At the End of the Drive

Last weekend, I discovered that Duran Duran is, indeed, back in the studio working on their next project.  Now, we don’t really know if the plan is to complete a whole album, a mini-album like an EP or something completely different.  Many of us assume that the plan is for them to create an album, #DD15, if you like.  I’m good with going with that plan.  I, like many/most/all fans, am all for a full album of new Duran music.  In thinking about this announcement, it got me thinking.  Where do the shows in 2019 come in?  Am I anxious for new music?  Do they feel like they finish a project completely before starting the next?  Is that the way to do it, if so?

Initially when I heard that Duran was getting started on the next project, I thought about how the band finishes one project before beginning the next.  For example, we know that they worked on All You Need Is Now before Paper Gods.  The shows in 2011 and 2012, for instance, belong to the AYNIN era.  As the band now enters the studio, many assume that the Paper Gods era is over and a new one will begin.  I think that.  Then, I wonder where the upcoming shows in 2019 fit.  Are those part of Paper Gods or #DD15?  Did we have shows like this after Astronaut or Red Carpet Massacre or AYNIN?  Without looking, I bet we did and that we lumped any of those shows in with the previous era.  Is that fair?  Not sure.  I wonder if we do this because of the fact that they didn’t or won’t be playing new songs.

No matter how we categorize these upcoming shows or how we label the studio work that is going on, I can’t help but think about the idea that there are beginning and ending marks to each Duran era/project.  Yes, as I just pointed out, the ending point might not be as clear cut as you might think.  Still, their job, their history can be clearly divided between  album projects.  I wonder if they prefer that, if they like that aspect of their job.  After all, they finished shows in 2017 and took a significant break from what I saw.  From my perspective, this is probably a nice way to have a career.  They write an album before touring it.  After that, they take a break.  Sure, some might say that the constant cycle could be boring or could result in losing creativity but it seems like a good way to sustain themselves long term.

In many ways, my life runs in a similar cycle.  I have a school year in which there will be consistent activities before I get a break in the summer.  Similarly, campaigns work that way as well in that once election day is over, there is a brief time of reflection and clean up before a break.  Interestingly enough, other projects like our writing projects haven’t really worked that way for the most part.  Would it be better if they did?  Would it be more positive for us to write for six to nine months then take a break?  I don’t know but I appreciate that Duran’s return to the studio has got my mind thinking a bit.

All this leads me to wonder if I need Duran Duran in the way that I did in 2012 or 2015.  I remember feeling so anxious to get my hands on new Duran music then.  Looking back, I’m sure there were a couple of factors for my desperateness.  First, in 2012, I was looking back to the All You Need Is Now era and realized that I had an absolutely amazing time.  I simply didn’t want it to end.  In all seriousness, I felt like Rhonda and I had worked hard to make this blog something and had started to hold fan events.  It felt like we were onto something and having a break was going to kill it.  I worried if this blog could be sustained without new Duran activity.  On top of that, my Duran-related activities helped me ignore some trauma.

Now, though, I feel like I view my fandom differently.  First of all, I don’t worry about the blog as much.  I know that we can blog for long periods without new Duran material.  I trust in us more now.  Second, I think I see fandom as my place of fun, my escape.  Of course, there are still things that I would love to do surrounding our writing or more fan events.  That said, I have other activities in my life that need my attention, too.  Life does not stand still and I cannot either.  So what does this mean in terms of new Duran music?  Simple.  I cannot wait for the beginning of the next era!  It means new, fabulous music as well as good times!  Who wouldn’t look forward to all that?!  But…I don’t need it desperately as I might of in the past.  Nope.  I am going to be patient and busy with the rest of my life until I can celebrate new Duran.  I look forward to that.

-A