Thursday, March 28, 2024

Music Park: Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers @ Verizon Center — 4/8/16

By Mickey McCarter

May 12, 2016


John Taylor signs my copy of his autobiography during a soiree at Il Gattopardo in New York City on Nov. 4, 2013. (Photo by Eddie Malluk)

Observers of Duran Duran, as well as the band itself, have often cited its primary inspirations as English glam band Roxy Music and New York disco funksters Chic. Listening to the sounds of boyhood friends Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, you can even discern how the primal elements of the two bands fused into the new wave gem of a band they started in 1978: Nick, stylish to synthy; John, fun to funky.

As John noted in his 2012 autobiography, In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran, his prized possession is the bass left to him by the late Chic bassist Bernard Edwards, who helped him form Power Station while on a break from Duran Duran circa 1985. It is of course then absolutely meta that Nile Rodgers, the artistic mastermind behind Chic, opened for the band on its latest tour, The Paper Gods Tour, undertaken in celebration of the 14th album by the UK trendsetters.

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Live Review: Duran Duran and Chic at Washington DC’s Verizon Center (4/8)

By Erica Bruce

April 10, 2016


It’s always interesting to see what songs at a concert get everyone to stand up in a seated venue. It’s even more interesting when it’s at an arena due to the sheer number of people. At Friday’s Duran Duran/Chic with Nile Rodgers show at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., very few seats were used given the incredible number of danceable songs in each band’s setlist.

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Nicky Romero is Joined by Nile Rodgers for "Future Funk"

By Idris Jones

February 18, 2016

Nicky Romero is one of the most recognizable names in the electronic dance music industry. Having opened up about his battle with anxiety in recent year's, his motivation to boldly experiment and continue pushing the boundaries of the genre as a whole have already reaped impressive results.

The track itself came to fruition by chance rather than choice. While Rodgers was busy exercising his recently repaired guitar, his experimental riff caught Nicky's ear who then proceeded to record it on his laptop for future use.

Recruiting the masterful talent of Nile Rodgers is arguably his most intriguing and alternative collaboration to date. It also takes the Frenchman headed into uncharted territory in terms of sound and portfolio. Inspired by the funk legend's distinctive touch, Nicky Romero has raised a few eyebrows with his most recent material "Future Funk".

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Lady Gaga and Nile Rodgers Will Pay Tribute To David Bowie At The Grammys

By Valerie Lee

February 2, 2016


Annually, the Holy Grail of music awards shows - The Grammys - has always honored the stately moment of tribute to musical icons and figures that passed away that year. 2016 has already seen a number of serious losses for the music world, with the passing of The Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey and the legendary David Bowie.

Bowie was an iconic individual not only for his music, but also his one-of-a-kind character and defiance of everything status quo. In today's modern pop world, few (if any) could match Bowie's unique boldness, but if anyone could, it would be Lady Gaga.

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David Bowie (1947-2016)

Dearest David, #RIP - Your life changed my life. LOVE FOREVER

Photo: Peter Gabriel

Songwriters Hall Of Fame 2016 Nominees For Induction Announced

New York, NY – October 6, 2015 - The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its slate of nominees to be elected for induction at its Annual Induction & Awards Gala on June 9, 2016, in New York City.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create music around the world. Eligible voting members will have until December 11, 2015 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees from a non-performing category, two from a performing category and one from a deceased category.

For information with which to join or renew as a voting member before November 2 in order to participate in this election, please go to songhall.org/join.

And the nominees are: (*Note that the five songs listed after each nominee are merely a representative sample of their extensive catalogs)

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Watch Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers Update Chic's 'I Want Your Love'

By Daniel Kreps

October 2nd, 2015

Lady Gaga and Nile Rodgers have collaborated on an updated take on Chic's 1978 hit "I Want Your Love," which was then retrofitted to serve as the soundtrack for designer Tom Ford's Spring/Summer 2016 collection. In the Nick Knight-directed video to accompany the Chic cover, models dance down the runway like it was a Soul Train dance line, with Gaga herself showing up to showcase some of Ford's skimpier designs.

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