Review: Duran Duran at BST Hyde Park
Review: Duran Duran at BST Hyde Park
By Adam Davidson
After making a cameo appearance during Sabrina Carpenter’s show at BST Hyde Park in 2025, 80s pop icons Duran Duran returned to the Great Oak Stage for a thrilling headline performance.
Having sold over 100 million records and achieved four number-one singles across the UK and US, Duran Duran, led by Simon Le Bon, were one of the biggest pop-rock bands of their era.
They have maintained an enduring fanbase ever since and as a testament to their legacy in pop culture, 60,000 people flocked to Hyde Park, many looking to relive their glory years while experiencing some great live music.
As Duran Duran took to the stage and opened with ‘Is There Something I Should Know?’, ‘A View to a Kill’ and ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’, the first thing that struck me was how good Simon Le Bon sounded live. Even after all these years, his voice remains remarkably consistent, and carries himself with a timeless stage presence that makes it all look effortless.
The energy was infectious throughout, with people simply coming out to dance and sing along to classic 80s hits, which is exactly what they did. Fans of all ages and backgrounds gathered in Hyde Park to share the experience together.
Before performing one of their most iconic hits, ‘Ordinary World’ – which has amassed almost 580 million streams on Spotify alone – Le Bon asked the London crowd if they were staying up to watch the England vs Mexico World Cup match, prompting a huge cheer. He then asked, “Who’s calling in sick tomorrow?”, drawing an even louder response before dedicating the song to the England team, saying he believed they could overcome both the altitude and the cauldron of the Azteca.
Having performed earlier in the afternoon, Nile Rodgers returned to the stage to perform ‘Free to Love’ and ‘Notorious’, which was produced by the Chic co-founder in 1986.
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Despite having countless hits of their own, Duran Duran still had a few surprises up their sleeves with covers of Rick James’ ‘Super Freak’ and ELO’s ‘Evil Woman’. There was also an excellent rendition of Talking Heads’ ‘Psycho Killer’, seamlessly woven into a mash-up with their hit ‘Girls on Film’ during an extended instrumental break. Not that they needed any help, but the familiar songs had the crowd singing at the top of their lungs, creating an atmosphere that felt like one giant karaoke session in Hyde Park.
The group returned for their encore in style, opening with the intro to The Clash’s ‘London Calling’, which seamlessly transitioned into ‘Wild Boys’, complete with pyrotechnics and swagger. One of the evening’s standout moments came during ‘Save a Prayer’, with its beautiful synth melodies, flawless vocals and crowd interaction as thousands of people waved their hands from side to side, creating a stunning spectacle to complement the mastery on stage.
As the evening closed with ‘Rio’, the atmosphere resembled that of a football crowd, with people chanting along, jumping up and down, and embracing one another. It was one of those wholesome communal experiences where everyone seemed completely lost in the moment, dancing freely with family and loved ones.
It was also a stark reminder that 80s music will never die. Times change and trends come and go, but nothing quite beats the timeless music of that era, with Duran Duran continuing to hold an important place in the hearts of many across the UK and beyond.
