Duran Duran announced as final BST Hyde Park headliner for 2020

10 March 2020, 09:32 | Updated: 12 March 2020, 17:17

Duran Duran announced as final BST Hyde Park headliner for 2020
Duran Duran announced as final BST Hyde Park headliner for 2020. Picture: BST • Duran Duran

By Rory O'Connor

Duran Duran has today been announced as this year's final headline act at British Summer Time music festival in Hyde Park.

The band are putting together a bill of contemporaries and those they influenced for their show on July 12.

Comprised of singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor, together they have sold over 100 million records, with 21 UK Top 20 hits and 18 US hit singles.

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This is their BST Hyde Park debut and their only London show for 2020, and is set to include classics such as 'Hungry Like the Wolf', 'Pressure Off', 'Rio', 'Girls on Film', '(Reach Up For The) Sunrise' and 'A View to a Kill'.

Read more: Simon Le Bon: 9 facts about the Duran Duran frontman

Duran Duran are currently in the studio working on their follow-up to Paper Gods with several collaborators, which is soon to be announced.


Duran Duran singer Simon said: "I look at film of The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park back in '69 and think of all the great acts who've performed there since.

"It really is an honour to add the name Duran Duran to that roster, and to play our music at one of the world's greatest inner city locations at BST Hyde Park."

Read more: The story of... 'Save a Prayer' by Duran Duran

Bassist John added: "On July 16, 1980, Duran Duran debuted its latest line-up at the Rum Runner club in Birmingham. Locals Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor, were joined by a pair of new musical friends: Andy Taylor, who had come from Newcastle by train with only a suitcase, guitar and combo amplifier; and Simon Le Bon, from Middlesex, who had been attending drama classes at the University, and now found himself the frontman with a local band of futurist post-punkers.

Duran Duran announced as final BST Hyde Park headliner for 2020
Duran Duran announced as final BST Hyde Park headliner for 2020. Picture: BST • Duran Duran

"It’s almost unbelievable to us that forty years later we are celebrating this anniversary with a show at BST Hyde Park.

"Making it all the more special is the presence of our old friend and collaborator Nile Rodgers, and Gwen Stefani, a favourite gal pal of ours since No Doubt.

"It will be a special day for us, and, hopefully for our audience, who have followed us faithfully for so many years now. Please, come celebrate our long and ragged journey!"

Gwen Stefani, Nile Rodgers & CHIC will also perform earlier in the day.

Tickets go on general sale from Friday March 13 at 10am, with prices starting at £65 + booking fee.