Duranies are a community born in the ’80s, an extended family that grew up with Duran Duran on a journey spanning over forty years—made of emotions, concerts, anticipation, and racing hearts. We were born free. Free from labels, stereotypes, and expectations. We’ve crossed decades and borders with open, curious, and vibrant minds. For us, this isn’t just passion: it’s become a way of being, a shared code, a language that connected us long before social media.
We grew up with records, tapes, and posters, with the radio on while doing homework, with Rai Stereo Uno keeping us company on winter afternoons, and DeeJay Television showing us the world we dreamed of. Our families sometimes followed us. Other times, we were the ones leading them, carried by the enthusiasm of knowing we were living something unrepeatable. There were sisters, brothers, schoolmates, dream companions. There were bedrooms covered in the faces of the ’80s. And Sunday mornings that smelled like vinyl and longing.
We planned our trips like great expeditions: starting from a date, a tour, a song. Some of us forged friendships that became deep bonds; others crossed oceans, learned new languages, and built bridges between distant hearts—all chasing the same melody. We are children of the analog world. We’ve touched vinyl, listened to CDs, downloaded MP3s, and shared links on forums and groups. We’ve watched the internet being born, growing, transforming. We lived through the silence and darkness of a pandemic. And today, we are here, discovering AI, carrying with us all we have been.
We’ve become adults—yes. But we never stopped feeling. Because growing up with your favorite band is a rare privilege. It’s like holding a secret key. One that always opens the door to home.
Rome – A Collective Embrace The first Roman date at Circo Massimo, on June 15, turned into a massive collective hug. The crowd became a place suspended between past and present, where smiles intertwined with memories, and gazes sparkled with the kind of hope only music can ignite.
At least the whole front area of the Roman stage—hundreds of people—was filled with familiar faces: longtime friends, travel companions, brothers and sisters of the heart who had met and recognized each other through forty years of miles, concerts, and shared life.
We couldn’t even follow Francesca Michielin’s set. We were too busy greeting each other, holding one another tight, recognizing ourselves. In that magical hour before dark, we were all there again. Pieces of life falling into place, in the right place, at the right time.
The second night, June 16, carried the same emotional intensity. The Roman crowd gave the band all the love it had. And while the world is once again touched by winds of war, Simon introduced Ordinary World with a message that embraced the entire planet:
“How are you doing out there? Feeling good? Just a little bit, I know, serious now, just for a minute. I’d like to spare a moment to think about our brothers and sisters around the world who are not having such a good time as us. All over the world. In Africa. In Israel and Gaza. I think of those people. I think of the people on both sides who are trying to make peace. And think about… And think about Ukraine. And now, with their wars moving into its fourth year, moving too. And all they want, all they’re fighting for is a life of peace and happiness in their own country. In their own Ordinary World.”
The Setlist Duran Duran’s Italian tour spanned four key stops: June 15 and 16 at Rome’s Circo Massimo (with Francesca Michielin and Jack Savoretti), drawing about 30,000 fans in total; June 18 at Norba Arena (Fiera del Levante, Bari) with around 7,000; and June 20 at Ippodromo Snai in Milan for over 20,000. Four concerts with powerful and visually cohesive staging, enriched with AI-enhanced imagery and videos projected on the ledwall. Only one setlist change across the dates:
Intro / Velvet Newton, Night Boat, The Wild Boys, Hungry Like the Wolf, A View to a Kill (007 intro), Invisible, Notorious, Night Runner / All She Wants, Super Lonely Freak, Evil Woman, Friends of Mine, Careless Memories, Ordinary World, Come Undone, Sunrise, Planet Earth (with band intro), The Reflex, White Lines (on June 16 replaced by a priceless New Moon on Monday), Girls on Film / Psycho Killer. Encore: Save a Prayer, Rio.
Bari – Full Circle The Bari date, June 18, marked a long-awaited return—38 years after the last one. In 1987, we were in the stands of Stadio della Vittoria, watching from afar, under the rain. No field crowd, no eye contact. Just police and distance. Simon recalled it from the stage:
“And the audience was way over there… In the stands, nobody on the pitch in front of us except for a bunch of policemen and their girlfriends. They were having a great time. We thought we could see you in the rain. It was an amazing night, and we’ve always held Bari as a very special place in our hearts. It’s true, and we feel so honored to be here in front of you again. Thank you for having us back”
Warren Cuccurullo often spoke of that night in the ’90s. John Taylor kept a blown-up photo by Virginia Liberatore in L.A. for years: an empty field occupied by police. Their only show “without fans” in front of the stage.
This time, in Bari, we were all there. And the circle closed. The Fiera del Levante venue was a surprise: great location, clear view of the stage, perfectly balanced acoustics. The Apulian crowd was warm and engaged. A summer atmosphere filled with celebration and redemption.
Milan – A Celebration Under the Stars On June 20, the band lit up the Snai Hippodrome for the I-Days Festival, in front of 20,000 people. The energy of the tour’s end was palpable. Simon waved the Italian flag proudly onstage, and the sweetest moment came when John’s wife brought out a cake to celebrate his 65th birthday. A crowd-wide “Happy Birthday” that will remain unforgettable.
Duran Duran’s tour will conclude next month in Santa Margherita di Pula (Cagliari). Tickets are still available here: www.ticketone.it
Ph. Charly Beaugendre. Courtesy of Duran Duran.
Luana Salvatore
editor@riocarnivalmagazine.it