Duran Duran’s private performance yesterday in Milan at the Teatro dal Verme for an event hosted by Vogue Italia and Peugeot was the highlight of Milan Fashion Week. The band played a lengthy and energetic set sprinkled with four songs from the new album, and had no trouble getting the crowd dancing in their stilettos.

Set list: A View to a Kill, Being Followed, Hungry Like the Wolf, All You Need Is Now, Notorious, Ordinary World, Girl Panic!, Sunrise, Rio, Runway Runaway and Girls On Film.

Vogue.It will be contining their excellent coverage of the event with video highlights, but in the meantime here are some exclusive photos (courtesy of Vanessa G.) and a few YouTubes to enjoy. Ciao!

The city of Milan has presented Duran Duran with an official award proclaiming them as “Style Icons of the 20th Century”. Presented by Mayor Letizia Moratti and Councillor Giovanni Terzi, the honor was given to Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor, recognizing Duran Duran as innovators not only in music, but also in costume and fashion.

Presenting the ornate scroll to the proud musicians at the Palazzo Marino, Terzi made an emotional announcement amidst the flash of photographers.

“Duran Duran are style icons of the twentieth century, one of the most popular bands in the world and a legend in the international pop music scene. With over 85 million records sold and 29 albums produced (sic), Duran Duran have recieved all of the most important international awards, being at the top of all charts. Milan, the capital city of fashion and design, celebrates Duran Duran as an innovative band, iconic and highly regarded in music and fashion.

Trendsetters and always versatile in their style, they have been an influence on more than a generation of fans. The city of Milan celebrates Duran Duran’s extraordinary talent and extends an emotional response to their musical genius.”

Duran Duran will perform tonight at a private function as the highlight of Milan Fashion Week at the Teatro dal Verme, and the city has asked them to return in July as part of the Milano Jazzin’ Festival.

Andrew Day, the creative art director, designer and photographer who’s work includes the Medazzaland and Pop Trash album covers, shared a sneak peek of the upcoming re-design of duranduran.com, coinciding with the physical release of All You Need Is Now March 21st. Via his blog, Andrew describes the effort as “defining a whole new digital experience for their official website.”

Though Duran Duran are holding back official announcement until the entire US tour is set in stone (signing delays with venues in New York and Boston are apparently slowing things down), dates are beginning to leak out. The MGM Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut has confirmed a show on April 2, and Ticketmaster briefly put up listings for shows in Atlanta (April 4) and Houston (April 6). JT understandably couldn’t contain his excitement about the San Francisco show at the Fillmore (April 16), but no ticket sale date has yet been announced. Good things come to those who wait, right?

The boys seemed pretty stoked to be in Milan this week for the big Italian Vogue party – taking place Friday night – having some fun with the promotion and press. All four members of the band turned up for a very frisky radio interview yesterday morning with DEE JAY TV. The station visit was broadcast live on the internet, and Gimme a Wristband captured the whole thing from the moment they walked in the door. It turns out that the best parts were while the guys were waiting to go on, and in between songs.

Watching the footage (download the full, unedited video here; it’s a massive file, but totally worth it), it’s very sweet to see how they chat with one another as they are unaware of being recorded. They’re just talking about things like TV shows and Twitter (oh, and the set list for the Vogue gig), but one honestly gets the sense that they are having fun with it all – and really enjoying each others company. Never has idle chit-chat made us feel so warm and fuzzy.

Check back later today as Gimme a Wristband brings you the skinny on the Vogue shindig. Sta andando essere favoloso, as they say!

Gimme a Wristband is madly in love with the AK47 remixes of Duran Duran’s All You Need Is now, so when SoCal video DJ Steven Wayne sent us his crazyhot video remix to go along with AK47′s Nite Dubbing mix, we got kinda ecstatic. Eye candy for the ear candy… muy delicioso!

Check out more of Steven Wayne’s video juju at Jupiter 8 Media.

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Duran Duran performed two songs from All You Need Is Now for the first time on American soil tonight, at the Pepsi Fan Jam Superbowl pre-party in Dallas, Texas. Though only AYNIN and Notorious were televised on VH1, the band opened with A View to a Kill and went on to play Girl Panic, Hungry Like the Wolf, Girls on Film and (Reach Up for the) Sunrise. Fans endured freezing temperatures, icy roads and Kid Rock, but apparently it was well worth it judging by reports like: “Amazing!!”, and “The new songs are incredible live!”, not least “John Taylor is all that and a bag of chips!” Also enjoyable: the irony of watching Simon dance atop a giant Pepsi logo.

Click on photos to enlarge… more video to follow.