album “Duran Duran”. This song has SO much energy, and such an angst!!! I remember driving around as a (late) teen and pounding the Hell out of my steering wheel as I belted out the lyrics with Simon. I did the same thing Thursday night, and have to apologize to the nice teacher sitting next to me!!! It’s like I’m a different person at a Duran show… lol
The band was phenomenal!!! Simon le Bon’s voice has never sounded better. John Taylor plays that funky bass like no one’s business. Nick Rhodes is a perfectionist on keys, and Roger Taylor’s unique drumming style gives DD it’s distinct sound. Joining the band for the new album & tour, is guitarist Dom Brown. John Taylor says Brown in a British guitarist in the tradition of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. He brings a fresh new sound to DD, even switching up some of the solo/bridge parts that we know from the DD records. I think he’s a great new addition to the band!!!
It’s hard to believe how many hits they had, until you look at their play list and see what all they DIDN’T play. For this particular show, no ‘Rio’, ‘Is The Something I Should Know’, ‘Too Much Information’, ‘Save A Prayer’, ‘Union of The Snake’, ‘New Moon On Monday’, ‘I Don’t Want Your Love’, ‘All She Wants Is’, ‘The Violence of Summer’, ‘Skin Trade’, ‘Serious’… the list goes on and on. I mean they could have played another hour and still left us wanting more. But that’s why we go back NEXT tour…lol
Below I have the entire play list from the show. It’s damn near perfect, with the exception of 2 songs from the new CD that I would LOVED to have heard live. ‘Runway Runaway’ and ‘Being Followed’. Oh well, maybe next tour…
The guys are still on tour in the US and Canada, thru the end of October. If you’ve never seen them, or if it’s just been a while, do NOT miss this tour!!! You can find all the tour dates at www.duranduran.com and click on the “Enter Main Site” option. The tour is as great as the new CD, and I think it just may be the best tour since that first time I saw them in 1984…
theunofficialvoice.com/2011/10/14/duran-duran-concert-review/