Hi, I only got posting access to the site a day or so before I headed overseas for the concerts in Brussels and Amsterdam, so
apologies if this comes out of nowhere. I have been lurking on and off for the past few years and have been a fan of the band since 1981.
I have been privileged in the last week to see Duran Duran in Brussels and Amsterdam and just wanted to share my experience with you. (I have posted a similar post on the DDM site, so apologies if some of you have read it there). What can I say...both concerts were phenomenal.
Before I decided to head over for the concerts, particularly in the weeks immediately following the Australian shows, I was worried that it may be an anti-climax or that it would not add anything to what I experienced in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. I could not have been more wrong! However, I am still pinching myself to believe that after waiting 22 years to see them play twice in 2003 (if you count the Robbie Williams support gig) I have now seen them five times in under three months.
I wish I could have stayed for Copenhagen, but I had to get back. I am REALLY disappointed about Cologne however. I could so easily have attended if it had been announced even two days beforehand. But that is a whole other thread discussion......
First up Brussels. I was lucky to find a hotel barely 100 metres from the Cirque Royal where they were playing. As I arrived at my hotel a car flew by blaring out Tempted. A great start! After dropping my bags at the hotel I wandered down to the Grand Place, which is really the main tourist site in Brussels and is very pretty. I was there a few years ago so I knew my way around. Walking out one side of the Grand Place I stumbled upon the hotel DD was most likely to be staying at (and yes, it turns out they were). There was a group of girls standing around like they were waiting to see the band, and various other cues. I hung around but I started to feel really awkward with all the security people out the front watching us watching the hotel, so after about an hour I headed back to the hotel. I'd had a 5am departure to get to Brussels from London, so I also wanted to have a rest before the show.
On to the show. This was a seated venue with a floor section and then a circular layout of elevated seats around that going quite high up. It appeared to be a sell out and I think it was about 3000 people, so really quite intimate as these thing go. I was on John's side right at the front in the first elevation, so about as close as you could be without being at the front on the floor. It was a superb view of the whole stage. The energy in that space was incredible. From the moment they started it seemed everyone was on their feet except for one small section of the crowd. I know that I did not sit down once and neither did those around me. The set was very similar to what we saw in Australia, although they did not play New Religion, Hold Back the Rain or White Lines. They did play Skin Divers, which they presented without any contribution from Timbaland (unlike the Lyceum gig). That was probably the least smooth song. Simon was coughing a lot which made me sad for him because he looked like it was bugging him when he went to the back of the stage to clear his throat, but it really did not affect the show. Watching the show it really struck me how professional they are, and also how enthusiastic and energetic they are on stage. They are definitely not just going through the motions. Simon did all his usual moves! Both Simon and John spoke to the crowd quite a bit and I loved Roger standing up to take the crowd's applause during Girls on Film. He seems so quietly confident and at ease these days. I guess I really liked this venue because it was big enough to have a great atmosphere, but small enough that I'm sure everyone had a great view and felt included. After the show it was nice the way everyone hung around for a drink either in the venue, or just down the road at an outdoor bar in a leafy square. It was not quite dark when we came out after the show. I went around to the stage door and really we didn't have to wait too long. They didn't stop for long though - nothing anywhere like what we were treated to at the Melbourne Palais - but incredibly Roger came over to where I was standing and I got his autograph (which I missed out on in Melbourne, even though I got to speak to him then). I think Simon was in a hurry to get to the car and Nick as well. Because I was distracted with Roger I didn't actually see John leave. I had the usual slight melancholy mixed with elation that I have had after each of their shows. I really wish I could capture the feelings I have during the show and keep them with me. Best feel good experience ever.
So on to beautiful Amsterdam. This probably gave me my closest experience of the band in concert. It was general admission and I was about 7 rows back. On reflection I could probably have got there a bit earlier to be even closer but as it was I was standing for nearly 2 hours before the show. I was between Simon and John and had a great view of all on stage, which was a huge relief to me. Last time I was in the floor section was at a Robbie Williams concert and I could see NOTHING. After the great show the night before this was just the cream on the cake. It was actually John's birthday that night, so the whole crowd sang him happy birthday, at Simon's lead. A really pumped, buzzy atmosphere. They had a good DJ team there beforehand to get the crowd in the mood. Oh, and as I walked up to the venue, the bar was playing Want You More. (Can you imagine that happening in Australia?). The crowd was a great mix of younger and older fans and a good balance between male and female. There were also some quite young people there, like 18-22 year olds, which was great to see. From memory the set was the same as in Brussels. Simon's throat seemed to be bothering him even more, but he still delivered. Just a word in Save a Prayer was replaced with a cough
But there was nothing even remotely
lacklustre in their performance and even though I was entirely satisfied at the end (because it really is a huge show) I was still wanting more and more and
more. I could happily go again without feeling like I've seen it all before. I didn't wait around after the show as I had a 15 min metro ride back to
the Central Station where my hotel was located and I just wanted to get back to the hotel at that stage. The next day I spent wandering around the beautiful
canals in Amsterdam and soaking up the summer atmosphere as they prepared for the football match between the Netherlands and Russia. A really nice visit to a
city that has such a variety of experiences. I'm glad DD gave me the excuse to go back and visit again.
I know that most of the Australians on here, like myself, have followed the band all through the late 80s and the 90s when they were all but ignored in Australia (not helped by the fact that they did not tour here in all that time of course), but I think it is fair to say that quite a lot of the Australian concert crowd were there to relive the 80s. It seemed much less like this in Brussels and Amsterdam. People I spoke to were very familiar with RCM for a start (and there was no hesitation to get up and dance from the word go), and most had attended concerts throughout the late 80s and 90s, and the Astronaut tour. I think it created a slightly different feel.
I will look forward to reading comments about the rest of the European tours. I wonder how the UK shows will be as that would have been the most obvious place for me to attend, but I am sort of sworn off big stadium gigs after seeing U2 and Robbie Williams (twice) at the Sydney Football Stadium which put me of the O2 Arena a little. However I am sure there will be a huge buzz there on that night and it will be an equally exciting experience for those who attend.
One thing I did wonder during all the concerts is whether there will be a tour DVD? I would certainly love it. I think Duran Duran are at a real high point at the moment and it would be great to capture it.
So, at the end of it all, was it worth making the trek to see these two extra concerts? Absolutely, definitely, without doubt! Life should be full of more of these hedonistic moments, and I hope there will be more to come.
I have been privileged in the last week to see Duran Duran in Brussels and Amsterdam and just wanted to share my experience with you. (I have posted a similar post on the DDM site, so apologies if some of you have read it there). What can I say...both concerts were phenomenal.
Before I decided to head over for the concerts, particularly in the weeks immediately following the Australian shows, I was worried that it may be an anti-climax or that it would not add anything to what I experienced in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. I could not have been more wrong! However, I am still pinching myself to believe that after waiting 22 years to see them play twice in 2003 (if you count the Robbie Williams support gig) I have now seen them five times in under three months.
I wish I could have stayed for Copenhagen, but I had to get back. I am REALLY disappointed about Cologne however. I could so easily have attended if it had been announced even two days beforehand. But that is a whole other thread discussion......
First up Brussels. I was lucky to find a hotel barely 100 metres from the Cirque Royal where they were playing. As I arrived at my hotel a car flew by blaring out Tempted. A great start! After dropping my bags at the hotel I wandered down to the Grand Place, which is really the main tourist site in Brussels and is very pretty. I was there a few years ago so I knew my way around. Walking out one side of the Grand Place I stumbled upon the hotel DD was most likely to be staying at (and yes, it turns out they were). There was a group of girls standing around like they were waiting to see the band, and various other cues. I hung around but I started to feel really awkward with all the security people out the front watching us watching the hotel, so after about an hour I headed back to the hotel. I'd had a 5am departure to get to Brussels from London, so I also wanted to have a rest before the show.
On to the show. This was a seated venue with a floor section and then a circular layout of elevated seats around that going quite high up. It appeared to be a sell out and I think it was about 3000 people, so really quite intimate as these thing go. I was on John's side right at the front in the first elevation, so about as close as you could be without being at the front on the floor. It was a superb view of the whole stage. The energy in that space was incredible. From the moment they started it seemed everyone was on their feet except for one small section of the crowd. I know that I did not sit down once and neither did those around me. The set was very similar to what we saw in Australia, although they did not play New Religion, Hold Back the Rain or White Lines. They did play Skin Divers, which they presented without any contribution from Timbaland (unlike the Lyceum gig). That was probably the least smooth song. Simon was coughing a lot which made me sad for him because he looked like it was bugging him when he went to the back of the stage to clear his throat, but it really did not affect the show. Watching the show it really struck me how professional they are, and also how enthusiastic and energetic they are on stage. They are definitely not just going through the motions. Simon did all his usual moves! Both Simon and John spoke to the crowd quite a bit and I loved Roger standing up to take the crowd's applause during Girls on Film. He seems so quietly confident and at ease these days. I guess I really liked this venue because it was big enough to have a great atmosphere, but small enough that I'm sure everyone had a great view and felt included. After the show it was nice the way everyone hung around for a drink either in the venue, or just down the road at an outdoor bar in a leafy square. It was not quite dark when we came out after the show. I went around to the stage door and really we didn't have to wait too long. They didn't stop for long though - nothing anywhere like what we were treated to at the Melbourne Palais - but incredibly Roger came over to where I was standing and I got his autograph (which I missed out on in Melbourne, even though I got to speak to him then). I think Simon was in a hurry to get to the car and Nick as well. Because I was distracted with Roger I didn't actually see John leave. I had the usual slight melancholy mixed with elation that I have had after each of their shows. I really wish I could capture the feelings I have during the show and keep them with me. Best feel good experience ever.
So on to beautiful Amsterdam. This probably gave me my closest experience of the band in concert. It was general admission and I was about 7 rows back. On reflection I could probably have got there a bit earlier to be even closer but as it was I was standing for nearly 2 hours before the show. I was between Simon and John and had a great view of all on stage, which was a huge relief to me. Last time I was in the floor section was at a Robbie Williams concert and I could see NOTHING. After the great show the night before this was just the cream on the cake. It was actually John's birthday that night, so the whole crowd sang him happy birthday, at Simon's lead. A really pumped, buzzy atmosphere. They had a good DJ team there beforehand to get the crowd in the mood. Oh, and as I walked up to the venue, the bar was playing Want You More. (Can you imagine that happening in Australia?). The crowd was a great mix of younger and older fans and a good balance between male and female. There were also some quite young people there, like 18-22 year olds, which was great to see. From memory the set was the same as in Brussels. Simon's throat seemed to be bothering him even more, but he still delivered. Just a word in Save a Prayer was replaced with a cough
But there was nothing even remotely
lacklustre in their performance and even though I was entirely satisfied at the end (because it really is a huge show) I was still wanting more and more and
more. I could happily go again without feeling like I've seen it all before. I didn't wait around after the show as I had a 15 min metro ride back to
the Central Station where my hotel was located and I just wanted to get back to the hotel at that stage. The next day I spent wandering around the beautiful
canals in Amsterdam and soaking up the summer atmosphere as they prepared for the football match between the Netherlands and Russia. A really nice visit to a
city that has such a variety of experiences. I'm glad DD gave me the excuse to go back and visit again.
I know that most of the Australians on here, like myself, have followed the band all through the late 80s and the 90s when they were all but ignored in Australia (not helped by the fact that they did not tour here in all that time of course), but I think it is fair to say that quite a lot of the Australian concert crowd were there to relive the 80s. It seemed much less like this in Brussels and Amsterdam. People I spoke to were very familiar with RCM for a start (and there was no hesitation to get up and dance from the word go), and most had attended concerts throughout the late 80s and 90s, and the Astronaut tour. I think it created a slightly different feel.
I will look forward to reading comments about the rest of the European tours. I wonder how the UK shows will be as that would have been the most obvious place for me to attend, but I am sort of sworn off big stadium gigs after seeing U2 and Robbie Williams (twice) at the Sydney Football Stadium which put me of the O2 Arena a little. However I am sure there will be a huge buzz there on that night and it will be an equally exciting experience for those who attend.
One thing I did wonder during all the concerts is whether there will be a tour DVD? I would certainly love it. I think Duran Duran are at a real high point at the moment and it would be great to capture it.
So, at the end of it all, was it worth making the trek to see these two extra concerts? Absolutely, definitely, without doubt! Life should be full of more of these hedonistic moments, and I hope there will be more to come.
Sorry for the long post, but there seemed so much to say.
Niterunner08, thanks for posting. I did read your
story over at DDM. I'd love it if they released a DVD.
