By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN? Sunday 5 July 2026, Duran Duran tour through 3 November 2026

This must be the 8th time we’ve seen them; the last a year to the day at Chelmsford Racecourse. And I always say “They’re better than ever before”.

• Read on for reasons including Scissor Sisters, Melanie C, Nile Rodgers & Chic & Groove Armada

I don’t always review them as I am such a fan that I get too emotional and can’t stop gushing. Now this time, it felt different. It might be because my friend and I have already booked a hotel for the rumoured Hallowe’en show at The 02 on … yes Hallowe’en. It might be because we have seen them so much. The heat? I don’t know. 

Groove Armada DJ set was a great start to the day, especially being Tom’s birthday. Andy changed the last planned song to a ‘guilty pleasure’ of Tom’s – John Paul Young’s Love is in the air. It certainly was (John or Simon?).

Nile Rodgers is inextricably linked to Duran having remixed Wild Boys and The Reflex, and producing the Notorious album also linked to John Taylor via his venture The Power Station alongside Andy Taylor and Robert Palmer, with Chic drummer Tony Thompson. Chic’s bassist and co-founder, Bernard Edwards, was hugely influential to John’s syncopated playing. Bernard also produced their debut album. Anyway I digress but I feel it’s worth mentioning the links. 

Nile is literally one of the nicest guys in the business, and Simon Le Bon refers to him as that later in the gig. I follow him on socials and I love his daily 10 mile walks and his positive outlook, in spite of health issues in later years.

For some reason, the speaker near us was mostly all Nile’s guitar and while it was frustrating not hearing the drums or synths properly, it was actually amazing to hear his playing as if we were in a room with him.

He flies through versions of songs he’s written and produced (Get Lucky, Like a Virgin, Let’s Dance, I’m Coming Out, We are Family), not forgetting their own huge back catalogue. 

Highlights: Le Freak, Everybody Dance, Dance Dance Dance, I Want Your Love, Good Times – ok the whole of their own set actually! But the ultimate highlight was on Good Times, guess who came out to join in? only John Taylor! 

Scissor Sisters – to be honest, I’m not sure I liked most of their hits beforehand, apart from their dance hits (Filthy/Gorgeous, Comfortably Numb) but OMG! Wow the band was slick, Jake’s vocals high and so true, the set was fun. Without Ana Matronic, Amber Martin and Bridget Barkan were absolutely amazing with risqué outfits and sass to match. The gloriously glossy haired Melanie C sang with them on Take Your Mama to the audience’s delight. New highlights include Let’s Have a Kiki and the rest of their set! I can’t wait to see them at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth August Bank Holiday weekend.

Duran Duran The main event. The boys. Key points: John has dyed his hair white, I think to shade the grey and I am used to it now. He’s changed his colour scheme and came on stage in an orange shirt and fawn blazer. Swoon.

Simon sported his white trews and a very light pink sparkly jacket, over a sparkly black shirt. Nick was resplendent in a white shiny suit with light grey loose tie. Simon did look far better, I think, when he pared down to a plain navy blue T-shirt for The Chauffeur later. 

There are loads of dancers and more effects than usual. Nile of course joined them for Notorious. Simon’s voice (which I am obsessed with) was very slightly gruff (like my own voice after a day teaching in reception class) but he gets better each time we see him. 

We think it was a good true fan set; examples being Lonely in your Nightmare, Careless Memories and The Chauffeur which we haven’t heard since Birmingham back in  2005. Every other hit you would want was included too. It was great to see Free to Love being played live for the first time for us too.

What’s more important than the music really is the fandom side of it. We’ve made friends with some ladies we met at Southampton’s Common People Festival in 2016. We’ve met them again since at Chelmsford and other gigs (Soft Cell). 

We made friends with a few in the queue yesterday. We share stories of gigs, t shirts and who we like (usually Simon or John). It all takes us back to Planet Earth’s debut in 1981 (I was 10). 

For the time we were sweltering in the heat of Hyde Park yesterday, we were back there. Smash Hits posters on the walls. Scrapbooks. Catching them on TV anywhere. Yesterday though, with an average age of 65.75 years, they still strut the stage, owning it of course. 

John “Play the fucking bass” Taylor, we are sure, thanked the audience at the end for helping build this man. For us, they kicked it out of the (Hyde) park.

As expected. Next year, the plan is to join the ranks of the überfans seeing them abroad. Let’s wait til those next tour dates come out. Europe here we come. Oh and as we expected, the Hallowe’en extravaganza at The 02 was announced just after the gig.

• Pictures via Facebook courtesy BST Hyde Park and A Humdrum Mum. Tickets
• Read more from Carron at her blog A Humdrum Mum
• Have you seen any of these shows? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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