Duran Duran wow fans with one-off show
Duran Duran performed songs from their Red Carpet Massacre album during a one-off concert at the Lyceum Theatre in London
Legendary group Duran Duran showcased their new album in a special one-off gig for fans and a host of stars at London's Lyceum Theatre.
The sold-out concert, which marked the launch of the band's 13th album Red Carpet Massacre, saw X Factor semi-finalist Niki Evans, former Blue singer Simon Webbe, Holly Willoughby, Tara Palmer Tomkinson and Big Brother's Chanelle join the audience.
Before the gig, frontman Simon Le Bon promised fans a treat, saying: "We've got the whole new album, Red Carpet Massacre, and then we've got a special little... our version of gathering around the camp fire, our electro set, and then we've got our Duran Duran stuff."
Keyboard player Nick Rhodes added: "It's the first show where we're here after the release of the album and we're playing the entire album at the beginning, so it's exciting for us to do something like that."
Simon Webbe said: "I just feel privileged to be here. They're basically a big part of me growing up and just hearing the songs on the radio, round the house and watching them do their thing."
X Factor's Niki, who was praised by Simon Le Bon on Saturday's show, said: "They gave me tickets because I'm such a big Duran Duran fan. I actually got told off on Saturday because I bruised my finger getting through the doors to see Duran Duran and I should've been somewhere else!"
Profile: Simon Le Bon
Simon Le Bon is best known for being the frontman of Duran Duran, which he joined as a vocalist in 1980
Real Name: Simon John Charles Le Bon
Birth Date: October 27, 1958
Image: Veteran rock star
Best Known For: Being the frontman of British pop/rock group Duran Duran
Early Life: Simon was born in Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, and was raised in and around London.
He went to Pinner County Grammar School, the same high school that Elton John attended some years earlier.
Later, he worked as a theatre porter at Northwick Park Hospital accident and emergency, and also auditioned for a punk band at Harrow College of Science and Technology.
He appeared in a few television commercials and several theatre productions before attending drama school at Birmingham University.
He met the fledgling band, Duran Duran, in 1980, and became their vocalist.
Career High: Duran Duran sold more than 85 million records, won two Grammy Awards and even captured the heart of the Princess Royal, who named them her favourite band.
They were awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Brits in 2004.
Love Life: In 1984 Simon spotted the young fashion model Yasmin Parvaneh in a magazine. He apparently tracked her down by calling her modelling agency and the pair fell in love and married in 1985.
They have three daughters - Amber Rose Tamara, 18, Saffron Sahara, 16, and 13-year-old Tallulah Pine.
Don't Mention: The Live Aid concert of 1985, a set which became infamous when Simon hit a false note. He has reportedly described the episode as the most humiliating moment of his career.
Words Of Wisdom: "Style's not something that you decide on Monday and photograph on Thursday. You've been developing that for your whole life."
The rise of Duran Duran
The pop/rock group grappled for success in the late 80s, as their initial fame had started to wane
During the 1980s, some people saw Duran Duran as a manufactured, throw-away pop group, something not helped by their rapid rise to stardom, polished good looks and courting of the teen press.
But there are few bands who can claim to have sold more than the 85 million records, won two Grammys and even captured the heart of the Princess Royal.
Here we take a look at Duran Duran's rise.
:: 1981
The band's first album, Duran Duran, was released by EMI.
Though the first two singles reached the charts, it was the third, Girls On Film, which secured them a place in the public consciousness.
The song went to No 5 in the UK before the notorious video - featuring topless women mud wrestling and stylised depictions of other sexual fetishes - was even filmed.
The raunchy vid provoked immediate uproar: it was banned by the BBC and reportedly heavily edited for MTV.
:: 1982
The band began to achieve worldwide recognition and their second album, Rio, spawned four UK Top 20 singles.
Things began to look rosier as Princess Diana declared Duran Duran her favourite band and the group was dubbed The Fab Five by the British press.
:: 1983
The group secured their first chart-topper in the UK (with the single Is There Something I Should Know?) and reached No 4 in the American charts.
While promoting the band in the US, Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon appeared as MTV guests and admirer Andy Warhol dropped by to greet them.
At a signing of the Girls On Film video in Times Square, police had to seal off the store so that the band members could escape.
:: 1984
In February, the band appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and won two Grammys in the new Long Form and Short Form music video categories.
After the tour, Nick Rhodes wed in London, famously wearing a pink velvet tuxedo and top hat.
:: 1985
Duran Duran performed in front of 90,000 people at the Live Aid charity concert at John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It was not intended to be a farewell performance -- the band planned only to take a break after four years of non-stop touring and public appearances -- but the original five did not play live together again until 2003.
:: 1986 - 1991
After releasing five albums in five years, then losing two of its core members, Duran Duran began to grapple for success.
Their fame began to wane as they struggled to escape the teen idol image and gain critical success with more complex music.
Rolling Stone said: "In their search for musical maturity, the surviving Durans have lost a good deal of their identity."
:: 1992 - 2000
The band had lost momentum and were regularly lambasted by critics.
Despite this, they did play a set at The Princess Diana Tribute Concert in 1998, by special request of her family.
:: 2000
John Taylor approached Simon and Nick with a proposal to re-form and the members agreed.
:: 2003 - 2004
The band were booked as presenters at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, only to be surprised with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
They received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Q Magazine in October and the equivalent Outstanding Contribution Award at the Brits in February 2004.
The British press gave the Duran Duran shows some warm reviews.
:: 2007
The band performed twice at the massive Wembley Stadium, at the Concert For Diana and at Live Earth.
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