Happy New Year!

Rock in '87 with Andy performing "Rosalie" with at least 50% of Missing Persons backing him up. WHY WAS ANDY NOT MORE POPULAR??

We love Nick, just the way he is.

This very cute New Year's clip:



shows a vulnerable side to Nick Rhodes, that reminded me of these guys, not just because of the black and white hair coloring, but but because we also must love Nick "just the way he is", fainting or not. *smirk*

Enjoy:

It's got a tree in it! Totally Christmas.

Plus...the big neon "Christmas" in the background. I think my neighbors have one of those now.

I can't get enough of the holiday lip sync shows (apparently), so enjoy another clip from Top of the Pops '84 with me. Not the rarest, but still fun.

Do They Know It's Christmas - PART THREE!

And finally...Part Three!

Do They Know It's Christmas - PART TWO!

Here's Part Two of the Band Aid series. Who needs narration when we can marvel at their mighty mullets instead?

Do They Know It's Christmas? - PART ONE!

Yay! Another Glue serial for you! This time, fittingly, it's the "Do They Know It's Christmas" story. Enjoy!

A little early New Year's celebration...

...or a little late. We'll split the difference and give you this one as an early Bodhi Day present, ok (even though there really is no such thing as a Bodhi Day present)? It's "New Religion" from MTV's New Year's '82/'83 special. I dare you to not want to dance!

All I want for Christmas is a mullet and Paul Young to lip sync with me.

Here's a great holiday lip sync clip of the boys (with crooner Paul Young). The winter weather couldn't be frostier than their bangs, and Hickory Farms couldn't be cheesier than this performance. LOVE IT!!

Holiday time!

It's time for ridiculous holiday-themed clips to start. This is as fine a beginning as any: the 2006 Yuletide Carolers performing "Hungry Like the Wolf". And it doesn't sound bad.

Get out of the wheelchair, gramps!

I would be snarky here, but Max Headroom definitely beat me to it. Here's a great Arcadia interview on said show that pulls no punches, and also makes little sense. Ah, I miss Max!

The only drumsticks on my Thanksgiving table.

As those of us in the U.S. prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, let's enjoy a classic lip sync clip of "Is There Something I Should Know", which also spotlights a pretty good interview AND Roger twirling drumsticks.

Duran Duran on American Music Awards last night!

Ok, so this is NOT going to be a rare or unique clip by the end of the day, but it's still low enough in views to qualify right now!

Duran performed TWO songs on The American Music Awards last night, and both of them are here. Also included is the super-cute Tony Hawk intro. I could just as easily fangirl over him.

I have mixed feelings over this performance. Extra keyboardist? Did Nick's iBook crash? I kid. I love you, Nick. Really, I do. You're a special snowflake, and I want no one else stealing your proverbial thunder.

And Simon, you sounded pretty good, but why the Arena-era wolf howl at the end? It threw me back to fifth grade, and I got scared that I forgot to finish my book report on Silas Marner. Almost had a hot flash.

Ok...the Red Carpet Massacre stuff will (probably) stop soon!

I don't know why I'm all fangirlie about this release. I haven't even bought it yet! Here's a super cute interview from August. Enjoy Roger speaking. Hopefully you will not be distracted by the very fact that omg he is speaking like I was, and you'll actually hear what he says!



And P.S. I'm not able to embed them, but there's some great links to live footage from the recent Barrymore shows on YouTube. Enjoy!

Needless to say, it's Red Carpet Massacre fever around here...

...or about as close to that as a girl like me gets these days. Here's a performance of "Red Carpet Massacre" AND "Nite Runner" from the Barrymore in NYC, November 6. I guess they've moved the remaining shows to the Roseland Ballroom due to the stagehand strike. It effects me little, seeing as I'm sitting on my couch in the midwest USA. Luckily, no YouTube strikes, so I can enjoy gems like this, and not even mind closeups of Simon sucking in his cheeks.

Full-length EPK for Red Carpet Massacre

There's a shorter version of this that's been floating around, and I was surprised more people hadn't seen this one yet. Enjoy!

I won't hide the fact that I have mixed feelings on the new record (you can stream the whole thing at Vh1.com), but I always love the behind-the-scenes footage!

Does anyone do a Duran cover as good as the Italians?

Here's an offering from Italian Nu Metal band Mellowtoy. And the stylized video is one that I think would make Duran proud!

Halloweenies!

I tried to find something poignant for the holiday (Halloween, Samhain, All Hallow's Eve, Day of the Dead, or Wednesday, whichever you prefer). The best I could do is this clip, from a TV show in Argentina. There are costumes, smoke, creepy Simon lip sync antics, and I'm pretty sure Warren's wearing his All Hallow's Weave.

Liquid Assets - Part 6

I hate to see this series come to an end! Interesting numbers on the concert sales here, as well as the (not quite) final tallies. I think I'm personally responsible for at least a few rounds of drinks over the years.

Liquid Assets - Part 5

Sadly, Big Thing and all of the records post The Wedding Album were totally skipped over in this one, but it's otherwise juicy.

Sorry Simon.

I didn't mean to almost forget your birthday. Click below for my special message to you (originally my special message to myself):

Glue: A Tribute to the Music of Duran Duran: "Happy Birthday to You" was created for...ME!

Cheers!

Liquid Assets - Part 4

Cute warning: Roger blows a kiss in this one. Depending on your reaction to that, this might not be safe for work.

High moments (Nick buying a Picasso on his credit card) and low moments (how cruel of them to reair Simon's Live Aid note-gone-wrong!) abound here. Roger goes farming, and John makes out with everybody's mom.

Liquid Assets - Part 3

Ooh, another good one highlighting all of the heyday mayhem we were responsible for, as well as Nick's impressive art collection (so rare, he can't even look at it. That's my favorite part.), Nile Rodgers making them sound too black, and the star of the "Rio" video's poor aging.

Just a little note from your resident citizen journalist...

Dear readers and fellow bunnychuckers,

I wanted to bring to your awareness a new feature of the blog. If you turn your attention toward the left of your viewing area and down a little (no, a little further), to just below the "Other Great Links" area (which has also been updated), you'll see two easy ways to subscribe to this blog.

One is by the normal old standard way, which subscribes you in the feed reader of your choice.

The other, powered by Feedblitz, gives you a few more options, including having updates delivered to you by email.

These are just my way of saying, "Hey, geek out with me in a way that doesn't disrupt your day, and makes your viewing even easier." Because I care.

Hugs, kisses, and cigarette butts,

Dana

P.S. I shouldn't tell you this yet, but I want to let you in on a secret since we're now BFFs (or is it BFsF?). Glue: A Tribute to the Music of Duran Duran might just be available in download form soon from CD Baby. If you'd like a physical copy in time for the holidays (they make great fishnet stocking stuffers), there are still some available there as well that you can get anytime!

P.P.S. You can get a flash player for your site, blog, or MySpace page by going here! It features "Night Runner", "Skin Divers", and both the single version and video for "Falling Down".

Liquid Assets - Part 2

Here's the second part of one of the best little documentaries I've seen on the history of Duran Duran (thank you, BBC!). Some familiar names appear (Paul King and Andy Wickett? I didn't even realize I missed you!), and the origin of the frilly shirt is revealed. Not as cool is the origin of some of the early songs. But I won't spoil it for you! What would a Duran story be without suspense, intrigue, drama, laughter, tears, and plumage?

Liquid Assets - Part 1

Man, this is a great interview series! I don't even have anything sarcastic to say (ok, that's a lie. Nice David Cassidy routine there, young Simon! He looks like one of the Water Babies!). Look for more of these in the coming days.

Nick's Kitty

No, not Sebastian, you old-schoolers! Here's a clip from Countdown (from Australia, I think) back in '83 featuring a synthesized kitty meow that seems to really be entertaining Nick. What a tiny little sprite he was!

The Andy Taylor Blues.

The new Duran Duran video debuted this week (for "Falling Down", if you haven't been following the countdown to Red Carpet Massacre like a schoolgirl). And I can't help it, but I miss Andy. So here's "Take it Easy", live from '87. Mourn with me, folks.

Guest Taylors.

Here's a clip of a couple of Taylors guest Vj'ing on MTV back in the Power Station days. I'm sure they were both totally sober.

Spy Matthews Rocks!!

What did you think I was gonna post? Here's the greatest clips of Spy Matthews from everyone's favorite slumber party video, Sing Blue Silver. He's the most memorable character (alongside the girl who wanted to meet "Stang" and Simon lebon's yellow underwear). Spy is actually a really swell guy, who can be found at Delicate Productions today.

Funky Monks - Notorious (don't worry, you'll like this)

I usually find most live Duran cover bands cringe-worthy (ironic, no?), but I'm glad I found this one! It's Funky Monks performing "Notorious" live and pretty much kicking ass at it. Go bass guy, go!

Very Happy for Come Undone!

You can do nothing but enjoy this clip of very cool singer-songwriter Happy Rhodes (no relation) performing "Come Undone" live. Well, you can do other things, but I wouldn't advise it.

Thank (you) it's Friday!

"We took all these great songs and pretended we wrote them," Nick Rhodes said. Hmmm...sounds familiar! Before (too many) people started covering Duran songs, the boys started the whole thing in motion by recording Thank You, their covers record. This clip from '95 from Entertainment Tonight not only spotlights the eerie, vampirically unchanging face of Mary Hart, but also the gem that was one of their least commercially successful, but most technically pristine albums.

Headwear: the difference between Athlete and Artist

Here's a clip that can be described as no less than charming (or maybe I mean "crazy"). Renee Simonsen was JT's girl through most of Duran's heyday, which meant you loved her or hated her if you were a fan (I refuse to commit to an answer!). This interview with style and mushroom-bobbed hair icon Elsa Klensch is somehow meant to show Renee's "day-to-day" life, but fails to convince me. A unitard fit for a routine for the late Marcel Marceau transforms from 'workout' wear to art smock with the addition of a headband and glasses. Ah, to be a Cover Girl! There's some "Skin Trade" in the soundtrack and a nice view of JT's infamous 80's apartment, where Boy George was his neighbor.

Blog Post (Night Version)

This is one of those "I-can't-believe-this-exists!" clips, a hidden bonus on the Greatest DVD: original footage from the Rum Runner, the Birmingham club where Duran got their start! Where Simon showed up in his infamous leopard pants, lyric book in hand, for the fateful lead singer audition. Where Nick DJ'ed (that's still weird to imagine--let's skip it). Where John invented the 'emo' look in his glasses, gaze turned shoe-ward.

"Happy Birthday to You" was created for...ME!

In honor of my birthday, here's the world's cutest clip (including the birthday song) on a BBC show of unknown origin to me. Stay around for Simon's parents, the prank they played on fans, and the ultimate in big 80's hair.

In Bed with JT?!?

Erm...on a bed, anyway. Here's the late Paula Yates interviewing Wedding Album-era John.

Long live Italian Goth Metal!

Sometimes I think I've heard it all, until I'm surprised by Italian Goth Metal covering Arcadia. And it's pretty awesome! The band is Novembre and the clip features some classic Arcadia footage as well. Awww...pretty Joan Collins-era Nick.

I would be remiss to not include this...

Many have already seen the infamous "Making Fun of Duran Duran (Especially Andy)" videos, but for those of you who haven't, you're missing out. Granted, I was a big Mystery Science Theater 3000 fan, but I think just being a Duran fan with a sense of humor is all you'll need to enjoy these quips. Here's part I:

Awards Night!

Tonight is the air date for the MTV Video Music Awards here in the US, so I wanted to find at least some sort of Duran-related awards clip. This oldie from the British Rock and Pop Awards does not disappoint. I'm sure John knows where St. Louis is now.

If Simon were any more animated, he'd be claymation.

I both love and fear this performance from German TV in 1993. Simon starts out with a sort of Steve Carell-like dance (if you're a junkie for the US version of The Office like I am, I'm referencing the "Basketball" episode from Season 1. Watch this clip now without hearing Simon say, "IN...YOUR...FACE!"). The actual performance isn't bad (but does get better when Lamya takes the high part in the chorus later in the song), and Simon proves over and over that he does in fact know the words to the song.

Duran Duran: warm, wonderful, and civilized human beings.

Is this the origin of Simon's famous, "whoosh"? Here's an interview from '95 about Thank You (basically). Diehard fans, try not too laugh to hard when they announce they'll have a new album out before the end of the year (that we now know didn't hit shelves until a full two years later).

RIP Pavarotti

This isn't quite the rarest video, but given that Luciano passed away today, I saw fit to spotlight it anyway. Here he is with Simon (hitting most of the notes!) performing "Ordinary World" live in 1995.

Hungry Like the Wolfhound.

In keeping with my off-kilter theme, here's a great video send up of "Hungry like the Wolf". The director doesn't let being 13 stand in the way of greatness, and no Botox was necessary!

Old Romantics.

Here's a two-for-one! A few post-reunion clips of the original five from 2003 are in the spotlight today. Look for Simon's longtime, supernaturally gorgeous wife Yasmin in the black dress towards the end of "Girls On Film". I've actually seen her in person, and can attest that she's even more stunning in the flesh.

Hold Back the Mash Up!

I love me some mash-ups, and this one doesn't disappoint. From one of the new live shows (Dom Brown is on guitar), here's "Sound of Thunder" and "Hold Back the Rain", combined as they always should have been.

And is it just me, or are Simon's live vocal performances about ten times better than they were ten years or so ago when they were doing casino shows?

Unlikely Royal Subjects

As you probably already know, this past week marked the tenth anniversary of Princess Diana's death. In tribute, here's some very sweet footage of her meeting with Duran way back in the day.

Eve's Plum's Save a Prayer

Here's a little melancholy for your weekend! Eve's Plum performs "Save a Prayer" on the original Duran Duran Tribute Album in 1997 (which is the album that would inspire fans to put Glue together--more on that in another post). It's set to the original video, but I'm not sure if that was done by a fan or released that way.

Faster than ligh-igh-IGHT!!

Now this clip isn't the highest quality visually, but still has a special place in my heart. I remember this 1981 live version of b-side "Faster than Light" being aired on Nickelodeon's show Nick Rocks! right after I became a "Duranie" (Arena era). I sat at my big console TV with my hand-held tape recorder capturing the whole show, so I could play it back while I rollerskated in my driveway. Good times, good times. Enjoy!

And now...a little Andy love.

To maintain the Universal Balance of Duran Guitarist Attention, and because it's a cool clip that qualifies on both counts (it's Duran Duran and it's a cover), it's Andy time! Here's some great '87 footage from Tokyo of Andy rocking the Stones' "Beast of Burden". Extra "full circle" connection with yesterday's clip in that I believe I see Terry Bozzio from Warren's old band Missing Persons on drums.

Whenever I see or hear Andy's solo stuff from the 80's, I immediately think, "Why wasn't I more into that?!", because it really is good stuff! But alas, I was a Johnner then. I still think he was ahead of his time (what was it, only a year or two later that Bon Jovi was rocking the pop charts?) and should have been marketed to the rock crowd, not just us Duranies! I mean, check out that front man action! And apparently, it's in the DNA.

A shout out to "Glue" artists...

If you were one of the artists/bands on Glue: A Tribute to the Music of Duran Duran, and you have not seen my little shout out on the Duran Duran MySpace page, email me with your most recent links, so I can update them in the sidebar over there :::points to the left and down a little::: Thanks!

Is that Ralph Macchio?

No silly, it's just time to give Warren Cuccurullo a little spotlight in the blog. Wedding Album Warren was the bee's knees, keeping the band together through the 'no radio play' years, and giving them their best set of comeback hits yet in "Ordinary World" and "Come Undone". Even Sylvia Browne couldn't have foreseen at this point that he would later become famous for his own line of dildos.

The Union of the Snake refers to the union of the snake...yeah Simon, thanks for clearing that up...

My head is full of chopstick over this brilliant interview from Australia, 1983. Any eye rolling you may be tempted to do will soon be replaced by hardcore swooning over how completely adorable they all are.

AFI covers "Rio"

Here's AFI, bringing some Duran cover acoustic pop noise to the Hot Topic crowd.

At your liberty...

Because no one can lip sync quite like Duran, and I've been partying like it's 1990 lately, I give you this fabulous performance of "Liberty" from somewhere. Backup dancers were apparently optional.

Sneaker Pimps FTW

How many times can "The Chauffeur" be covered? If you answered the infinity symbol, you are correct. This one, from Sneaker Pimps, is particularly charming because it manages to recut the original video in a way so perfect, you can't help but forgive the lyric mess up.

Note: here are Perry Lister boobies, so if you're under 18, turn your head!

Mad props to TEKNOSAPIEN!

Here's a great one created by TEKNOSAPIEN. Check out his other Duran related creations at the link provided, and lose a few hours of your day.



Bonus points for making the live performance look synced.

Let's Get this Party Started Right!

One of my favorite eras of Durandom--Big Thing. John was so thin, he made Mary-Kate Olsen look like Mo'nique. Nick's beret made him seem harlequin-like, and Simon's hair needs no comment. LOVE THEM!!

Enjoy!