Duran Duran Do Midnight Oil for Climate Change

80s icons Duran Duran and our own political rockers Midnight Oil seem like chalk and cheese, so it’s surprising to hear that Duran Duran plan to record a cover of the Oils hit “Beds are Burning.”

Duran Duran will join more than 55 other artists and celebrities including Sir Bob Geldof, The Scorpions, Marion Cotillard, and Youssou N’Dour for the track. More artists are expected to join the project before its release on October 1 at Paris Fashion Week.

The song will spearhead a climate change awareness campaign headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The track will be available for free download on its release. It remains to be seen whether it’s got the power of a “We Are The World” or “Do They Know it’s Christmas,” but it’s sounding promising so far! It’s hoped the recording will pressure world leaders to reach an agreement on tackling climate change at December’s United Nations conference in Denmark.

Photo credit: Brian Aris @ Wikimedia Commons

Duran Duran, Smashing Pumpkins, QOTSA Play Adelaide

Adelaide may have missed out on the V Festival, but that doesn’t mean they’ll miss some of the event’s biggest names. 80s pop icons Duran Duran and 90s emo pioneers Smashing Pumpkins are making the trip to South Australia. As an added bonus for Pumpkins fans, Queens of the Stone Age will also appear at this very special show.

Duran Duran will play all their classic tracks and songs from their newie Red Carpet Massacre on April 1 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The big Smashing Pumpkins/Queens of the Stone Age show will play the Ent Cent on the following night. Yes, that’s right: two massive shows on in the middle of the week. I can imagine there’ll be some very bleary-eyed workers in Adelaide!

Tickets for both shows will go on sale to the public at 9 am on Monday 11 February from Ticketek.

Image source: Brian Aris @ Wikimedia Commons

Smashing Pumpkins, Duran Duran and More Play V Festival

A real mixed bag of bands are heading our way for the second annual V Festival next year.

Whiny ’90s rockers The Smashing Pumpkins will headline the event, alongside 80s supergroup Duran Duran, and the cooler-than-cool popster Mika. The eclectic bill also includes Jesus and the Mary Chain, Air, Queens of the Stoneage, and The Presets.

The V Festival hits Sydney’s Centennial Park on March 29, the Gold Coast on March 30, Melbourne Showgrounds on April 5, and finishes up in Perth on April 6. Tickets are on sale this Thursday from the V Festival website.

Image source: V Festival website