$2000 to meet Duran Duran?

[Electroswank]

They have gone mad. I got an email today with the Vegas presale password and this message:

http://www.duranduran.com/images/banner2_rev5.gif

ok... i don't even know where to begin with what is wrong with this. They are CLEARLY out of touch with reality. What fan has that kind of disposible cash? If I did, I would be on my way to see all six of the Japan shows they are doing.

Pardon me while I rant for a while...
I have waited for 18 years to see the original five play together on a live stage again - I thought it would be really cool and a way to celebrate with all the other suckers like me who stuck with them for all these years when other people couldn't have given 2 $hits about them... now they want to put a price on my fandom and loyalty.

If they really wanted to make money they could have done more reasonable things like maybe have a meet and greet in the hotel for 50-100 bucks to get in but you get a photo with them and an autograph or something or maybe do a show that is just for fans on the list in a way smaller venue and do a meet and greet there and make those ticket costs around 100-200 bucks... that way at least they would be making money and making more then just 50 VIP's happy for $2000 bucks a peice.

Someone on a Duran fan message board had this to say:
"Back then they appreciated us. Now it's as if they expect us to say "thank you for getting back together and playing these shows. No price is too high to see you all together again."

When what they should be saying is "Thank you for your loyalty. This reunion is our way of saying thanks for sticking it out with us"."

It's just so irratating and a shame that this reunion is turning into being about a making a ton of money and not about what it should be. Not that i expected a completely genunine attitude about it - but I didn't think it would be this rediculous.

They're making it so that you have to be rich to meet them and i think thats very unfair and very elitist. Amy and I both are spending a small fortune going to the Costa Mesa show - we got great seats and a mini vacation out of it .... but both our tickets, air and hotel combined isn't close to 2000 dollars!! More power to the @ss holes who spend that much for 10 mins with the band who Simon may decide to treat like crap (as he is known to do with fans sometimes) and who have the priviledge of getting in early to the venue only to have a slew of angry duranies push them out of the way to get to the front of the stage...

I've met the band... a number of times and for FREE. While i never met Roger or Andy, i'll find a way to meet them with out forking out that much.

xo, Anna

[~platformone]

Truth is there are a lot of die hard fans who bought and listen and liked all the albums from the last 15 years or more. We deserve a thank you, rather than a "thank us'.

Showing fans appreciation isn't what it used to be. It's a sad state of affairs when something that (as Anna said) we waited 18 years for, is more a cause of disgust than delight.

... no more words.

[~amyagogo]

I completely and totally agree...can't say fairer than that!!

*high fives*

They should have made the Vegas show like i said: Celebrities ONLY cos a)i don't care WHAT nobody podunk fan shells out $2K, the guys aren't really going to give a shyte who they are, b)The Joint might as well be a bar at this point cos it's going to be filled with pre-menopausal lushes clammoring to get Simon and John sweat flung their way, and c)it's indeed a slap in the face to those of us who have spent thousands of hard earned cash for the slightest bit of music, i.e. IMPORTS , and supporting their a$$es through the Warren years!

And for the record, although i'm NOT the biggest Warren fan, i give him props for holding Duran together for the past 15 years...

Bottom Line: for $2000, i better get a vial of sperm from the Duran of my choice extracted the ol' fashioned way!!!

Damn them and their EVILNESS!!!!

[test]

I cannot even begin to understand *why* they are doing this???? This whole thing just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Sigh!

[Electroswank]

Bottom Line: for $2000, i better get a vial of sperm from the Duran of my choice extracted the ol' fashioned way!!!

hehe yep... now THAT would be a good reason to shell out that much cash.

bah, you joke but thats exactly what they are doing ... prostituting themselves like common high priced whores... its really pissing me off.

[~amyagogo]

Oh, i'm NOT joking...i would want a Duran spawn out of this mess if i were stupid enough to pay that...i'm sure i look stupid enough to most people for flying across the country already!!

If they want the fans to foot the bill for their upcoming full-blown tour then they should just say it...cos you know us psychos would do it!!!

:laugh:

But come on, treat us with some respect, for fook's sake!

Hell hath no fury like a Duranie scorned!!!

[~arronc]

Id excpect them to throw in stephen duffy as well for that sort of money ;)

[~Ninthwaver]

"Id excpect them to throw in stephen duffy as well for that sort of money "

LOL! Yeah....

Saw this on the rope this morning, the whole thing is sad, sad, sad... I dunno, maybe they were heavy in to tech stocks and need to save for retirement.

The whole reunion thing is turning into one long bad joke. They can't get a deal because they want the kind of money they might have gotten for a record in say 1985... the new songs are ,sorry to say, crap- not sure what Rhodes is doing but he obviously misses Warren's uh, input or soemthing...

They would do well to bring back Duffy and make a total art album or something that would at least be interesting and not this bland crap. I downloaded one of their new songs (I think it was on their site as a free stream) and listened for a moment, then I went back to writing while still listening. I had to laugh when 5 minutes later I realized the song had stopped. It was that bland and unmemorable that I had FORGOTTEN IT WAS PLAYING!

Still, one of my best memories was seeing them live at the Roanoke Civic Center for the Union of the Snake tour...

[~arronc]

I wish Nick wasnt messing around wasting his time on this, and would get on the case with a new devils album.

That was better than anything DD have done since Rio.

[Electroswank]

Dave, don't make me fight you in public - i like you too much :)

"the new songs are ,sorry to say, crap"

Firstly, this thread isn't about how fantastic the new songs will be (yes i CAN say that - being that i have heard most of the new songs in demo form)

It's not about the Devils or bashing the Duran Duran for thier music. Its' about paying to have VIP access to meet them... i know it's Friday the 13th but - this isn't the velvetrope.com so no need to randomly bash duran duran.

"They would do well to bring back Duffy and make a total art album or something that would at least be interesting and not this bland crap."

ok, can i just tell you what would happen if this was a reality....................... NOTHING. No one in the US cares about Steven Duffy and art albums don't sell as well as pop albums here come on Dave you should know this. Why do i even have to type the words out?

It would be a waste of time and money. You don't even know what all the other new stuff sounds like, its 20 times more interesting then what is on thier site. Which, btw, is like a 45 second streamed loop.

Anyway, Arcadia beats the Devils - :p so there.

[~Jupiter 4]

I would only pay $2k if they threw Simon Colley and Adam Ant, a broken alternator, and Nick's old Crumar performer. Now that's a freakin' package!


Seriously though, for someone who hasn't seen a concert since 1986, I was a bit taken aback by the ticket prices for Costa Mesa, but worth it for the original lineup...

but for this kind of cash, I could fly to London, catch Swing Out Sister playing at the jazz club, buy a keyboard or two on E-Bay, see the Costa Mesa show and ABC this September, and not have to bear 102 degree heat in Sin City!

[~Human Clone]

Just for arguments sake, normally there is a charity attached to these type of things. If the guys are doing this for the sake of commerce, then yeah it is a cash grab and a slap in the face to their fans.

If I was a big enough fan (I'm not) and if I had the money (I don't), I may consider something like this. It would be a heck of memory, you would probably never get another chance to meet your idols. Except for Anna she gets to meet everybody (lucky). :)

[Electroswank]

Just for arguments sake, normally there is a charity attached to these type of things. If the guys are doing this for the sake of commerce, then yeah it is a cash grab and a slap in the face to their fans.

i actually wouldn't mind if it were for charity either - unfortunately its not.

i haven't met everyone yet ;) but i'm working on it!

xo, anna

[~Destral]

102 vegas heat? Ahahaha. It's already been higher then 110 this spring and its barely June.

[~Jupiter 4]

Maybe I should build a Jupiter package! It'll only cost $5.00 to meet me and you can take as many pictures as you like. I'll laminate one of my business cards and you can hang it around your neck.

You must arrange your own transportation to the Barstow Chicken Shack, where I'll be signing autographs.

[~kellyrenee]

Ahhhh whatever! DURAN DURAN SUCKS!


JK, Electro! heehee!

I LOVE this band and am highly disappointed to hear this. That sucks, but you and Amy will still get to go and hear the kickass music of a kickass band in kickass seats! Plus, like you said, it's a vacation. Make the most of it (as I'm sure you will) and when you get back to NYC, write a letter to the band. =)

[test]

My friend, Mario posted this on one of the Duran boards. I am not sure which one it is though. It totally made me laugh. He's a total smartass, but it soo fits! Here it is:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:



It has come to our attention that there are some fans who are unable to purchase the Deluxe Travel Package due to their current state of finances.

The band is very concerned by the prospect of their fans putting themselves into abject poverty by purchasing the "premium" deal that they might not be able to afford.

It is with those thoughts that John, Nick, Simon, Roger and Andy are excited to announce the Travel Package for those who wish to purchase it.

The cost of this new package is a very affordable $250.00

I know you're all saying Please Please Tell Me Now what's in this new package?

Well here are the details:

1) Bus fare to and from Las Vegas from your home town.

2) Three nights accomidations at the Las Vegas Best Western. (Discounts will be given for those who choose to share a room)

3) Three days of all you can eat Buffets at a super low price of $5.99 per buffet. (Our thanks to the good folks at Circus Circus for providing the discount coupons)

4) A $30 dollar Ticketmaster Gift Card to offest the cost of the concert ticket (We here at dd.com have heard some complaints about ticket prices)

5) A bottle of Bullfrog 100 Sunblock (we don't want you getting burned out there in the hot sun)

6) One 16 oz. bottle of Arrowhead Water (we'd hate it if you lost your place in line due to dehydration)

7) One restroom voucher that would enable you to keep your place in line in case nature "calls". (Our thanks to the staff at The Hard Rock Hotel for this service)

One trial size deodorant (after all day in the sun, we don't want you stinking the place up now do we?)

9) A Las Vegas Metro Bus pass (How else are you going to get to the show?)

This package does not come with a meet and greet party.

However the boys say that if you see them leaving the venue, they will be more than happy to wave to you as their limo leaves the Hard Rock for their post show reception with those who purchased the Deluxe package.


And this message from the boys:

HOPE TO SEE YOU IN VEGAS!!!!!!!!