There are some days when I honestly and truly should not leave the house, and yesterday…particularly the afternoon…was indeed one of those times.
If you haven’t heard yet, please allow Daily Duranie to be the first to break the news (to you)…
You should probably grab a beverage of choice and sit down. Trust me.
DURANLIVE IS COMING!!
I know, I know….you might need oxygen. I understand. You were expecting it…but at the same time you were starting to wonder if they were really going to do anything at all, and certainly nothing else besides festivals right?? Take a breath and know that we’re all probably feeling the same way right now.
Before I give the list of confirmed (yes, confirmed) of dates, I very much want to commend DDM. Not only did I receive the dates by email (not smoke signal, not listed on a variety of different social media, and not just haphazardly stuck up on a website without notice or fanfare), but they wanted to give them to fans first. Granted, you needed to be a member of DDM in order to get them last night before anyone else, but to be fair – people are PAYING for some exclusivity with that fan club. Getting an email with the dates listed seems fair. The email thanked us for being members, then explained that while these dates will not go on the public site until Monday (which means I suppose I’m giving a spoiler, and I really hope I don’t get into trouble for doing so, they are literally posted ALL OVER Facebook right now anyway), DDM wanted members to have them first in order to plan and even called it “their version of a leak”. (Well DDM…now this is Daily Duranie’s version.)
The email was split into two sections, the first explaining the various ticket packages. As with previous tours, you can either buy straight pre-sale tickets, or go for one of the upgraded VIP packages, which have several different pricing levels. Keep in mind that not all VIP packages are available for all shows, and in certain markets and/or places, pre-sales might not even be available. Those are the breaks, and so pay close attention to what your particular show of interest offers. I really don’t want to see anyone complaining on social media that some show in Timbuktu doesn’t have a pre-sale or Platinum VIP and that DDM sucks just because someone didn’t bother to read closely. Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware). DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
1) The Platinum VIP Experience
US Pricing: $400 + Ticket Price
UK Pricing: £350 + Ticket Price
– 1 Front Row Ticket
– On-site VIP concierge
– VIP Pre-show cocktail hour with food, wine and beer
– Behind-the-scenes backstage tour
– Custom-designed Canvas Bag featuring artwork from the brand new Duran Duran Fall release
– An exclusive Duran Duran T-shirt
– The new full length album, signed by the members of Duran Duran
– A Commemorative VIP Tour Laminate with Lanyard
2) The GOLD VIP Experience
US Pricing: $260 + Ticket Price
UK Pricing: £227.50 + Ticket Price
– One Premium Ticket in rows 2-6
– VIP Pre-show cocktail hour with food, wine and beer
– On-site VIP host
– Custom-designed Canvas Bag featuring artwork from the brand new Duran Duran Fall release
– An exclusive Duran Duran T-shirt
– Commemorative VIP Tour Laminate with Lanyard
3) The SILVER VIP Experience
US Pricing: $150 + Ticket Price
UK Pricing: £131.25 + Ticket Price
– 1 Premium Seat in Rows 1-5
– Custom-designed Canvas Bag featuring artwork from the brand new Duran Duran Fall release
– An exclusive Duran Duran T-shirt
– Commemorative VIP Tour Laminate and Lanyard
4) The BRONZE VIP Experience
US Pricing: $65 + ticket price
UK Pricing: £57 + ticket price
– 1 Premium Reserved Seat
– 1 exclusive Duran Duran T-shirt.
– Commemorative VIP Tour Laminate and Lanyard.
5) Premium pre-sale tickets will also be offered with reduced service charges for our members.
Bottom line: YES, VIP can be pricey. My advice? Choose wisely. DDM is bringing back the infamous cocktail party (please, please, please let it be something more like the cocktail party in NYC for the fan show) …they seem to have some fantastic merchandise lined up, including the ever-popular tour laminates, AND….if you’re really into front row, Platinum guarantees just that…a front row seat. Additionally you’re getting one of the coolest offerings I’ve heard of in a long time – a tour of backstage. I think that is going to be fantastic! Again, kudos for DDM because they have obviously been reading…um, I mean listening….to the fans. Well done, in my opinion!
If you’re not into the idea of a cocktail party but still want a great seat – Silver is the package for you because you’re still guaranteed a seat in rows 1-5. I’d love some clarification for Bronze because it just says a premium reserved seat with no real indication of what that means. Is that a premium seat in the same row 1-5 or is that a “premium” seat in section 300 in row ZZ? I’m not really sure, so if anyone knows, please let me know in the comments.
Ok, Ok…time for dates. Ready???
Dates? You want Duran Duran tour dates? Here you go:
USA
Wednesday, August 5 – FOLD Festival (Freak Out! Lets Dance Festival) – Martha Clara Vineyards, Riverhead, NY (with Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Beck, Janelle Monae, Pharrell etc)
No pre-sale or VIP Packages
Thursday, August 6 – Musikfest – ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, Bethlehem, PA (an “evening with”)
No pre-sale or VIP Packages
Ticket prices range from $59 to $79
Sunday, September 20 – Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO (with Chic featuring Nile Rodgers and Clean Bandit)
Platinum, Gold, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from $49.50 to $125
Wednesday, September 23 – Washington State Fair, Puyallup, WA (with Chic featuring Nile Rodgers and Clean Bandit)
Silver, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets offered
Ticket prices range from $60 to $100
Friday, September 25, 2015 – Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, Grand Theatre, Reno, NV. (with Clean Bandit)
No pre-sale or VIP Packages
Ticket prices range from $75 to $150
Sunday, September 27 – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU, San Diego, CA (with Clean Bandit)
No pre-sale or VIP Packages
Ticket prices range from $39.50 to $129.50
Thursday, October 1 – Duran Duran at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA. (with Chic featuring Nile Rodgers and Clean Bandit)
Platinum, Gold, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered ((Pre-sale 10am PST on June 22nd)
Ticket prices range from $35 to $185
Friday, October 2 – Duran Duran at The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA (with Chic featuring Nile Rodgers and Clean Bandit)
Silver, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from $39.50 to $129.50
Saturday, October 3, 2015 – Duran Duran at Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, CA (with Clean Bandit)
Silver, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from $95 to $185
U.K.
Friday, November 27 – Manchester Arena, Manchester
Platinum, Gold, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from £35 to £65
Saturday, November 28 -First Direct Arena, Leeds
Platinum, Gold, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from £35 to £65
Monday, November 30 -Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Pre-sale ticket with reduced service charges (no packages). General Admission
Ticket price: £49.50
Wednesday, December 2 – Brighton Centre, Brighton
Pre-sale ticket with reduced service charges (no packages). General Admission and seated.
Ticket prices range from £45 to £65
Friday, December 4 – Genting Arena, Birmingham
Platinum, Gold, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from £35 to £65
Saturday, December 5 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Silver, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from £35 to £65
Sunday, December 6 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
Silver, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from £35 to £65
Tuesday, December 8 – The O2, London
Platinum, Gold, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from £35 to £65
Wednesday, December 9 – Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth
Silver, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from £35 to £65
Friday, December 11 – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham
The floor in front of the stage is standing room only general admission. A limited number of those tickets will be available in our pre-sale with reduced service charges. In addition, we will offer excellent seated tickets as part of the bronze package. The only tickets offered in Nottingham will be the Bronze VIP Package (seated) and regular pre-sale ticket with reduced service charges (seated and general admission on the floor).
Ticket prices range from £35 to £65
Saturday, December 12 – Echo Arena, Liverpool
Silver, Bronze and regular pre-sale tickets will be offered
Ticket prices range from £35 to £65
I know you’re all wondering about those pre-sales. Well my friends, they are mostly on Monday, June 15, with the exception of the October 1 show at the Hollywood Bowl. That presale is on Monday June 22. So you’ve got the weekend to ponder, plot, and plan. Please note that the band is going through Crowdsurge for their ticket sales, and you absolutely must create your Crowdsurge account PRIOR to Mondays sales. Don’t wait!! Good luck!!
Not only do I think they did a good job in giving us the dates first (I want to give HUGE applause for this even though I am well-aware that there are people complaining that they still haven’t received the email. My question is this: are those people really and truly CURRENT members – because the few that have come to me asking for them have been people who realized that they’d allowed their membership to lapse.), I have to take pause on the fact that these dates are nearly ALL on the west coast…which quite honestly blows my mind to pieces. I don’t know how, I don’t know why…I only know that I’m going to take full advantage. (“Honey, I’m gonna be gone for a couple of weeks….hope you don’t mind…” as I sneak out the door in late September…)
Truth be told, when my friend Krista sent me a text message yesterday, I was in the middle of a final school meeting for my son. I heard my phone buzzing, and I just knew. I had to do major self-talking, as in: “you will NOT look at that phone, Rhonda. FOCUS. You are talking to Gavin’s teacher about his final grades. You are listening to Gavin talk about his year end projects…no, no, NO don’t think about Duran Duran right now. Do not even ponder over what could be going on. Just don’t!” As Gavin’s teacher wrapped up the meeting, I scrambled for my phone. Ridiculous. I hadn’t even left the building and had my phone in hand. I took one look at her text and sent the following:
“am going to scream and quietly rock in a corner.”
As I’ve been going on and on all year – my oldest is about to graduate. Her graduation party is at my house on Saturday. Two days from now (as I nervously glance at my clock because I should be cleaning right this very second). I will have 70 confirmed guests in my backyard, most of them teenagers, but still plenty of family. I have about 5,000 things to do, none of which include this band. Until yesterday. So…I told Amanda to let me know what shows we’re doing…because that’s how much I trust her. I’m just thrilled that we’re planning something, and on Sunday, after the party is over…I can focus on Duran Duran. YES!
I’ve already been asked if there will be Daily Duranie pre-parties and I think the answer is a resounding YES, when possible. We’d love to do them everywhere – but the fact is, Amanda and I are paying our own way, and both of us have “day” jobs. We are probably only doing three shows (out of these first initial dates), and where it is possible to meet up before or even after the show, we can certainly do that. We’ll have our own VIP cocktail party, rest assured! More info on those to come, so stay tuned!
Happy Weekend! I bid you farewell until Monday (assuming I’m still alive after this weekend’s graduation festivities!).
-R