In one corner, we have Duran Duran, one of the biggest British pop and new wave acts of the 80s – in the other, American guitarist and producer Nile Rogers, founding member of Chic, an iconic figure in the history of funk and disco music. While both acts had their heydays in the 20th century, neither have been remotely quiet in the 2000s – Duran Duran have consistently released quality albums, while Rogers has enjoyed immense success with his Chic-revival live shows and chart-conquering singles like those with French house duo Daft Punk.

Duran Duran have worked extensively with Rogers, since both parties met at a Blondie concert in 1982. Rogers said of it “From the moment we met, we loved each other, we were running around the venue like little kids.” Rogers remixed the band’s 1984 song ‘The Reflex’, which shot to the top of the charts in the UK and US, becoming Duran Duran’s first American number one single. Rogers later produced and played guitar on their 1986 album ‘Notorious’, as well as contributing to their 2015 single ‘Pressure Off’, and has described Duran Duran as his “second band”.

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In a news bulletin on their website last June, Duran Duran shared that they had entered London’s famed Abbey Road Studios to record new music with Rogers. Last week, they began teasing the project, revealing the song would be called ‘Free To Love’ and would premiere on BBC Radio 2 at 7:30 this morning, the 23rd of April. The promotional material hinted at the music video being inspired by the BBC’s famous-but-retired chart show Top Of The Pops, a TV programme remembered fondly for the aesthetic style of its 70s and 80s designs. Both the music video and song are certainly a throwback. The video, which is produced by Grammy-winning director Jonas Åkerlund, is a beautiful pastiche of Top Of The Pops, starring DJ Clara Amfo as a presenter, while the song itself captures Duran Duran’s timeless pop sound within a sexy, disco groove driven by Roger’s signature funk guitar playing.

Duran Duran’s members write about the single on their site, with singer Simon Le Bon saying “Free To Love is disco for the 2020s. It’s up-beat and up-tempo; it’s about freedom; it’s about loving the modern world instead of hating it, and that is something we need right now. Be free! Be free to love!” Keyboardist Nick Rhodes mentions their joy at working with Rogers again, adding “Every time we plug in and play with Nile, the electricity he generates could light up a whole city. We share a common belief that music is a force for good and something that brings positive energy into the world. ‘Free To Love’ is our call to all the people out there who want peace, hope and understanding to prevail.” Their post also includes a quote from Nile Rogers, who says “True love is free and unconditional. My love for Duran Duran and what our music together has always been about, is the love we share for our song’s deepest meanings. Whatever chaos is going on outside, inside the studio we’re free to love our peace.”

‘Free To Love’ is out now on streaming platforms, ahead of Duran Duran’s blockbuster BST Hyde Park show on the 5th of July. Scissor Sisters have been announced as special guests on the bill, with further acts to be announced. Nile Rogers is playing in the UK this June and August, with full dates and tickets on his website.

Born in Yorkshire in 1945, Price studied at Bradford School of Art before completing a fashion course at London’s Royal College of Art in the mid‑1960s. He first made his mark at Stirling Cooper in 1968, designing sharply cut menswear, including tight, buttoned trousers later worn by Mick Jagger on The Rolling Stones’ 1969 Gimme Shelter tour. In 1979 he launched his own label, building a reputation for sculpted eveningwear that fused old Hollywood glamour with details of fetish.​

Price became a go‑to image maker for musicians, collaborating with David Bowie, Roxy Music, Lou Reed and Duran Duran over several decades. He designed the jacket worn by Bowie in the 1986 video for ‘As the World Falls Down’, bringing his precise tailoring to the singer’s onscreen persona. For Duran Duran, he conceived the pastel silk suits seen in the 1982 ‘Rio’ video, looks that helped solidify the band’s sleek, escapist vision of 1980s pop.​

Across the 1970s and early 1980s, Price crafted the visual world of Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music, styling the band on eight album sleeves. His tightly corseted gowns and broad‑shouldered suits became shorthand for sophisticated, hyper‑sexual glamour that anticipated the power‑dressing of the decade to come.

From the 1990s, Price also dressed Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall and now Queen Camilla, creating outfits for high‑profile engagements, including a tour of the United States. Despite a five‑decade career, he staged only a handful of runway shows. 

Last month, he returned to the spotlight with a London show in collaboration with fashion label 16Arlington, where Lily Allen modelled a black velvet “revenge dress” inspired by Princess Diana and cut by Price.​

News of his death prompted tributes from across fashion and music, with Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes remembering Price on his Instagram. “He was a visionary fashion designer, with extraordinary technical skills. Nobody did glam better than Antony… Antony was a loyal, kind, intelligent and razor-witted, friend. I’ll miss you Tone”.

The Design Museum and other institutions praised his role in shaping late‑20th‑century pop imagery, noting that his influence far outstripped his public profile. Fans and collaborators alike celebrated a designer whose dramatic, sculpted clothes permanently altered the look of rock and pop.

Featured Image Credits: Robert Sullivan, Mary Evans

Fans can expect an unforgettable evening featuring Duran Duran’s iconic hits and rarely performed deep cuts from the band’s extensive catalogue. The concert will be a theatrically immersive Halloween experience like no other – it’s a full-scale, themed celebration of the band’s darker, more experimental side.

Now a highly anticipated yearly tradition, the Danse Macabre Halloween party was first launched in 2022 at the Wynn Theatre in Las Vegas. The night became immortalised in the band’s 16^th studio album ‘Danse Macabre’, released in 2023. Spanning 13 tracks, the album featured brand-new material alongside dark reinterpretations of classic hits. Following a sold out show at Madison Square Garden in 2024, the band is now set to bring the highly anticipated Halloween spectacle across the Atlantic.

Speaking ahead of the show, keyboardist Nick Rhodes said: “We are devilishly delighted to announce that we are bringing our annual Halloween extravaganza to the UK for the first time. It will be a unique, themed show unlike any of our other performances, overflowing with shocks and surprises — so even we do not know what may happen on the night…We invite you to dress for the occasion and Danse Macabre with us at Co-op Live in Manchester on October 31st.”

Frontman Simon Le Bon added: “I’m so excited to be coming to Manchester for this special Halloween concert. In fact, I’m thrilled — and, frankly, a little terrified!”

The announcement follows the band’s upcoming shows in Ireland, supported by Nile Rodgers & CHIC, and two major summer headline dates in Exeter and Chelmsford.

Beyond the stage, Duran Duran have been exploring new creative territories in 2025. Earlier this year, they unveiled a line of luxury fragrances in partnership with Italian perfume house Xerjoff, accompanied by a theatrical, multi-sensory launch event. The band also appeared at the 75th annual Sanremo Music Festival – where they made their debut in 1985 – and are currently on a European tour. Meanwhile, work on new material continues, with recent sessions alongside Nile Rodgers at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios.

Pre-sale tickets for Danse Macabre at Co-op Live go live on Wednesday 25 June, with general sale to follow. Tickets for the Halloween show and the rest of their European tour can be accessed here.

The band are staying true to their identity, with Malcolm Garrett, the original album artist of the first three albums, designing the renewed albums.

These five albums were the setting stone for the band for the rest of their career, which has not shown any signs of slowing down, with Seven and the Ragged Tiger, only their second album, reaching number 1 album in the UK. With the albums winning them more than twenty songs in the Top 10 charts internationally, they were at the forefront of the new wave genre and the introduction of British pop and synth rock, and defined the music scene of the 80s, which is still loved to this day.

The Birmingham-born band are having the new vinyl’s cut at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, showcasing how successful this band has been. Additionally, the fantastic new re-issue’s will be available on 1LP and 1CD format for the first time since their initial release over thirty years ago.

Excited fans have taken to social media since the announcement, stirring even more anticipation for their headline shows this summer including: Latitude, Release Athens and shows across North America.

Fans can expect the re-issues on 5th July, and can pre-order the albums via Warner Music, here.

Latitude Festival: Location, Henham Park in Suffolk
Date: 25-28 July
Headliners: Duran Duran, Kasabian, Keane, and London Grammar.
Alongside the music, the festival also offers comedy and theater performances, making it a diverse and vibrant experience. With a mix of stadium-quality shows and a variety of genres, including disco, dance music, and 80s vibes, there’s something for everyone at Latitude Festival.

The news coincides with the release of the four-piece’s new gothic-themed album, Danse Macabre, which made its debut at number four in the UK charts and which contains three new tracks, as well as reimagined versions of older material and covers of songs by artists such as Billie Eilish and The Rolling Stones.

Listen to title track “Danse Macabre” below:

On being revealed as Latitude Festival headliners, Bassist Taylor said: 

“We are excited to be making Latitude our sole UK performance next summer. It’s a great festival, and it’s been a long time since Duran have been in that part of the country. In fact, it’s our first time ever in Suffolk.” 

“We are riding high on the reception our new Danse Macabre album has received, and looking forward to bringing music from that record, all the way back to our 1981 debut album. See you there!”

Meanwhile, Latitude Festival director Melvin Benn commented: 

“Duran Duran’s fusion of artistry and innovation seamlessly resonates with Latitude’s commitment to curate a multifaceted cultural experience. Celebrated for their iconic style, ground-breaking music, and a consistent string of chart-topping hits, the band have unquestionably left their mark on both the music and fashion realms.”

He added: “With their ongoing evolution and the ability to transcend musical boundaries, the band’s mesmerising live performances make them an ideal fit for the Latitude festival.”

Renowned for its eclectic mix of culture, art and music, Latitude Festival is an annual event set within the grounds of Henham Park near Suffolk. Next year’s edition – for which a full line-up is scheduled to be announced within the coming months – will run from 25 to 28 July.

Check out the highlights from last summer’s event:

Formed in 1978, Duran Duran were one of the biggest pop acts of the 1980s, with hits including “Save A Prayer”, “Rio”, and “Hungry Like The Wolf”. Since then, they have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, garnering countless awards on the way, including two Grammys.

Watch the official video for “Hungry Like The Wolf” below:

In 2022, Duran Duran’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rounded off a remarkable year, during which the band graced the stage at the Queen’s Jubilee Concert, brought the Commonwealth Games to a close in their hometown of Birmingham, and performed sold-out shows at both New York’s Madison Square Garden and the iconic Hollywood Bowl.

Get tickets for Latitude Festival 2024 here.

Duran Duran have stitched together a collection of new songs, themed covers, and re-imagined versions of their older music in this exciting, 13-track album. The band, now made up of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor, have teamed up with producer, Mr Hudson to create their most ambitious and unexpected album yet.

Keyboardist, Nick Rhodes spoke about the album’s conceptions, stating, “The song ‘Danse Macabre’ celebrates the joy and madness of Halloween. It is the title track of our forthcoming album… The idea was born out of a show we played in Las Vegas on October 31st, 2022. We had decided to seize the moment to create a unique, special event…the temptation of using glorious gothic visuals set to a dark soundtrack of horror and humour was simply irresistible.”

The band’s legendary status has allowed them to collaborate with some of music’s newest and oldest talents. Long time collaborator, producer and guitarist, Nile Rogers, features on the album with the record ‘Black Moonlight‘.

In an interview with Duran Duran, Nile Rogers said, “The great thing about working with Duran Duran is that I’ve been there really almost from the beginning. I’ve been able to see that artistic arc, so I always say to myself ‘How do I take that next step?’“.

A relatively new face to the music scene, but one that has packed a punch, is Victoria de Angelis of Italian modern rock band Måneskin, who features as the bassist on Duran Duran’s cover of Talking Head’s ‘Psycho Killer‘. The unlikely bass duo of John Taylor and Victoria de Angelis has breathed new life into the Talking Heads classic.

“I’m so grateful and honoured,” Victoria stated in an Instagram post, “It was so much fun recording together with John and he was so sweet to me and encouraged me to express myself and play it my own way.”

Not only have Duran Duran collaborated with old and new, but they have also chosen to cover rock classics and gothic modern pop hits. Heard on the album is The Rolling Stones’ ‘Paint It, Black’ and Billie Eilish’s gothic anthem, ‘bury a friend’.

Adding to his previous comments, Nick Rhodes said, “The record metamorphosed through a pure, organic process, and not only was it made faster than anything since our debut album, it has also resulted in something none of us could have ever predicted. Emotion, mood, style and attitude have always been at the heart of Duran Duran’s DNA, we search for light in the darkness and darkness in the light, and I feel we have somehow managed to capture the essence of all of that in this project.”

You can purchase or stream the album here.

Rodgers co-founded the group Chic with Bernard Edwards in the late 70’s and has since gone on to write, produce and perform on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide.

“Thrilled to announce we’re bringing the ‘Good Times’ back across England and Wales in 2024!” Rodgers shared in a social post on October 23. “Mark your calendars because we’re gonna light up the night, celebrate life, and dance like there’s no tomorrow.”

Thrilled to announce we’re bringing the ‘Good Times’ back across England and Wales in 2024! Mark your calendars because we’re gonna light up the night, celebrate life, and dance like there’s no tomorrow.

Tickets are on sale 9am Friday 27th October at https://t.co/JR5Yx4J5oA

pic.twitter.com/m3fUkqAkdU

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) October 23, 2023

In addition to Nile Rodgers and Chic, British Pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor and viral Pop band Deco will be supporting on the whole tour.

I’m so excited to announce that my band and I will be joining @nilerodgers and Chic as special guests on their Summer 2024 tour Ticket info: https://t.co/khh0P3yHW0 pic.twitter.com/ywUSdqkcn2

— Sophie Ellis-Bextor (@SophieEB) October 23, 2023

General sale tickets will become available this Friday (October 27th) at 9am BST. You can purchase tickets here. Presale tickets for all dates excluding July 13th (Dreamland, Margate) are available now and can be purchased here.

In other Nile Rodgers news, the musician recently featured on British New Wave band Duran Duran’s latest single “Black Moonlight”. This collaboration is not the first time Rodgers and Duran Duran have worked together, as the Chic co-founder also produced the “Hungry Like The Wolf” band’s 1986 album Notorious. When speaking of the collaboration, Duran Duran keyboardist Nick Rhodes said “Nile Rogers is a force of nature. When we get into a room, we start playing, and magic happens. Nile always says that CHIC is his first band, and Duran Duran is his second.”

Moreover, the band’s frontman Simon Le Bon added “‘Black Moonlight’ is this classic Duran Duran-Nile Rodgers collaboration. When Nile started playing his guitar in the studio, he really inspired everyone with his riff, and the song just kind of wrote itself.”

You can find dates for the upcoming Nile Rodgers and Chic 2024 UK tour below.

Tour dates:

16/06/2024 – The Piece Hall – Halifax
23/06 – Southampton Summer Session – Southampton
07/07 – Bedford Park – Bedford
11/07 – Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod – Llangollen
13/07 – Dreamland – Margate

Taylor will be joined by Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin, Andrew Ridgeley from Wham!, David Palmer from ABC, as well as singer-songwriter Ella Henderson and guitarist Phil X. Together, they will perform a selection of their most renowned songs to an audience consisting of philanthropists, musicians, and two fortunate fans.

The event, set to take place on October 21 at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds, will also encompass a live auction showcasing artworks by Banksy and Picasso and exclusive Fender guitars signed by artists including Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers and Green Day including a special Fender Guitar to be played and signed by Andy Taylor on the night! Additionally, Katherine Ryan will deliver a comedic performance, while Ridgeley will assume the role of DJ.

In an interview discussing his treatment, Andy said, “There also needs to be a revolution in men’s healthcare about prostate cancer, a breaking down of the stigmas associated with getting tested. The Cancer Awareness Trusts’ vision for a Cancer Platform is what we need and why I’m an ambassador.”  He went on to add, “So many amazing people have come together to put this show together with Andy and I can’t wait to celebrate with them all on the night, but more importantly, I’m looking forward to putting the funds raised to the crucial and urgent work of transforming cancer outcomes.”

Duran Duran, founded in Birmingham in 1978, quickly rose to prominence in the 1980s as a leading musical group, receiving widespread recognition and praise for their exceptional contributions to the industry, boasting chart-topping hits such as “Rio,” “The Wild Boys,” and the James Bond theme “A View To A Kill”. In 2021, the group unveiled their 15th studio album, Future Past.

The funds raised will be allocated to the Cancer Awareness Trust, an organisation aiming to establish a novel platform advancing access to information regarding the disease for individuals affected by it.

The exclusive event with only 100 tickets made available, has attracted a diverse group of attendees. These esteemed guests have generously contributed to the charity in order to secure their attendance, in what will be an outstanding event for the Cotswolds.

Although tickets for this highly anticipated event have been completely sold out, the Cancer Platform announced “We’re offering two lucky fans the opportunity to join us for the evening with Andy Taylor & special guests in this VIP experience. Want to find out how to enter?”

We’re offering two lucky fans the opportunity to join us for the evening with @AndyTaylorLives & special guests in this VIP experience.

We’re offering two lucky fans the opportunity to join us for the evening with @AndyTaylorLives & special guests in this VIP experience.

Want to find out how to enter? https://t.co/7pXFVrixCS

— Cancer Platform (@thecancerplat) September 29, 2023

Although this event is sold out, you can still support Cancer Platform by bidding on incredible items in their Silent Auction or  by joining their thrilling Live Auction at 10:15pm BST on Saturday 21st October.

The conception of the album was inspired by a show the band played last Halloween in Las Vegas in which the band played Halloween themed re-workings of rarities from the band as well as a variety of covers, much like the new album.

The covers on the album include ‘Bury a Friend’ by Billie Eilish, ‘Psycho Killer’ by Talking Heads, ‘Paint It Black’ by The Rolling Stones, ‘Ghost Town’ by The Specials, ‘Spellbound’ by Siouxsie and the Banshees and ‘Supernature’ by Cerrone. The album also features a guest list of Nile Rodgers, Victoria De Angelis from Maneskin as well as former guitarists Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo.

The title track ‘Danse Macabre’ has already been released alongside the album announcement and is available on streaming services now.

Talking about the song, keyboardist Nick Rhodes said: “The song ‘Danse Macabre’ celebrates the joy and madness of Halloween. It is the title track of our forthcoming album, which gathers together an unusual mix of cover versions, reworked Duran Duran songs and several new compositions.

The idea was born out of a show we played in Las Vegas on 31st October 2022. We had decided to seize the moment to create a unique, special event… the temptation of using glorious gothic visuals set to a dark soundtrack of horror and humour was simply irresistible.”

He further adds: “That evening inspired us to explore further and to make an album, using Halloween as the key theme. The record metamorphosed through a pure, organic process, and not only was it made faster than anything since our debut album, it has also resulted in something none of us could have ever predicted. Emotion, mood, style and attitude have always been at the heart of Duran Duran’s DNA, we search for light in the darkness and darkness in the light, and I feel we have somehow managed to capture the essence of all of that in this project.”

The title track is one of three original tracks from the album alongside other new tracks ‘Black Moonlight’ and ‘Confession in the Afterlife’. Furthermore, long-term fans of the band will be thrilled to learn that the original band line-up of Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, Roger Taylor, John Taylor, and Simon Le Bon will be reunited for many tracks on the album.

Tracklist:

1. Nightboat
2. Black Moonlight
3. Love Voudou
4. Bury a Friend
5. Supernature
6. Danse Macabre
7. Secret Oktober 31st
8. Ghost Town
9. Paint It Black
10. Super Lonely Freak
11. Spellbound
12. Psycho Killer
13. Confession In The Afterlife

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