It was, unquestionably, The Beatles that provided the impetus and spark that led the way for British rock and pop music to hit it big in the 1960s, with their special blend of honed-RnB that stemmed from their love of the very music that had been crafted in the Deep South of America.
One of the bands that were able to blaze their own trail a couple of decades later were Duran Duran whose own mix of stylish visuals and pumping ‘New Romantic‘ hits from 1980 onwards would be at the heart of the fire that helped fuel the ‘Second British Invasion‘ in the 1980s, with other successful bands like The Police and UB40 hitting it big in the USA. Tracks like ‘Planet Earth‘, ‘Girls On Film‘, ‘Rio‘, ‘My Own Way‘ and ‘Careless Memories‘ helped define their creative path.
Â
For a generation, the very first Duran Duran VHS compilation which hit shelves in 1983 contained more adult, explicit video versions of the likes of ‘The Chauffeur‘, ‘Girls on Film‘ and ‘Night Boat‘ (the latter reminiscent of the big video release of 1983 in the UK, the uncut version of Sam Raimi‘s THE EVIL DEAD).
BeloW: The original video cover for the 1983 video compilation.
Â
The ‘Night Version‘ of the video for ‘Girls On Film‘ contains a now-infamous shot of an ice cube on a woman’s nipple, coupled with the mud wrestling sequences. In these enlightened MeToo and TimesUp times, these images hark back to a more liberal time when women were portrayed as eye candy rather than thoughtful contributions in the pop video. The directors of the video, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, themselves part of music history as two members of 10cc, admitted decades later that these images would not get through censorship requirements.
Â
Four decades is not just a lifetime in music, but a cross-generational experience for many who were first-time fans, as well as their off-spring who have been introduced to the music through repeat plays on retro radio music channels. Original band members Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, John Taylor and Roger Taylor have split and reformed over the years, with recent challenges stemming from Andy Taylor’s much-publicised treatment for prostate cancer.Â
Â
Now, a video event highlighting the life and times of the now-legendary band’s love affair with Los Angeles, DURAN DURAN: A HOLLYWOOD HIGH, represents the spirit of their legacy and work with a rooftop concert at the Aster Hotel in the City of Angels. Strategically used as the venue is situated in the shadow of the Capitol Records Building, their original US record label, the film begins with the band members looking back briefly on their evolution to the American music market and what Los Angeles means to them.Â
Â
Co-directed by the triumvirate of Gavin Elder, Vincent Adam Paul and George Scott, the concert kicks into gear with their 1985 Bond theme ‘A View To A Kill‘ (performed, or shall we say, under-performed at Live Aid that year, but no worries hearing it here!) and moving through a selection of their key hits, including ‘Anniversary‘, ‘Hungry Like The Wolf‘ and ‘Ordinary World‘. Le Bon reveals early on in the film that the concert was designed to aid those suffering in Ukraine in their ongoing struggles.
Â
Andy Taylor is – understandably, due to his ongoing health challenges – missing for this concert, with solid guitarist Dom Brown filling in admirably on electric guitar and backing duo of Anna Ross and Erin Stevenson providing excellent vocal support to Le Bon’s voice which harks back to the heyday of Duran when Durannies would flock after their limos in key British cities on those early domestic tours in the UK.Â
Â
Like their 90s successors Take That, Duran Duran are a band who have remained true to the musical dreams and roots and have evolved from being a teen phenomenon to maturing into a band that provide accessible and very listenable music that remains consistently good, keeping their trademark 80s sound that evoked memories of sangria, beautiful beaches and model ladies.
In the case of the latter example, Le Bon himself ended up marrying one in Yasmin Parvaneh after taking her on a date to the premiere, so the story goes, of INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM at the Empire in Leicester Square. Their union has yielded three daughters and a solid bond.
Â
There are some stunning aerial shots around the concert, formatted in proper widescreen that celebrates the essence of Los Angeles vistas and the VIP audience in the intimate alfresco rooftop setting certainly appear to be enjoying themselves (with probably a fair amount of complimentary food and drink on offer, as is the case with classic hospitality!)
Â
An enjoyable musical experience still and the tracks are as infectious to listen to from a band who play the play as much as they talk the talk.
DURAN DURAN: A HOLLYWOOD HIGH will be available on UK Digital Download from 6th November.
Please follow and like us:
