Duran Duran host Halloween Danse Macabre in Manchester - REVIEW

Duran Duran hosted a Halloween Danse Macabre spectacle for the first time in the UK, at the Co-op Live in Manchester.

The group dressed in full costume and delivered an evening of 80s throwbacks, and spooky Halloween covers.

Duran Duran playing to a crowd of 25,000 in Manchester on Halloween - Image by Natasha Judge

Although some of the crowd, myself included, weren’t alive during many of the tracks original releases, they certainly sounded like the recordings. Simon Le Bon can assuredly hold his note, right from the first track ‘Night Boat’, he vocally transported many back to the New Romantic era.

The band saw original members joining Le Bon on stage, with John Taylor (bass), Nick Rhodes (keys) and Roger Taylor (drums). With the addition of backing singers, Rachael O’Connor and Anna Ross, who were known as Frankenstein’s brides for the evening.

Le Bon frequently thanked the crowd for attending the sold out gig.

He said: “Manchester has been with Duran Duran since 1981, we fucking love you!”

Many of the audience definitely got the memo to come in Halloween attire, with some dressed in classic Duran Duran costume.

The production had clearly been meticulously planned, and the spy-esque lighting for James Bond track ‘A View to a Kill’ was highly impressive, and immersed the audience from the floor to the upper seats.

A key highlight of the evening was ‘Planet Earth’, it saw the core four come together for a belting performance in full spooky fashions.

The visuals throughout the evening were notably cleverly linked with Halloween, and the theming of the tracks. Not forgetting the bubbles, pyrotechnics, and confetti also used to further elevate the group's reputation in hosting the ultimate musical Halloween extravaganza.

The set also included a cover of ELO’s ‘Evil Woman’, which was performed at the same venue just mere months before.

'No, No, Notorious' - Image by Natasha Judge

Duran Duran gave a debut performance of their newest release ‘Shadows on Your Side’, which worked well with the scary motifs displayed throughout All Hallow’s Eve.

The audience were treated to performances of classic hits ‘Notorious’, ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’, and ‘The Reflex’, which were met with adoring crowds of 25,000 singing along.

The night also featured a surprise guest for their rendition of Talking Heads track - ‘Psycho Killer’, as Victoria De Angelis of Måneskin joined the group on bass.

The Wild Boys are calling on their way back from the fire - Image by Natasha Judge

Followed by a powerful encore, with flame throwing, and a snippet of Joy Division, before an impactful performance of ‘The Wild Boys’. This was followed by the final classic tune ‘Rio’, which many were up on their feet for.

The evening was an excellent way to commemorate the spooky season, and it is hoped the Halloween special will be hosted in the UK again next year. Further tour information can be found here.

Setlist:

Night Boat

DANSE MACABRE

Hungry Like the Wolf

A View to a Kill

Ghost Town

Union of the Snake

Notorious

Lonely in Your Nightmare / Super Freak

Supernature

Shadows on Your Side

Friends of Mine

Spellbound

Spooky

CONFESSION IN THE AFTERLIFE

Secret Oktober

New Moon on Monday

Evil Woman

Planet Earth

The Reflex

Girls on Film / Psycho Killer

The Wild Boys

Rio