Duran Duran at the O2 Arena

1980s synth kings Duran Duran take over the O2 Arena in their annual Halloween party. The band’s instrumental Masque of the Pink Death plays as they make their entrance. Fans took dressing up very seriously; many fitted out as Dracula, sorceresses and popular characters of Tim Burton, with stitched-up mouths.

Tonight’s concert is unlike their usual set, focused more on the spooky and macabre elements of All Hallows’ Eve. As the intro song sets the tone, the visuals are a twist on a red carpet scene, complete with disfigured and otherworldly beings taking the runway. Two towering skeletons stand on either side of the stage with red blinking eyes, cobwebs hanging over the instruments, candlelit tables and an abundance of dry ice billowing atmospherically. The intro to tour debut Friends of Mine mirrors that other memorable prelude, Dr Mabuse by Propaganda, both tracks infused with a synth-driven force.

Simon Le Bon emulates Adam Ant through the famous New Romantic style eyeliner and military garb. John Barry’s James Bond theme with Halloween arrangements materialises, then segues into A View to a Kill, a song the band collaborated on with the composer; the visuals are also standout, together with female vamps cum femme fatales. The eponymous Danse Macabre has a catchy chorus, while Evil Woman (an ELO cover) invokes a lighter tone, with scantily dressed dancers, a recurring theme of the night. Another standout is Lonely in Your Nightmare, part of its visuals giving winter scene vibes in Edward Scissorhands; this track then segues into Super Lonely Freak.

The visuals are taken up a notch for Siouxsie and the Banshees’ Spellbound, with graphics of cauldrons blowing up fire, three witches hovering up and down in the air, spinning their potions, while a live witch stirs a big cauldron, a theatrical feast for the senses; some argue that the band have taken the AI visuals a little too far, as they were praised for their original music videos in the heyday of the MTV era.

After the bombastic tracklist so far, it is refreshing to have a reprieve in the form of Winter Marches On, which allows the set to percolate. Things pick up soon, with one of their biggest hits, Notorious, an infectious number, with all band members on top form. Another highlight cover is the decadent and delectable Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, this version showcasing why Duran Duran are recognised for their synth star quality.

The much-anticipated Girls on Film is as flashy and catchy as when it was first released; the band then perform a surprise rendition of Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads.

Finishing things off is a fire-dancing showcase, with the intro to the Clash’s London Calling playing out, while the classic Rio takes the audience on a grand tour, the famous album cover now with fangs, for the special occasion.

Tonight embodies the spirit of Halloween, but speaking to a hardcore fan who’s seen the band a whopping 39 times, the consensus is that the performance is good, as are the theatricalities, but the regular sets fare better. Still, the band endures well.

Selina Begum
Photos: Miguel de Melo

For further information and future events, visit Duran Duran’s website here.

Watch the video for Shadows on Your Side here: