This DVD, Blu-ray, live CD or package featuring all those formats, according to your preference and budget, is a startling thing, taken at face value. After all, in theory Duran Duran really shouldn’t be selling out arenas any more. Spandau Ballet aren’t. Culture Club aren’t. Paul Young, Howard Jones and Nik Kershaw certainly aren’t. George Michael is, but only because he shed his skin as Wham! and grew up. The rest of the class of 1983 don’t have the tunes or the commercial clout to deliver at this level. The music of that era is just too old, too out of time or just too cheesy to work anymore, even for a generation of nostalgic 40-to-50-somethings.
However, Duran Duran continue to make it work, and – here at least – without resorting to playing a greatest hits set. Sure, the obvious Rio, Planet Earth, Hungry Like The Wolf and Wild Boys (with a curious segue into Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Relax) are present, but tons of songs from more recent albums are included, as well as a couple of surprises. Prominent among these is DD’s cover of White Lines, the Grandmaster Flash classic from the Thank You covers album of 1995, which most reviewers hated with a passion, while the omission of Save A Prayer is astounding. Interviews, a documentary and bonus tracks from the encore (Come Undone and Is There Something I Should Know?) round the package off with a confidence that’s probably the key to Duran Duran’s continuing success.
