Duran Duran have announced that they will release a new Halloween-themed album in October called ‘Danse Macabre’. The thirteen track (obviously) record features new songs, spine-chilling covers and reworked versions of the spookiest songs from the band’s back catalogue.
“The idea was born out of a show we played in Las Vegas on 31 Oct 2022”, says keyboardist Nick Rhodes. “We had decided to seize the moment to create a unique, special event – the temptation of using glorious gothic visuals set to a dark soundtrack of horror and humour was simply irresistible”.
Elaborating further, frontman Simon Le Bon barks: “It’s about a crazy Halloween party. It’s supposed to be fun!”
Meanwhile, bassist John Taylor reckons the album “offers an interesting insight into the personality of the band”, while drummer Roger Taylor adds that it takes a journey “through the darker side of our inspirations into where we’re at in 2023” in a way that may leave you “with a deeper understanding of how Duran Duran got to this moment in time”.
Covers on the album include Billie Eilish’s ‘Bury A Friend’, Siouxsie And The Banshee’s ‘Spellbound’, ‘Paint It Black’ by The Rolling Stones, ‘Ghost Town’ by The Specials, and Talking Heads’ ‘Psycho Killer’, featuring Victoria De Angelis of Måneskin.
Other guests on the album include Nile Rodgers and the band’s former guitarists Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo. It also reunites them with producer Mr Hudson, who they previously worked with on their 2015 record ‘Paper Gods’.
The album is out on 27 Oct. Out now is the first single and title track ‘Danse Macabre’, which Rhodes says “celebrates the joy and madness of Halloween”.
