It has been confirmed that Duran Duran will perform a pair of intimate shows at 02 Academy Leicester on 21st and 22nd May 2022. The two concerts will act as warm-up shows for the band’s upcoming headlining tour. The “Wild Boys” hitmakers will hit the road this spring for a series of festival appearances before embarking on their UK and European tour. The band took to Instagram to confirm the news and show dates.
The iconic group are offering a unique ticketing process for fans; ticketholders will be able to obtain a proof of attendance NFT which will not only act as a traditional ticket but will also include other elements. Included within the NFT is a special experience with exclusive offers and gifts. Ticketholders will also be given album artwork from the band’s 2021 release Future Past.
A press release has given the following statement, “These highly collectable NFTs will be limited to 1,400 a night, and each show will feature a different artwork from the FUTURE PAST collection. The initiative is being powered by specialist blockchain community builders, Cub3, who will not only mint the NFTs, but can also hold them in individual wallets for those fans who have yet to have their own. After the shows, the NFTs will be tradable on Cub3’s bespoke platform should fans desire.”
The statement continues to describe the band’s experience with their previous “ground-breaking” NFT rollout which included “limited-edition collection of works that had been created by their collaborative AI partner, Huxley, and connected them on the blockchain to living trees in a newly planted micro-forest in New Zealand.”
The group released their fifteenth studio album last year. Future Past dropped on 22nd October 2021 and was the band’s first full release since the 2015 album Paper Gods. Released via BMG, the group co-produced the album with Italian composer Giorgio Moroder, Erol Alkan and multi-talented artist Mark Ronson. The album sired six singles with the first single “Invisible” released on 19th May 2021. “Laughing Boy” was the album’s last single and was released on 9th February 2022.
The album featured various collaborations with the following artists Tove Lo, famed pianist Mike Garson, Japanese rock band Chai, Ivorian Doll and fellow music legend Graham Coxon. The Blur band member can be heard within the tracks “All Of You”, “Give It All Up” featuring Tove Lo, “Anniversary”, “Future Past”, “Wing” and “More Joy! (featuring Chai)”. A third of tacks featuring Coxon were released as singles, “Give It All Up” featuring Tove Lo was made available on 20th October 2021 and “Anniversary” was released on 31st August 2021.
General Tickets for the group’s tour went on sale today at 10 am, and members of the group’s VIP community were given pre-sale access on Wednesday 20th April 2022 at 9 am. Pre- sale tickets via LiveNation and for the band’s upcoming O2 shows are on sale now, click here to purchase tickets
Duran Duran UK tour dates
21/05/2022 – O2 Academy – Leicester
22/05 – 02 Academy – Leicester
12/06 – St Annes Park – Dublin
17/06 – Castle Howard – York
01/07 – Lytham Festival – Lytham Saint Annes
02/07 – Caledonia Stadium – Iverness
05/07 – The Piece Hall – Halifax
10/07 – BST Hyde Park – London
