Duran Duran Paper Gods Tour Nov/Dec 2015 Manchester/ Liverpool - Seal Supporting

Duran Duran Paper Gods /Seal supporting 

 2015 Manchester/ Liverpool

U.K. Tour Report

 

It's been 4 years since I last went to see these guys it's taken a while to bear fruit to album 'Paper God's but I'm here in Manchester and I'm watching from a few rows back to report on the shows.

 

Support tonight is from 'The Bloom Sisters' 2 girls and a drummer they are apparently 'Ukranian' they clearly have an 'Electro Agenda' looking slightly gothic in Red Leather and dark hair the two girls are not particulary talkative, playing a barely recognisible cover of 'Beyoncé 'Crazy In Love', there appear to be technical problems but the crowd warmly appreciative of them shall we say but we all know who we are here to see !!

 

The crowd screams as the first bars of title track 'Paper Gods' is the first track to start their  set a brave move but affordable as its actually even better when played live,tonight I'm on the right of the stage in my eyeline is 'Dom Brown' and maverick keyboard Svengali 'Nick Rhodes', Dom replaces 'Andy Taylor' who left after 'Astronaut Tour' in 2005.

 

Simon is wearing his White Jeans, Black & White biker jacket (he loves White Jeans), what is an iconic sight on 'Simon' tonight is the 'Vampire Teeth' tshirt he chooses to wear from 'Wild Boys' yes he's wearing his band's t-shirt !!

 

"Manchester!!" he yells "It Is so Good To Be Back In This Room!!!!" the crowd go mad, along the left is 'John Taylor' he looks on proudly at the crowd, smiling the same smile that melted a million hearts all those years ago #Charisma next song that we sit up and take notice is 'Wild Boys', ahead of me the huge CGI screen,  featuring lasers and flames and the effect of the latex head of the Vampire central to the screen of course it featured throughout the original Russell Mulcahey video of 1984 now a Rock classic.

 

As if it couldn't get much better 'Hungry Like The Wolf', and the song after that was even more surprising not played live since 30 years back in 1985 'A View To A Kill' where 'Simon' lost his voice mid note on national and international TV during 'Live Aid' tonight he totally nailed every note and played with such passion it was a joy to hear it again of course people will remember it was 1985's Bond Theme, complete with Bondesque visuals it was a treat.

 

The tempo lowered for 'Come Undone' before one of my new album personal favourites 'Last Night In The City', then back to the 'Rock' again with 'White Lines' , and who could forget the 'Funktastic' 'Notorious' and I cant remember ever hearing them play (on shows I've attended anyway) 'I Don't Want Your Love' from 1988's underated 'Big Thing' now a classic ! Just awesome !!.

 

'Pressure Off' was superb live as expected,sadly no surprise appearance of 'Mr Nile Rodgers', great chorus I honestly haven't danced this much in ages I was on the last seat aisle-side so had plenty of dancing space, to make sure the band knew I was having a great time,I've always been a 'Durannie', up next 'Planet Earth' They are Killing it tonight !!

 

In the middle of 'Sunrise' a special reprised version of 'New Moon On Monday', wow this show is even better than the last ,they just keep getting better,I'm still up dancing haven't sat down and don't want to  .

 

I was surprised to hear 'Too Much Information' how I love that song it was also featured on my first 'Duran' show I'd seen in 1994 on 'Wedding album' tour I'm recalling it was rescheduled in Manchester then due to 'Simon's throat problems, lyrically the song has even more relevance now mentioning the News Media,Tv and Radio so relevant. 80's mode again and 'Girls On Film' and now for the encore and its moving very moving.

 

'Simon' talks about the 'Paris attacks' and musical freedom, it hits hard, I'm stationary and moved to tears, as he talks about when weeks before they were on a tv show 'TFI Friday'  with 1 member of 'Eagles Of Death Metal' and he guested on 'Save A Prayer', and now its being utilised for proceeds of downloads going to charity promoting peace.

 

 

 Its a song I grew up with always a love song then but now a testament of a moment in history very deep (Duran Duran were actually leaving Paris on a flight back mere hours before it happened). A very potent song from 'Paper Gods' is the upbeat 'What Are The Chances?' and with an ending in style with 1982 classic 'Rio' it was a superb show, I personally think that everyone knows a 'Duran' song even if they don't know the band the songs have a life of their own, they didn't win a 'Q Icon Award' for nothing. they bow and take the applause like heroes My Heroes, My Duran Duran. 

 

 

Part 2

 

So this is the part where I follow on the tour to 'Cardiff' but due to horrendous storm conditions I cancelled going as it was under a warning for 2 days,it was the hardest decision I had to make but the right one due to another important gig in 'London' I didn't want to risk being stuck miles from anyway and catch a cold.  

 

We pick up now in the city of Liverpool, and tonight I'm front Of house in first row of front block, its also the last show on the tour for the U.K., 'Bloom Sisters' were there again but we have an addition tonight of 90's icon 'Seal'.

 

 

He didn't disappoint dressed in black with army boots,he kicks off with 90's hit 'Crazy' it was very popular then with great lyrics again more relevant than then) he speaks to the crowd and thanks 'Duran Duran' for letting him join this tour, on with the music and 'Killer' the debut he did with dance guru 'Adamski' on keyboards, the excitement builds for a new song more because 'Seal' climbs over the barrier and goes for a walk amongst the crowds singing with the audience its like 2 shows in one tonight !! he finishes passing me on the left, he was awesome live, and great getting the crowd warmed up "Ok Liverpool now were going to sing a lovesong sing along if you know the words" its the film Soundtrack to 'Batman Returns' sung by 'Seal' 'A Kiss From A Rose' begins we are all singing along to it what a great start!!! 

 

9pm fast approaching us and some special guests are here tonight in the form of 'Family' they appear in front of the barrier as the band start, it was 'Simon's daughter 'Amber Le Bon' and one of 'Nick's relations a little girl wearing ear muffs with some of the crew, its a special show, setlist was the same, 'Amber' filmed us going crazy to 'White Lines' you could see how proud she is of her dad it must be a very rewarding experience to see so many people who know who your dad is and know every word of his songs.

 

'Simon' wanted to thank us with special speech he says "Its 30 years ago we started our careers in this band and we want to Thank you for sticking with us, if it wasn't for you guys we couldn't do any of this ,So Thank you",and he went on to say "This next song was released when everyone thought we were finished in 1993 it's called 'Ordinary World' ", the best bit in this has always been the soaring guitar solo originally done by 'Warren Cuccurillo' of 'Missing Persons' he was a member from 1986-2000 before Andy re-joined for short time.

 

Confetti rains down for the final segment of the show, What A show What a Band, and its not over yet as 'Seal' joins 'Simon' onstage for 'Save A Prayer', crowd were bouncing around to 'Rio', as the show ends I scurry along to edge of the barrier and shout over to 'Amber' for photo op, she comes over and I tell her "I just want to say that your dad got me into rock and roll (oh no cliché cliché )I just love him" she looked flattered smiled, I said "Well it was lovely meeting you"  and on that note another tour ended. 

 

In what had been a really stressful  awful week I had the Best night since London a week ago, that lovely revelation of a tour report will be up soon ... 

 

Lmi xo