Whenever I get my hands on a setlist for an upcoming concert, the first thing I look for is what cover songs will be done. Saturday night when Duran Duran played to a sold out crowd at Amalie Arena [PHOTOS], they included two covers. One was predictable. The other one had me chuckling.
I had completely forgotten Duran Duran recorded and released as a single their cover of "White Lines (Don't Do It)." The 1983 classic by Melle Mel speaks to the dangers of cocaine addiction. The bassline is unforgettable. Many (including yours truly) think it's a Grandmaster Flash song. It's not. In fact there was a breakup and Grandmaster Flash had already stopped touring with Mel when it was released. There were even lawsuits over the song. It did really well in the U.K. but had limited success here in the U.S.
Duran Duran is of course from the U.K. Simon LeBon called the song "a milestone in hip hop music." Their cover in 1995 featured background vocals BOTH Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash. Check out this rare footage from the 90s when everyone got together on stage at Wembley Arena in England.
At first, I thought the other cover song Duran Duran performed Saturday night at Amalie Arena was MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." I chuckled and the odd choice. I figured maybe they were paying tribute to Steven Stamkos from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Simon did after all throw on a Bolts jersey at the end of the show. But it wasn't Hammertime. Once Simon LeBon started busting out the lyrics "She's a very freaky girl..." I chuckled.
Duran Duran did a fun rendition of Rick James' "Super Freak" after "Lonely In Your Nightmare." Didn't even think of how well the two songs blend together.
The 80s icons are back! Duran Duran's "Future Past" tour was in Tampa tonight at Amalie Arena. The newest inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shared the stage with Bastille and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.
Enjoy these front row shots from our incredible Q105 photographer Lisa Bower as well as some of these classic '80s Duran Duran pics from the Q105 archives!
Lisa Bowers/Beasley
Portrait of singer Simon Le Bon (L) and bassist John Taylor of the British pop group Duran Duran posing near a waterfall, probably on location for a video shoot for their album, 'Rio,' c. 1983. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Singer Simon Le Bon (L) and bassist John Taylor (C) of the British pop group Duran Duran talk with people wearing passes for Tina Turner's Break Every Rule concert tour in a dressing room, c. 1987. (Photo by Eastlight/Getty Images)
British pop group Duran Duran smile and laugh while posing on an airplane ramp before departing for Australia, Heathrow Airport, London, England, July 26, 1983. L-R: Bassists John and Andy Taylor (unrelated), singer Simon Le Bon, drummer Roger Taylor and keyboardist Nick Rhodes. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Screaming Duran Duran fans in the front row during a concert held at Wembley Arena in London, England on December 19, 1983. (Photo by Rogers/Express/Getty Images)
Duran Duran Live In Concert
Nick Laham/Getty ImagesSimon Le Bon of Duran Duran
Keyboardist Nick Rhodes of the British pop group Duran Duran smiles while leaning against a fisherman's nets, probably on location for a video shoot for the album, 'Rio,' c. 1983. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Bassist John Taylor of the British pop group Duran Duran smiles while posing in a dry docked fisherman's boat, probably on location for a video shoot for the album, 'Rio,' c. 1983. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Drummer Roger Taylor of the British pop group Duran Duran posing with some fisherman's nets, probably on location for a video shoot for their album, 'Rio,' c. 1983. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Singer Simon Le Bon of the British pop group Duran Duran, c. 1984. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Simon Le Bon of pop group Duran Duran winks at the camera in 1984. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Singer Simon Le Bon of the British pop group Duran Duran performing on stage during a concert, 1984. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
British pop group Duran Duran looking down from a balcony, c. 1983. L-R: Singer Simon Le Bon, bassist Andy Taylor, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Taylor. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Bassist John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor of Duran Duran perform on stage at Wembley Arena in London, England on December 19, 1983. (Photo by Rogers/Express/Getty Images)
Bassist John Taylor of the British pop group Duran Duran performing on stage during a concert, 1984. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Portrait of bassist Andy Taylor of the British pop group Duran Duran posing in a dry docked fisherman's boat, probably on location for a video shoot for the album, 'Rio,' c. 1983. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon with partner Claire Stansfield at an airport on December 23, 1984. (Photo by David Parker/Express/Getty Images)
Simon Le Bon, lead singer of the pop group Duran Duran, performing in 1983. Original Publication: People Disc - HU0439 (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
(left to right) Keyboard player Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor, drummer Roger Taylor, singer Simon Le Bon and guitarist Andy Taylor of Duran Duran pose in front of their tour bus backstage at Wembley Arena in London, England on December 19, 1983. (Photo by Rogers/Express/Getty Images)
British bassist John Taylor of Anglo-American rock supergroup The Power Station, wearing a striped shirt, 3rd April 1985. Taylor is also the bassist in Duran Duran. (Photo by K. Butler/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Nick Rhodes, the keyboard player for pop group Duran Duran, marries heiress Julie Anne Friedman in London, 18th August 1984. (Photo by Tony Weaver/Express/Getty Images)
The wedding day of Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor and Giovanna Cantone, with the couple posing on the Bay of Naples in Naples, Italy, on 30th July 1984. (Photo by Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guitarist John Taylor of the British pop group Duran Duran, 1984. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
British pop group Duran Duran smile and laugh while posing on a lawn, England, c. 1983. L-R: Brothers Roger and John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor (unrelated) and Simon Le Bon. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
