Duran Duran just keeps cranking out the hits at Chase Center

BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER

Four decades after riding the wave of the MTV generation to challenge The Beatles for mass adulation, Duran Duran gave a career spanning performance to the delight of a near sold out crowd at Chase Center Sunday evening.

Touring in support of their 15th studio album Future Past, released last October, the English band was a hit machine from the moment their self titled debut album dropped in 1981 propelled by infectious hits like “Girls on Film,” “Planet Earth” and “Is There Something I Should Know?”

One of the most successful bands of the new wave era, Duran’s next two albums, Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger propelled them even higher in conversations about the most popular band in the world during the first half of the eighties. Their collaboration with famed artist Patrick Nagel to design the now iconic Rio cover only added to their fame, and by 1985, only four years after their debut, they had earned a prime spot performing before a worldwide audience at Live Aid in Philadelphia.

While lead singer Simon LeBon (63), bass guitarist John Taylor (62), and keyboardist Nick Rhodes (60) might not still be the pin up material they once were, the band, along with original drummer Roger Taylor, continue to put out highly enjoyable material as evidenced by Future Past, an album constructed by superstar producers Giorgio Moroder and Mark Ronson that’s deep with quality cuts reminiscent of Duran’s hey day that measures up nicely with some of their finest work and is easily their best effort in years.

Taking the stage wearing a Siouxsie Sioux T-Shirt and bearing an extensive catalog featuring an abundance of brilliantly crafted hits with staying power, LeBon continues to be a fit and dashing frontman. Opening with “The Wild Boys” from the 1984 live album Arena, the twenty song, hour and fifty minute set featured a light show of never ending video montages and rarely strayed from the bands best known tracks, aside from an obligatory four songs from their latest effort.

With LeBon still possessing an incredible voice after all these years, Duran wasted little time demonstrating how much confidence they have in their incredible resume of hits standing the test of time by playing “Hungry Like The Wolf,” one of their biggest, as just their second song of the night. The nostalgia was only briefly delayed by the performance of “Invisible” and “All of You” from the new album before LeBon and his recently inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bandmates returned to more familiar territory with another pair of their biggest hits.

The Nile Rodgers (more on him later) produced “Notorious” and blockbuster James Bond theme “A View to a Kill” evoked memories of Roger Moore from more innocent times when Daniel Craig wouldn’t have needed to sacrifice his own life to save the planet. And the melodic “Come Undone” from 1993’s The Wedding Album was elevated even further by back-up singer Anna Ross’ precision harmonies.

“Union of the Snake” from 1983’s Seven and the Ragged Tiger would soon follow, as would the punk vibes of “Careless Memories,” their second single released in April 1981. The dreamy “Ordinary World,” also from The Wedding Album, was introduced by LeBon with a dedication to the people of Ukraine as a blue and yellow flag was presented alongside imagery on the video screens adorning the stage.

The final third of the concert was pretty much a non-stop presentation of sing along hits that saw the fully engaged crowd on its feet throughout, often encouraged by LeBon to illuminate the arena with their cell phone flashlights, much like earlier generations of fans did with their Bic lighters.

The synthesized intro and electronic rhythm of Duran Duran’s very first single, “Planet Earth,” released in early 1981, was clearly a sign of things to come from a band with a wealth of hits for any era. It was also the first of 13 music videos directed by Russell Mulcahy that would help propel the group’s visibility to levels unimaginable without the launch of MTV a short six months later. The equally bouncy “Hold Back the Rain,” obviously written pre-drought before climate change kicked in and weekend Bay Area temperatures surpassed triple digits would follow.

Uniquely funky, “The Reflex,” the first of two Duran singles to reach #1 on the US charts, had everyone grooving to the lively beat. Perhaps the only misstep of the entire set, a cover of Grandmaster Melle Mel’s “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)” from the bands ill-advised 1994 project the Thank You album was still wildly popular with the crowd, although some might opine its place in the show might’ve been better served by another unplayed Duran original.

Early dance hit “Girls on Film,” with its camera shutter snapping sound effects, signaled the end of the groups set, but Duran would soon return with a final pair of songs in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Rio. “Save a Prayer” would again see the audience light up Chase Center in celebration from stage to the rafters, and the exotically catchy title track highlighted by saxophonist Simon Willescroft’s killer solo’s would bring the evening’s festivities to a close on yet another high note.

There’s bound to be a lot to like about any performer embarking on their fifth decade with over 100 million sales already under their belt. Duran Duran’s Hall of Fame induction is deserved and well earned for their many musical contributions in addition to being video pioneers. They’re not too shabby live either.

Opening act Nile Rodgers & Chic were also a true joy to experience. A hit maker extraordinaire in his own right, Rodgers has produced and performed on records that have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide.

Much to the delight of the crowd, the storytelling Rodgers brief set included such familiar classics he helped develop as Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down,” Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family,” Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and “Material Girl,” and David Bowie’s “Modern Love” and “Let’s Dance,” not to mention a handful of Chic tracks.

Duran Duran’s next performance is scheduled for Wednesday in Phoenix, followed by a three night run at The Hollywood Bowl starting Friday.