Duran Duran set to headline the opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games

Duran Duran are set to headline the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham – with the band returning to their home city for the star-studded show

The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next week will be headlined by Duran Duran.

The 80s chart-toppers – singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor – will take to the stage just weeks after performing at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

For Duran Duran it will also be a return to their beloved home city where they were formed decades earlier, as they join a slew of stars for the opening show at the Alexander Stadium.

Exciting! The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next week will be headlined by Duran Duran (Simon Le Bon and John Taylor are pictured)

Speaking ahead of the event, frontman Simon said: ‘The Games is a momentous event for the great city of Birmingham. 

‘And we in Duran Duran are honoured to be a part of it in our home town.’ 

Roger added: ‘It is a true honour to be part of a global event that will bring sportspeople of all cultural backgrounds around the world together as one. Another milestone in a most incredible year for us.’

It’s nearly here! The Commonwealth Games will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, July 28, in front of a crowd of 30,000 spectators (Gymnast Max Whitlock is pictured)

The Commonwealth Games will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, July 28, in front of a crowd of 30,000 spectators.

The event, which will be broadcast live on BBC One, is expected to draw a TV audience of more than one billion.

The opening ceremony will also feature Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Iommi and acclaimed saxophonist Soweto Kinch will lead a “dream sequence” piece, titled Hear My Voice, based on the lead track from the 2020 film Trial Of The Chicago Seven.

Anticipated: Duran Duran take to the stage just weeks after performing at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking a return to their home city

A choir of more than 700 individuals, drawn from 15 choirs from across the West Midlands, will also be involved in the event.

They will be led by Carol Pemberton, who is music director of Black Voices, one of Europe’s leading female a cappella groups.

It comes just days after Duran Duran headlined the final performance of the British Summer Time festival to a crowd of 65,000 in London’s Hyde Park. 

Coming soon! The event, which will be broadcast live on BBC One, is expected to draw a TV audience of more than one billion

It also comes as he band are set to be honoured as inductees for the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the 37th Annual Ceremony, taking place November 5 at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles. 

With a career that has seen more than 100 million record sales worldwide, 21 UK Top 20 tunes and 18 American hit singles, making them one of the most successful and influential bands of all time.

Few have celebrated such global success and still hold major headlining status. This is Duran Duran’s BST Hyde Park debut, and their only London show for 2022. Their much-lauded live shows blend classics including ‘Hungry Like the Wolf,’ ‘Pressure Off,’ ‘Rio,’ ‘Girls on Film,’ ‘(Reach Up For The) Sunrise’, ‘A View to a Kill’ and countless others with the best new fan favourites, including material from new album, FUTURE PAST.

Iconic: It comes just days after Duran Duran headlined the final performance of the British Summer Time festival to a crowd of 65,000 in London’s Hyde Park 

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