Duran Duran celebrates Halloween all-year-round with DANSE MACABRE
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The band had such a fun time at a Halloween show last year, they decided to make a whole album dedicated to that time of year…
The album includes three new songs, some remakes of Duran Duran classics, plus covers of songs by Billie Eilish, Talking Heads, The Rolling Stones, Rick James, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cerrone, and The Specials.
The band Duran Duran returned to the airwaves with the Halloween-themed album Danse Macabre. The 16th studio album for the British band, the record features three new tracks, plus cover songs, as well as reimagined versions of some of their own older songs. Danse Macabre also featured the return of band members Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo plus guests Nile Rodgers and Victoria De Angelis.
Although Duran Duran has long been famous for their hit pop songs, over their long history, they have also turned out a number of songs that have been described as “dark,” “haunting,” and even “Gothic.”
Drummer Roger Taylor says there has always been a “darker underbelly” to the band. “People kind of got blinded by the poppier songs and the groovier songs and the teen following that we had at that time,” he was quoted in Forbes. “It’s been interesting to really tap into that dark side and really have a look at some of the songs that influence that dark side.”
The cover songs on the album include Duran Duran’s take on Billie Eilish’s ‘Bury A Friend’, Talking Heads’ ‘Psycho Killer’ (feat. Victoria De Angelis of Måneskin), The Rolling Stones’ ‘Paint It Black’, the Rick James-inspired ‘Super Lonely Freak’, Siouxsie and the Banshees’ ‘Spellbound’, Cerrone’s ‘Supernature’ and The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’.
Below, find three music videos—plus you can even play the whole album!
The beginnings of the new album
The origin of Danse Macabre begins in Las Vegas, October 31, 2022. Duran Duran—Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor—donned full fancy dress, cast a horde of ghouls on a stage complete with 20-foot-high skeletons, tombstones, cobwebs and coffins. The set included a parade of rarities and special covers. The band and their audience had so much fun that they decided to put the set to tape, creating a worldwide Halloween event for all Duran Duran fans to enjoy.
Danse Macabre follows a wave of landmark achievements for Duran Duran. Their 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame marked yet another career peak with the year already having seen the band headline London’s Hyde Park, perform at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, close the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in their home town of Birmingham, and a headline tour across North America which included sold out shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden and three nights at the Hollywood Bowl.
Duran Duran - “PSYCHO KILLER” (feat. Victoria DeAngelis) [Visualizer]
Duran Duran’s latest single from Danse Macabre is their cover of the Talking Heads hit “Psycho Killer.” Behind the unique visual animation of the music video, the song also features bass from guest player Victoria De Angelis of Italian rock band Måneskin. In a statement, she explained her surprise when she got a call from Duran Duran’s John Taylor—who told her he was working on a cover of “Psycho Killer,” and asked whether she would like to play along. “It was insane being asked by one of the greatest bass players ever to play one of my favorite songs with Duran Duran,” De Angelis said. “Absolutely insane.”
The original song made its debut on the Talking Heads’ first studio album Talking Heads: 77 (1977). The hit “Psycho Killer” revolves around lyrics that represent the thoughts of a serial killer. Originally released as a single December 1977, many wondered whether “Psycho Killer” intended to tie-in with the recent Son of Sam serial killings. However, the band said the song was not inspired by recent events—the weird timing of the single was simply “macabre synchronicity.”
Duran Duran “Black Moonlight” (Official Music Video)
Duran Duran Perform “Black Moonlight” on The Graham Norton Show
Duran Duran - Nile Rodgers on creating “Black Moonlight”
The second of three brand-new songs on the Danse Macabre album, “Black Moonlight” sees Duran Duran reunited with long-time friend and collaborator Nile Rodgers for a timeless display of dance-rock glamour. Fuelled by an instantly catchy bass line and infectious guitar hook, while Nick Rhodes’ synths sound as if cut straight from a sixties B-movie horror, the song also features former band-member Andy Taylor on guitar.
Speaking about “Black Moonlight,” keyboardist Nick Rhodes said in a press release: “Nile Rogers is a force of nature. When we get into a room, we start playing, and magic happens. Nile always says that CHIC is his first band, and Duran Duran is his second. Thematically, I personally prefer the moon to the sun. Simon took the idea and ran with it.”
Simon Le Bon elaborates: “BLACK MOONLIGHT is this classic Duran Duran-Nile Rodgers collaboration. When Nile started playing his guitar in the studio, he really inspired everyone with his riff, and the song just kind of wrote itself.”
Duran Duran’s “Danse Macabre” Video Is a Grave Dance Party
In the music video for “Danse Macabre,” the album’s first single, the animated video shows a haunting dance party as several noteworthy monsters are “monster-mashing” while Duran Duran plays the song. “I like the idea that if you can imagine something you can make it come to life, well at least in animated form,” said keyboardist Nick Rhodes in a publicity statement. “With the ‘Danse Macabre’ video…we began by deciding who would be on the ultimate Halloween party guest list, then a selection of witches, mythical beasts, vampires, and demons were rapidly developed, using the latest AI animation techniques.” The song also celebrated the return of guitarist Warren Cuccurullo.
The whole album Danse Macabre by Duran Duran
“Danse Macabre is a fiendishly fun collection that only the undead would remain unmoved by.”—Record Collector
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Further reading online
Duran Duran On ‘Danse Macabre,’ The Band’s New Halloween-Inspired LP (Forbes)
Rock’s 30 Creepiest Songs (Ultimate Classic Rock)
Duran Duran reunites with Andy Taylor for best song in a decade on 'Danse Macabre' album (USA Today)
The Top 10 Classic Rock Halloween Songs (Radio X)
Music Review: Celebrate the spooky season with a Duran Duran album, 'Danse Macabre' (ABC News)
18 of the darkest, most terrifying prog rock songs ever made (Louder Sound)
Duran Duran’s ‘Danse Macabre’ Video Is a Graveyard Smash (Rolling Stone)
Best Halloween songs, including Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Michael Jackson (USA Today)
Top 30 Halloween Songs (2023 Edition) – Watch & Listen! (Rock Cellar Magazine)
Interview: Duran Duran's Roger Taylor on Danse Macabre (The A.V. Club)
31 Killer Halloween Rock Songs (Den of Geek)
Duran Duran – Nick Rhodes on Their New Halloween-Themed Album “Danse Macabre” (Under the Radar Magazine)
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