Thanks to the magic of the internets, fans around the world got an unexpected treat yesterday when Duran Duran’s entire performance was broadcast live from the Lucca Summer Festival via Italy’s Radio 2 web site. The show was incredible, with the band in top form and Simon’s voice clear and strong. In case you missed it, you can download the whole thing HERE. Get it while it’s hot.

Thanks to the cool cats over at Duran Duran lolz for sharing the link.

Are we all atwitter for A Diamond in the Mind? The “All You Need Is Now” live extravaganza being released on Blu-ray, DVD and CD that we can actually hold in our hot little hands and play over and over and over on our TVs, constantly hitting pause to mimic and memorize each and every little nuance? Oh hell yes we are.

As you know, I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about Duran Duran. These thoughts usually come in two categories: “Things That Duran Duran Do” and “Things That I Wish Duran Duran Would Do.” There are also “Things I Wish Duran Duran Would Not Have Done,” but I’ve been told it’s not healthy to dwell. In anticipation of this new video release, I have been fantasizing about the actual moment that I shall insert the precious disc into my DVD player. I imagine the frenzy of unbridled joy, the exquisite rush of endorphins that will overtake me as what will surely be the ultimate conduit for world peace bursts forth from my television screen, covering my entire body with a glittering, dewy sheen. And in this little scenario, I am not alone. My friends and loved ones are there with me, and we are all experiencing this blessed Duranirvana as one.

So hey, Duran Duran… if you guys are “the band designed to make you party,” how about helping us to throw one? That’s right — I’m suggesting A Diamond in the Mind viewing parties. You cold put together official ADITM Viewing Party Packs. You know… maybe some posters, invitations, popcorn bags, hats, masks, tiaras… hell, I don’t know. You could sell these packs to us, you could award them as prizes, whatever you want to do. Just make it… you know… fun. We could have parties at home, at our favorite bars, in old movie theaters, in our minivans… anywhere a DVD can be played. Pick one special date and make this release a really superbig totally awesome event to which fans can drag – err, I mean invite – their whole families and communities to participate in. I think this is what they call “buzz.”

ADITM has a maddeningly staggered release worldwide (Japan gets it as early as June 20, UK on July 2, North America on July 10, while the Philippines won’t get theirs until July 17 and theres a jillion other dates and places in between) and darn it… International Duran Duran Appreciation Day isn’t until August 10. This kinda makes it hard to designate one single “ADITM Day,” but you could always just spread out the parties worldwide and keep the party going.

In the video below, Simon Le Bon describes the show recorded last December in Manchester, England, as “incredible” and “one of the best shows that we’ve ever played in our lives.” A Diamond in the Mind will be released on standard DVD, Blu-ray, and a Triple-pack Deluxe Edition containing all three formats (Blu-ray, DVD & CD) in an 8 panel digipack with bonus features and an expanded 20 page booklet, all inside a foil blocked slip-case. Say that three times fast and click here to see the track list in all its glory. Then click click here to find out where you can buy it. And if you’re having a party, let us know!

In an email sent to fan club members yesterday, Duran Duran said that there will be a tour announcement on Tuesday. The dates will be delivered in a fresh and exciting way (we wouldn’t want to spoil the fun) via the band’s various social networks starting at noon EST. The shows will be announced one at a time, of course, utilizing “all of the ways we communicate” which means that the buttery image of Simon Le Bon’s face that regularly appears on my toast should actually be speaking to me tomorrow morning.

Also in typical fashion, Gimme a Wristband has the early scoop — including exclusive intelligence on when Duran Duran will be taking a bite of the Big Apple!

9/23 – Everett, WA @ Comcast Arena
9/24 – Portland, OR @ Theater of the Clouds
9/30 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
10/04 – Broomfield, CO @ 1st Bank Center
10/06 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theater
10/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Tower Theatre
10/25 – New York City @ A Place Far Too Exciting to Say Out Loud
10/28 – Boston, MA @ Wang Theater
10/29 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata

My little birds are chirping that that Neon Trees will be the opening act. Get your credit cards warmed up for pre-sale to begin on Wednesday. And whether you can make it to the shows or not, let’s all rejoice as one and be thankful for Simon’s recovery.

Oh and… don’t freak — these are all just rumors at this point, and more dates will likely be added.

A full Durantime is imminent, but in the meantime, here is some genuinely exciting news that couldn’t wait.

Firstly, can we just say how truly grateful we were to hear that Nile Rodgers, who was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer back in October, received the all-clear from his doctor yesterday – meaning the man who remains crucial to Duran Duran, and the world of music in general, is out of danger.

Many of you may have been following Nile’s blog, so will know how humble yet courageous he has been in the face of what was a shock diagnosis. Nile had been feeling unwell, so visited his doctor – only to be suddenly thrown into battle with a deadly foe. With this best possible outcome delivered, I’m sure you will all join us in paying thanks to the fact that, despite all of the problems in the world today (not least the continued challenges thousands are facing in Japan and the Middle East right now), sometimes miracles can and do happen – and prayers are answered. There’s a lot of fixing to do everywhere right now, so we need all the good guys we have.

Over in Austin Texas, Duran are currently working the SXSW Music conference – which in this 25th year, and as part of the overall multi-media SXSW focus, seems to have reached an international level of interest akin to Robert Redford’s Sundance film festival. And there’s been plenty of activity.

The band took to the Stubbs stage just after midnight last night, for a thirteen-number show. The venue was at capacity, and the gig was a belter – as we will reveal in a moment. Kicking off with View To A Kill (as they did at the previous Shepherd’s Bush Empire, in London) and climaxing with Girls on Film, the set was not beamed out live as with many other SXSW shows this year; however, a delayed stream is due to go online at some point soon.

Rewind: “This is what we do!” roared Simon Le Bon. A fin-de-siècle proclamation equal parts triumph to not unjustified defiance. A heartfelt shout-out fully charged and three years in the making; addressed at everyone, yet no-one in particular (except, one suspects, the odd passing music critic). One the singer had every right to deliver as the rest of the band exited stage-right, sweaty, smiling and sated. Because, from where I was standing, down in the heat and the steam front-of-stage, the set I’d just witnessed had blistered; caught fire, not just from new All You Need Is Now material, but the peppered mix-in of smoldering Duran classics from the band’s white-hot past.

Hitting SXSW was the perfect showcase to introduce Duran album number thirteen to mainland USA, before kicking off the forthcoming world tour. It announced this ain’t no nostalgia act; more Duran Duran as a force that remains; an enduring and innovative charge that, for all its media alternation between hits and occasional misses, high visibility and conspicuous studio-bound anonymity, still surges with direct energy once the amps
boom into life.

Throughout the show, the band came off as solid as the scuffed dirt floors of the venue, screaming deep as it was in fans and the energetically curious alike: Stubbs was a hot-ticket last night, that’s for sure. All the familiar hallmarks of the Duran Duran show were up and at us: the Simon Le Bon swagger; the sexy John Taylor bass grooves. Roger keeping it all locked, while Nick remains mysterious. But there was also new energy, born from the band’s rightful confidence in All You Need is Now; and bolstered by the undeniable fact that Duran Duran, for all their critics, remain a band that can seriously bring it.

Le Bon’s vocals were top-notch, from the highest notes of Ordinary World to the spiteful snarls of Friends of Mine. The band even managed to look cool while calling themselves to a halt, and taking it from the top again on Safe; showing a serious commitment to quality while still remaining playful. Yet for that one misstep, each and every other song, old or new, had the unmistakable charge of being right there in-the-moment. And from beginning to end, the crowd was right there with them.

If you want to check out the Stubbs show for yourself, the audio stream will be hosted online by NPR. As of this moment, it is still not live, so please keep checking back on that link.

Earlier that evening, before the show, JT and Nick had also called in to take part in a live Facebook interview, the recording of which can be viewed here.

Wider afield, the Duran Duran / David Lynch Youtube channel page is now up online, in preparation for the band’s Unstaged gig on March 23rd. If you’ve been on Mars, or lost somewhere amidst SXSW, the Unstaged show – which is sponsored by American Express – is to feature Duran Duran in performance, directed by that legendary left-fielder, David Lynch (see promo spot, below).

Timed neatly to occur the day after the physical release of the All You Need Is Now album, the event will be streamed live and feature a host of real-time interactive features. These will include options to choose camera angles, as well as submit text, which will play into the overall visual display. As we speak, the dedicated channel for the event has over 638,000 subscribers, which goes some way towards illuminating the level of anticipation around this multi-media project.

Echoing a previous announcement over on our more news-reactive Gimme a Wristband Facebook page, fans have also been given the chance to submit pictures of their painted face and/or hands. This opportunity is still open (as of today 17th March), and for further details and links to submit your own images, please go here.

The official poster for the event has also been released. Designed by David Lynch himself, it makes use of some elements from the album art; and utilizes the same mixture of abstracted image and inverted colours, which, along with the album and Mediterranea EP sleeves plus the above promo clip, are fast becoming the dominant visual motif of the current campaign.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Duran Duran is scheduled to perform at the “Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam” during Superbowl weekend in North Texas.

Kid Rock is listed as the headliner, with Duran Duran and Jason Derulo supporting at Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie. Tickets are already on sale for the Feb. 3 gig, selling for $45 and $60 through www.ticketmaster.com.

VH1 is said to be broadcasting some portions of the show live. Duran Duran performed ‘Wild Boys’ at the Superbowl XXXVIII Tailgate Party in Houston back in 2004, portions of which aired live on CBS.