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Duran Duran Link Back Up With Nile Rogers For New Single ‘Free To Love’

Rory Newland — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:21:16 +0000

After multiple volumes of work together, Duran Duran and Nile Rogers have collaborated again on 2026 single ‘Free To Love’, a track Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon has described as “disco for the 2020’s.” The song and its retro-television music video dropped today, following both acts confirming they were in the studio together last year.

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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A post shared by Duran Duran (@duranduran)

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.

Duran Duran Release Halloween Themed Album ‘Danse Macabre’

Brendan Honnery — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:49:35 +0000

Just in time for Halloween, Birmingham new-wave pop icons, Duran Duran, have released their sixteenth studio album, Danse Macabre. As the title suggests, this latest venture for the band is full of gothic tricks that is sure to treat both old fans and new.

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.

Sir Tom Jones And Other Big Artists Are Set To Perform At Greenwich Summer Sounds

Danielle Ediale — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:04:44 +0000

Sir Tom Jones, along with three prominent major artists: Nile Rogers, CHIC and Kaiser Chiefs are set to headline the highly anticipated concert at the new festival called Greenwich Summer Sounds, a celebration of the best music within the United Kingdom. This will take place between July 4-8. Along with special guest supporting acts and another headliner are to be revealed. In the meantime, tickets will go out on general sale on Monday 13 March at 10 am, which will be available here.

It’s time to soak up the soundwaves. Your summer plans have docked

Welsh legend Sir Tom Jones never fails to bring a crowd to their feet. He’s sold over 100 million albums worldwide and will perform hits from his vast back catalogue. Jones’s powerful baritone and commanding stage presence and iconic songwriting truly mark an unforgettable event.

Multi-Grammy Award-winning legendary producer Nile Rogers will perform at the Greenwich Summer Sounds before Sir Tom Jones will be the closing act. He is famed for his work as the frontman and producer of the funk/disco group CHIC, who will also perform at the festival. He is well known for producing big hits for artists including David Bowie, Madonna and many more. He is recognised as one of the most influential figures in contemporary music and will perform classics from his extensive discography.

Next act to perform after Nile Rogers will be none other than Kaiser Chiefs. The five-piece band are quite known for their energetic live shows, wittiness, often political takes and lyricism, and have achieved 5 UK top 10 albums since their formation in 2002. With an extensive back catalogue, the Kaiser Chiefs will surely bring the house down with their powerhouse of a performance.

The festival will be run by IMG, who are behind The Big Festival, Hampton Court Palace Festival, Taste of London and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Matthew Mees, chief executive of Old Royal Naval College said, “We’re delighted to welcome such an incredible line-up of artists to perform at the Old Royal Naval College. It’s truly a magnificent venue for concertgoers to enjoy open-air music on a summer’s evening next to the river across London. Greenwich Summer Sounds is set to be a spectacular event in a beautiful and historic setting.”

Nile Rogers, alongside CHIC, will be the opening act for the performance on July 4, and Sir Tom Jones will be the closing act on July 6. Kaiser Chiefs will take over on July 8. Greenwich Summer Sounds would be perfect for a Saturday night out. With three major artists as the highlight of the festival, this is one occasion that music lovers won’t want to miss.

Willow Kayne Releases New Single ‘Rat Race’

Amber Gruner — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 12:45:11 +0000

Bristol-born singer-songwriter Willow Kayne released her new single ‘Rat Race’ yesterday. At 20 years old, Kayne creates music inspired by personal experiences, creating her own unique space in the genres of pop, punk, hip-hop, soul, and trap.

Whilst speaking backstage at East London’s ‘All Points East’ Festival, Kayne explained her recent track is part of a new project, saying: “This next project is about my experience in London, and in this industry as well, ‘Rat Race’ is about my perception on London and how everything is so fast, and you’ve got to keep up. It delves into that. It’s a bit of a brain-fart that one, but I love it.” Kayne was conflicted about whether she wanted to release the track publicly, adding, “It’s definitely a diary entry tune, and it’s wicked that people love that stuff. I didn’t really think that was going to come out when I first wrote it, so it’s rewarding.”

@willowkayne Rat Race, out 22nd August. Pre save link in bio #JustJack #fyp #newmusic ♬ Rat Race – Willow Kayne

The genre-blurring pop provocateur picked up the Rising Star Award at the Ivor Novello Awards back in 2021. This award allowed her the opportunity to work and receive mentorship from ‘Chic’ icon and legend, Nile Rodgers. Kayne explained that the experience taught her that there’s no, “crazy, tactical formula to making a banger. There’s no real ‘this is what you have to do to make a banger’. It’s just going with it, which was very lucky to hear actually, it released a lot of stress.” Nile Rodgers has called Kayne a “genuine star in the making.”

Willow released another single in July this year named,”White City”. She described the inspiration for this tune on her instagram, stating, “I wrote this song as a diary entry about London last year. It’s crazy to see history/communities being knocked down and replaced with these gigantic skyscrapers that nobody can afford to live in. Having the two extremes of wealth and poverty right on the same street, not just in White City but everywhere here it seems. “Everyone in the place is seeing a different sunshine” I always think it when I walk down the street in my area, we all have such different perceptions of this place as our home, different views of the same exact place”

Kayne’s genre-fused style has developed from her early upbringing and the eclectic taste of music both her parents had. In an interview Kayne said, “I used to think I wanted to be a pop star, but I’ve realised that’s kind of limiting. If I can change the direction that pop can be, then that’s what success sounds like to me to be honest.”

Willow’s up and coming tour dates:

3RD SEPTEMBER 2022

FORWARDS

BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM

GET TICKETS

26TH SEPTEMBER 2022

EXCHANGE

BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM

GET TICKETS

27TH SEPTEMBER 2022

MAMA ROUX’S

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM

GET TICKETS

28TH SEPTEMBER 2022

YES (THE PINK ROOM)

MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM

GET TICKETS

29TH SEPTEMBER 2022

XOYO

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

GET TICKETS

Florence Welch Performs Beautiful Cover of ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’

Susan Owens — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 16:40:27 +0000

Florence Welch performed at The Stars Come Out to Sing At Christmas virtual carol concert in aid of Nordoff Robbins music therapy charity on Tuesday, the 15th of December. Florence performed a stunning rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, her beautiful voice giving the song a mystical and magic tone.

Other acts included Cliff Richard, The Who’s Roger Daltrey, OneRepublic, Kaiser Chiefs, Simple Minds and Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield and was hosted by Nile Rogers. The virtual carol service showcased readings, performances and festive messages that were broadcasted from the homes of the stars taking part and even some performances that were streamed from St. Lukes Church and Abbey Road Studios in London.

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A post shared by Nordoff Robbins (@nordoffrobbins)

Speaking about the event, host Nile Rogers said; “I’m very happy to have been able to do this for Nordoff Robbins and that Merck and I were able to bring so many of our artist friends along in support of Nordoff Robbins’ important work.”

“Thank you to those who gave generously and I hope this continues to bring joy to everyone throughout this holiday season. It’s crucial that we raise as much as possible for Nordoff Robbins to continue to provide music therapy to every who needs it. It truly makes such a difference.”

Nordoff Robins is the UK’s largest independent music therapy charity. They use music to enrich the lives of people with life-limiting illnesses, disabilities and feelings of isolation. Unfortunately, the charity expects to lose 50% of its income in 2020 due to the coronavirus.

Speaking about the impact on their Instagram page, the charity said; “Nordoff Robbins has been severely impacted by #COVID-19. Most of our fundraising activities have been cancelled, meaning we are expecting to lose over 50% of our income in 2020, putting music therapy at risk of stopping for the people who need it most. Our #SingForNordoffRobbins online Christmas concert will help raise vital funds for our music therapy.”

You can re-watch the virtual carol service here. You can also check out Florence’s cover of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas down below.

The All Star Line-Up for the 2020 BBC Children In Need Charity Single is Heading for A Number 1 Chart Hit

Ashleigh K — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 10:03:09 +0000

A collaboration of stars including Kylie Minogue, Cher, Bryan Adams, Robbie Williams, Jess Glynne, Lenny Kravitz and many more teamed up as part of the Radio 2 Allstars, for the 2020 charity children in charity single of the Oasis song, ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out.’

The Guardian have reported Kylie Minogue to of said, “Children in Need is such a special charity and so loved by everyone, including me. It was a privilege to take part in this recording with so many amazing artists. This year it feels even more poignant than ever, and I hope we can all come together to raise as much as possible.”

The supergroup was backed by the BBC orchestra which included Grace Chatto and Sheku Kanneh-Mason joining on cello, and Anoushka Shankar on sitar. The video was directed by Phil Deacon who produced the BBC Radio 1 all star live lounge. It’s debut was aired on Friday’s ‘Children In Need’ show which this year, raised 37 million pounds for the charity.

Nile Rogers, who recorded his part of the video in his garden, said to The Metro, “Watching these children every year, it touches your heart, it inspires you to be better yourself, and when I was playing it I was sort of swept away. I was really happy too that I could play it at my own house in the back yard. Believe it or not, my neighbours started to gather round and wonder what I was doing, that was cool because I actually don’t get a chance to see them very often.”

This year's @BBCCiN single from the @BBCRadio2 Allstars is OUT NOW! I'm so proud to be a part of something so special. Donate by downloading here: https://t.co/FEgXmZyJI1 #ChildrenInNeed

— Cher (@cher) November 15, 2020

Cher commented to The Daily Mail, giving her thoughts on the Oasis ballad by saying that she “felt very emotional recording this song, it was very important to me.” Lenny Kravitz also gave his views on the collaboration saying, “We are living in a time when children need all the support they can get and so it is a pleasure to be collaborating with so many great artists for such an important cause. I hope this song reminds everyone that we are all in this together and we can make a difference.”

Jeff Smith, head of music for BBC Radio 2 was responsible for putting the iconic group together and curating the charity single. Music-news.com reported him to of said in regards to the song choice, “I think the lyrics within this song are extremely poignant given the times we are in, and hope this song not only raises vital funds for children and young people across the UK, but also brings hope to people that need it, as the lyrics say, ‘Just try not to worry, you’ll see them someday.’ “

There is no doubt that the single has touched the hearts of the nation in the difficult times we are all facing. The success of the track will come to light on Friday but Official Charts have announced that they are in the lead for the top spot in the charts. If the sales keep up, ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ will be the eighth Children in Need single to reach Number 1 in the charts.

Camp Bestival Completes Lineup With Nile Rogers And Annie Mac

Carly Hacon — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 09:43:42 +0000

Camp Bestival has revealed the second wave of headliners completing the line-up at the UK’s biggest family festival in Dorset. Sister festival of Bestival, the award-winning family fest will take place in the grounds of Lulworth Castle from July 25 – 28 2019.

Jesse Glynne and The Human League will take the stage kicking the festival off the on Friday night. Followed by Nile Rodgers and Chic who will bring “feel good” vibes on Saturday. BBC Radio 1 DJ, Annie Mac, will hit the decks ending the weekend of celebrations on Sunday night.

For younger fans, pop duo and YouTube stars, Max and Harvey will also perform a live set and Q&A session at the Castle Stage.

Camp Bestival curators Josie and Rob da Bank have been working hard to build the festival’s success, which first started in 2008. Rob da Bank, said: “We’re really proud to unveil two of the world’s biggest party starters in their own fields – Nile and Chic go back a long way with us and they’re going to have everyone dancing at Lulworth Castle.

“BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac is one of the UK’s best DJs, tastemakers and a mama to boot so we know she’s going to press all the right buttons. This year we’ve got some whacking great headliners and loads of amazing family activities, we will be prioritising our teens to keep them happy with a new screen free area avoiding technology.”

Other acts which have joined the lineup are Sister Sledge, Sara Cox, Big Shaq, Vengaboys, East 17 and Spice Girl’s Melanie C. Camp Bestival will also host entertainment for younger children with appearances from Big Fish Little Fish, Mr Tumble, Mister Makes and The Shapes and CBBC presenters Sam and Mark.