Guess what I did this weekend? I went to see Duran Duran! Didn’t you hear about the show???
Gotcha. It wasn’t quite Duran Duran, although it was a pretty close facsimile thereof. This weekend I jumped at the opportunity to go and see Rio, the Duran Duran Tribute Band at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach. They played there a couple months back, and I was made a believer at that show. So when this show was announced, I was ready to go again. What’s more, I was given the opportunity to sit down with all five guys before the show and have an interview. This was a very big deal, because I’ve never done an in-person interview before. Of course, I didn’t tell them that as I sat down with my cheat-sheet of questions that I almost didn’t refer to at all and nearly forgot some of the questions I’d meant to ask. I just tried to stay composed and keep it more like a conversation, less like a drill session. Remarkably, the band didn’t throw me out, nor did they seem too terribly bored. I’m working on getting the interview transposed, and you’ll be seeing that interview in the next couple of weeks here on the blog.
Not only did I get an interview that night, but I also finally have my very own picture with the band. This is miraculous (for me)…and I think it’s rather fitting that my first picture with a band as a blogger for Daily Duranie (quite frankly its my first picture with any full band) is with Rio as opposed to the well, real band. That’s OK by me, and they were great sports. I dare say that “Nick” (he actually goes by “Click” in the group, but that’s just too confusing for my feeble brain) has a pout that rivals anything I’ve seen from the real John Taylor, and “Simon” is a better dancer…but you didn’t hear that from me.
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| From L:”Simon”, “Nick”, me, “John”, “Roger” and “Andy” |
While I’ll admit I’m among the converted for this band, and I’m happy to be of any help I can to these guys, I think it’s interesting to note just how difficult it really is for a tribute band to be taken seriously – or even to be embraced at all by the diehard fans out there. The subject came up quite a bit during our interview, and I can tell you – it took me going and actually seeing a show of theirs to really be won over.
No one wants to see their band, the band they’ve grown up listening to and (in my case) plastering their bedroom walls with pinups of turned into stinky cheese on stage. Nobody wants that, and yet there IS a certain schtick that goes along with being a tribute band in many, many cases. Yet, for the ardent few – there truly are tribute bands that take their craft seriously. The way I see it, there are two roads for a tribute band: one that makes a joke out of their predecessors, and one that truly treats their work as an art form and duplicates their work to the very best of their ability. Now, both ideas can work nicely. Some people enjoy going to see a swanky, over-the-top Elvis Presley impersonator. They want to laugh, they want that comedic tinge to the performance. Then there are others that want the true Elvis Presley experience brought “back to life” (yes, I really did need to use those words, thankyouverymuch). The same holds true with The Beatles. I’ve seen three Beatles tribute groups now. Two out of the three took their jobs very, very seriously – and the third made it a joke. I liked the first two best, but that’s just me. I know of people who were with me that absolutely loved the over-the-top jokes of that third group. So, it takes all kinds.
I suspect that the diehard fans amongst us tend to want to see as authentic of a performance as possible, and Rio very much has that about them. They aren’t trying to mutilate the bands music, they’re definitely not trying to turn Duran Duran into a synthetic, neon-fringed, circa 1980s “statement” of how pathetic that decade must have been. (I LIKED that decade!) They get up on the stage and for that performance, become Duran Duran. I fully believe that there is a place for that in this fandom, and believe me – I wouldn’t support them if I didn’t buy into what they were selling 150%. One doesn’t write a daily blog about being a Duran Duran fan and then go see a tribute band turn them into a joke with each performance. I stake my “incredibly illustrious” reputation as a blogger on that. (For those of you who do not understand sarcasm…that was definitely a dose of pure sarcasm right there.) In all seriousness though, I know what Duran fans are like. We’re just a little on the snobby-side about our band. Maybe ALL the way on the snobby side. It takes a lot to convince us to go to a tribute show without serious eye-rolling. I don’t honestly know if that’s just a US fan thing, a California fan thing, or if it’s a symptom of being a diehard fan across the board, but it absolutely exists. I know because I recognized it even in myself.
The Duran Duran fans I know are a tough group to crack. We’re opinionated. We’ve been around a very long time, and I think that to some small degree, there is a sense of ownership, entitlement and privilege about us that makes us incredibly snobby at times. Hell, we’ve had an extremely tough time just convincing people to part with some precious dollars and come spend a weekend having a party with other fans in Chicago. They’re not interested unless my name is Simon, John, Roger, or Nick….or at the very least…if I can get them there. That’s been a serious blow to my ego at times this year. No, not the part where my name isn’t LeBon, Taylor, Taylor or Rhodes (I gave that up a few decades back!)…the part where people aren’t even interested in coming to meet and hang out with other fans at a weekend that I’ve devoted much of my time to planning. They want the band, and only the band. They aren’t interested in spending time with other fans, and they’re not interested in making friends unless those friends can get them in front of the band. I can’t quite figure out the thinking there, and perhaps that’s a fault of my own rather than that of others. My own thoughts are that it’s not as though I’m destined to become a friend of the band…the real band in this case… if I can just get myself in the same room with them for long enough. Friendship and relationships aren’t something that can be forced. John Taylor or Nick Rhodes isn’t going to suddenly decide you’re OK to befriend if you’ve been outside their homes, or their hotels while on tour, or anywhere else, waiting for them every day for the last month, for example (I might argue that perhaps that would be reason to call for extra security). Even if we have a great moment with them while they’re on stage, that’s probably not going to be enough to make them think that we’ve got some amazing connection that is worth checking out. Those friendships happen organically, on their own, and not likely in situations where one has used pinups of said potential friends as bedroom wallpaper. I understand that, and I have much respect for that boundary. It’s a strange place to occupy, as much for me as the fan as it might be for them as the idol. In any case, trying to surmount that obstacle to convince people to come to the convention in Chicago has been incredibly tough, and at times I found myself really wondering if it was all worth it. So, when the band and their manager explain this as being a major challenge for them – convincing fans like me to even give them a chance – I completely understand. It’s difficult for us to convince fans to even give our BLOG a chance.
The only thing Amanda and I have done to combat the resistance, so to speak, has been to try our best to keep our heads down, keep writing, and stay out of the drama. Naturally, that doesn’t always work. Sometimes our subject matter causes a minor uproar, and sometimes we take natural offense to some of the conscientious objectors out there. I suspect that our route – to just keep going – is the route that Rio should take as well. The more they continue playing, the better skilled they will become, and word of mouth about that talent will spread. There is no way it cannot. Even so, friends are helpful. They become a source of support, and they make the journey fun. One of the questions I asked that night during the interview was about long term goals for the band, and one of the more insightful answers I received was from “Andy” (Chadwick Steinmetz), and basically he said that they’re having fun, and that it’s about the journey, not the destination.
I wholeheartedly agree.
-R
Great write up! Being a tribute artist myself (Bono of U2) that takes his job very seriously, I appreciate you not only giving the guys a chance, but also appreciating what they do. RIO are a great bunch of guys who are pouring their heart into being a class act tribute. I've had the honor of sharing the stage with them on a couple occasions now and they are all really nice guys and a lot of fun to be around and to watch work their magic.
I think they're great and there is definitely room for them. 🙂 I haven't seen your tribute yet – one of these days I hope to check it out! Thanks for reading, Jason. -R
I'm so glad you liked them as much as I do!! I have to admit when I first saw them, I was like pfft… whatever I'll go just for kicks!! But Once the opening chord of Planet Earth was played… I was hooked. I'm going to my third show next month. I LOVE LOVE them!! They are so nice and so much fun too!! 🙂
Loved your input. I do disagree slightly about the “snob” comment. Yes…many of the Duranies out there are pretty snobby but, there are the few that aren't in the slightest…like ME 🙂
I grew up years ago, took down those posters (although i still have a decent collection of buttons hidden away). For me, it's ALL about the music. Any way I can get it.
As for Rio… love that group of guys. Best DD tribute I've seen so far. As long as they keep performing, I'll keep seeing them!
Btw….so nice finally meeting you. Hope to enjoy more music with you soon!
Ummmm.
…totally just read, 'those friendships happen orgasmically'.
Shawna – thanks for commenting! You have to understand that here on the blog, I'm speaking very generally – and quite frankly there are only a few Duranies at this point who have taken the time to see the band, such as yourself. 🙂
I really like the guys too, and it certainly doesn't hurt that they are genuinely nice people, too! 🙂 -R
No comment for your dirty little thoughts, Miss Jonee. 😀 -R
Nicest guys, and yes – they were really good when I saw them at Saint Rocke. I'd give the edge to the first show (which is reviewed in an earlier blog here on Daily Duranie), but this one was still fun. I really would like to get myself to a show where they do a full set, though…and I'm still saying they need to do Secret Oktober or Late Bar. 😀 (Listen ONE of these bands needs to play the good stuff!!!) -R
Great blog R. I am happy there is a tribute band out there. If it gets the music out there – it's a win/win for the band AND the fans. If RIO is having fun doing it – more power to them! It takes a lot of guts to get up on stage to do this and I admire them for their work. And I haven't heard one note played by them. Fans need to open up their minds and ears to new things. I know that's a hard pill to swallow….but new is good.
I cannot wait to see you guys next month. To be honest, if the band was going to show up, I wouldn't go. I want to see my friends and have fun.
Lisa
It would be a very different type of convention if the band were going to be there, but there's worry of that. It is going to be a TON of fun and I can't wait to see everyone! -R
I meant NO worry. NO WORRY. Last thing I need is people thinking I believe they might show. They won't and that's OK – it's for the FANS, not the band! 😀 -R