Duran Duran say they’d ‘love’ to play Glastonbury but ‘need the right slot’
The Birmingham new wave legends have never played at Worthy Farm before
By Emma Wilkes
Duran Duran have spoken about their ambitions to perform at Glastonbury, as long as they have “the right” slot.
The band have never played at Worthy Farm before, but they told NME in a new interview that it remains an ambition for them, specifically playing the Pyramid Stage.
“We have had the chance to do it before, but it wasn’t playing the main stage and I think we’d like to be doing that for sure,” said frontman Simon Le Bon. “I’m sure we’re in negotiations [with Glastonbury], and if not, we will be.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Duran Duran confirmed that they have new music in the works in the form of a “Halloween-themed project” set to land later in the year. The project will feature new recordings of Duran Duran songs that feel “a bit dark or twisted”, according to Le Bon, alongside cover versions and “one or two” brand-new songs.
It isn’t however, being considered a full Duran Duran album, but it will see the band welcome back Andy Taylor, who plays with the band for the first time since 2006.
“Andy is in a very good place,” Le Bon said of Taylor, who confirmed last year that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. “He’s an incredibly creative guitarist, and it’s turning out really well.”
Le Bon also said that the creative spark the former bandmates once had came back immediately when they started working together again. “It was just straight into it – no prelims,” he said. “We’re the kind of friends and working partners who, you know, it just doesn’t fall apart ever.”
They also discussed being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame back in November. “It hasn’t changed our values or the way we are with each other. But it has made people in America take us more seriously,” Le Bon explained. “And in a funny sort of way, that pisses me off. We should have been taken seriously like this before. Why do you need to have a badge that says this organisation thinks you’re cool? But that’s just the way it is.”
Duran Duran will be heading out on a UK and Ireland tour later this week, with the first show at Manchester’s AO Arena taking place on April 29. They will also be playing two nights at London’s O2 Arena, as well as in Leeds, Birmingham, Dublin and Glasgow. Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters and Lia Lia are set to open.