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Description: Simon LeBon, Nich Rhodes, Roger Taylor and John Taylor play new tracks from their Red Carpet Massacre album as well as old favourites from their 1980s peak.
Phone: 0870243 9000
Website: www.lyceumtheatrelondon.org.uk
Trains: Tube/BR: Charing Cross/Embankment 
Indulgent: Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon strutted around awkwardly
Bloated performance: Simon Le Bon made fans wait for the band's hits
They were responsible for some classic pop as well as crimes against music and fashion. But 25 years on, Duran Duran's latest live comeback was just frustratingly indulgent and occasionally inept, at least until the hits arrived.
In fairness, their thirtysomething fans seemed unperturbed that it took 90 minutes for the band to perform a proper smash - Rio - and it did get an exultant reaction.
The show was audacious, with three separate sets spread over two and a half hours. But making people who'd paid £100 for tickets listen to the new album, Red Carpet Massacre, in its entirety was cruel and unusual punishment. Despite the new songs' R&B gloss from producer Timbaland, Duran Duran still seemed worryingly marooned in 1983. There was an abundance of guitar solos, and the vaguely saucy footage accompanying Skin Divers had all the artistic merit of Eighties poster chain Athena.
Of the new songs, only Dirty Great Monster showed their original sense of fun. Then they insisted on playing Skin Divers again for the TV cameras, messed it up once and then had Le Bon forget the words. "There goes another star," said bassist John Taylor, accurately predicting my reaction.
At least they still looked like Duran Duran and their Kraftwerk-inspired set of icy electropop was better but, at times, baffling.
The final hour was a barrage of hits, but it felt like a long time coming. And once Le Bon started strutting around awkwardly to Notorious and The Reflex, his 49 years began to show.
"Did you bring your dancing shoes?" he'd asked, and the fans were indeed out of their seats for Planet Earth and the encore of Girls on Film.
But this bloated performance of new songs and nostalgia relied too much on the loyalty of the die-hard Duranites.
• The concert will be shown on VH1 at 10pm on 22 December.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
DD is trying to avoid repeating themselves like other bands do (U2 or Oasis for example, that I also like by the way), they have tried to bring some new music and they have been criticised for this. They also played some of their old stuff... why isn't criticism put on other bands like The Rolling Stones?.
- Nicolas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Very few people arrived at this special occasion not knowing what the Red Carpet Massacre Premier was about! Yes Duran gave us fans exactly what it said on the can! This show was for the fans. An entire album premier of their best album in 20 years or more! An electro set giving us another perspective of their music and others, which was brilliant! And then an hour of Greatest Hits. This concert was a testament to why DURAN DURAN have stayed around going on 30 years. Not many bands work as hard, try as hard and come up with fresh approaches and sound after 3 decades. Duran deserve the celebrity/ legendary status they have throughout the world whether they re top ten or not!
- Simon Cresswell, Somerset
I saw was standing and cheering for the whole concert. The new songs showed creativity and a fresh new direction. The Kraftwerk electro set was superb. The blip with Skin Divers was funny - nobody is perfect.
I'll watch them again if I can get hold of tickets.
- Mizuho, London
I have seen many DD concerts over the years and this was just a superb night, with Simon singing better than ever. The reason why fans did not seem unperturbed that it took 90 minutes for the band to perform hits, was because their new songs are even better, more contemporay and refreshing than some of their usual hits. Had they focused mainly on their past hits, it would have meant they were marooned in 1983. Aside from having produced one of their best albums, the size of the venue and even the odd mistake ensured the night felt more like a special and intimate gathering than a multiscale impersonal concert. Who would not love that? I completely enjoyed every minute of it and danced my socks off. Simon entertained everyone beautifully and, as always, made time for a hug and a chat afterwards (whether he was tired or not). It was a wonderful night.
- Es, London, UK
I have seen DD 23 times over the last 20 years and this was certaintly not thier best concert performance BUT the new album is truley one of their best. The lyrics and performance of 'She's Too Much' is going to touch everybody in some way, its a future classic! The lyrical genius of this song and Falling Down are examples of why DD have something for everyone in this album. I advise everyone to listen hard to the lyrics and the unique style DD have in this album. This is another progression of DD and will attract new fans just as Ordinary World and Come undone did when they came out in the late 90s.
The electro set was at times awkward, they didn't look comfortable but was a refreshing change to some old classics. 'Skin Trade' unfortunately does'nt lend itself to this set but 'All she wants' was superb.
The classics where as always well recieved and nice to see 'View to a kill' being played - rare compared to the usual ie Notorius/Planet Earth and Rio.
The show was, as reported not as slick as usual but Simons voice was excellent and true DD fans where delighted to get a second hearing of Skin Divers. A few blips here and there but when you are DD you can get away with it. Age is catching up with them all, even RT who missed a couple of beats on the electro set. He is usually perfect, but irrespective of this, DD fans will love the new album and so they should, it is by far their best in years and I look forward to a more polished tour early in the new year.
- Graeme, Eastbourne, E. Sussex
I was at the show on Monday night and was on my feet from the start to the end
I think you where at somrthing else.
- Claire Parton, sheffield
Duran Duran decided to mix it up, try something new and fresh and it was fantastic! The new album sounds amazing played live, the electroset was phenomenal. It's always exciting to hear a band play their old hits in a completely new innovative way. It peaks your interest, it makes you listen to and see things in a whole new way. It opens your mind...it's a good thing.
And the hits...well, they're great, they're fun and they need to be played but they were definitely not the highlight of the show. I personally would've preferred to hear the new album played twice, back to back, with an extended Electroset in between!
- Midori Keoki, NYC, USA
I agree with Gina, the audience were on their feet. Clapping and thoroughly enjoying themselves for the 2.5 hour duration! I have been a fan of the band for 25 years and first saw them at Wembley in 1981! Looking around last night it wasn't just people like me... there were fans old and new! My friend and I stood on the stairs at the top where we had a great view and plenty of space to dance and enjoy ourselves. The idea of the night was to promote a new album, with NEW material not just to go back cataloguing on their old (although great) stuff. I'm glad I forked out £60 a ticket, it was well worth it! I came away on a high and will be back with them when they tour next year.
- Lyn, Bexley, Kent
The album itself is great, but I loved the live version, and was actually really chuffed that we got another chance to listen to 'Skin Divers'.
I stood with amazement at how they created the stage atmosphere for 'Dirty Great Monster'.
Roll on the next tour and let's keep hearing lots of the new stuff, if people want an 80's themed night then I am afraid that Duran Duran cover 3 decades worth. It is great to hear tracks that have not been played a lot previously.
- Alison Troke, Birmingham, England
Durna Duran are a fantastic band! Red Carpet Massacre is a wonderful album
- Stefy, Italy
Everybody that went to that gig knew that the band was going to play the whole album and we were all very happy to hear it.
I have seen them live many times and I must say they were on top form, Simon's voice was perfect and the sound was excellent.
The electronic set was great.
- Elly, London
I was a big Duran Duran fan back in the day but I was extremely disappointed with this show. The band seemed wooden and unemotional. Duran Duran are known for their guitar-pop but you could not hear any guitar at all! I think they are well past it now - the new songs sound like they are a very sad attempt to win a younger audience. Not impressed at all.
- Samantha, London
Fortunately I did not pay £100 to stand in the Lyceum on Monday night expecting to see a stage full of 20 somethings accross the set, gyrating their nubile hips to every beat. What I hoped to see was a band worthy of their lifetime achievemnet award, showing us that they still have every ingredient for a recipe of sheer entertainment from start to finish. And I was not disappointed! We all knew it was a show to launch their new album, and that it would get better and better as the evening progressed. Still arguably one of the best live acts in the country - and after 3 decades, that isn't bad going. Well done boys!
- Deb Chapman, Sittingbourne, Kent
The whole point of the show was to present the new album to the hard-core contingent of DD fans. A large proportion of tickets were sold via the bands subscription based website by pre-sale.
The show itself was storming, the best part being the new album itself. From the opener "The Valley" to the beautiful finale of "Last man Standing", it proves that, unlike other contemporaries of the band, they are not scared to experiment. The electro set was inspired, especially the take on "Last Chance on The Stairway" although "I don't want your love" and "Skin Trade" seemed to be wrong choices for re-invention.
The "classics" set was great, but personally wanted more of the obscure stuff.
- Mark, Windsor, UK
First point to make 'the crowd were on their feet the whole time'. I started in Stalls Row Z and ended up in Row N, and everyone around me in both areas were standing for the duration.
The new album was showcased to maximum effect and reaction with most of the fans knowing what to expect. The middle set was something a bit different and the final set of hits was as good as ever.
The intimacy of the venue added to the atmosphere and it's nice to see the boys are 'only human' and make the occasional mistake.
I first saw the band in 1984 and don't pretend to be the biggest fan following them around, last saw them 2 years ago, but last night's performance made for a great night out and I shall definitely be buying tickets for next year's tour.
In my books Duran Duran definitely still have it!
- Gina Richardson, Essex, UK
I agree with Bob. Though some people there last night may have been expecting a standard re-run of the back catalogue, most would have been completely aware that it was a unique opportunity to see a world-class band do something that no other band has done. By this I mean a close-up West-End theatre show highlighting a new album, plus some new takes on the back catalogue (the Kraftwerk-inspired section was stand-out)...and a whole lot of classic tracks. The band has always tried to be a little different, and more than a little innovative. Last night demonstrated that perfectly. Great show, even the mistakes (it's good to see they're still human)...and the 8 minute encore of Girls On Film seemed to put a lasting smile on everyone there as we filed out after 2.5 hours of class entertainment. Nice one guys.
- Pete Vox, London
The idea was held to showcase the new album ' Red Carpet Massacre', to perform songs from previous albums in new arrangements during an electro acoustic set, some of which were long-time favourites rarely played live and to play a 'traditional' set consisting of pieces known to even the most casual of listeners.
I'm no particular fan of the Durans but I have an open mind and enjoy all expressions of music. I thought the show and the setting was innovative and interesting and the atmosphere joyous, enthusiastic and appreciative.
- Will Alexander, Oxford
I agree that this show was rather lame. To play an entire new album is just boring - it might appeal to die hard fans but save it for a fan only gig not one where tickets were for sale on the open market. That electro set was just embarassing and their new music smacks of trying too hard to get down with the kids. Sad.
- Lisa Miller, Harrow, Middlesex
The show was always about Playing Red Carpet Massacre and everyone there knew it.
- Ryan Lee, Herts
I guess that you were at a different show to the rest of us last night.
The concert was to showcase the new album Red Carpet Massacre which they did to excellent effect. The fans that attended knew that the concert was going to follow this format, just as they did with a 2 week run of sell out Broadway shows a few weeks ago.
It's refreshing that even after all this time Duran Duran are willing to provide a new slant to their energetic live shows.
Sure there were a few mistakes and having to redo Skin Divers was purely for the cameras, in a world where the highest paid stars often mime to a backing track Duran Duran played live for the entire 2 1/2 hour set.
Knowing that the first part of the show would be a complete run through of the new album didn’t detract from what was an excellent show that left all the fans happy and wanting more.
In fact having spoken to people during the interval there were only a few who did not know the new album until last night and were loving the show, including a radio DJ who said it was amazing and that he would be playing their music on his radio show in the future, and he was under 30,
Roll on the world tour in the New Year, Duran Duran still have what it takes to fill arenas to capacity the world over.
- Bob Roberts, London
