Duran Duran's charity concert at Villa Park 1983

On 23 July 1983, English pop rock band Duran Duran staged an open air benefit concert at Villa Park, Birmingham, England in front of over 18,000 people who paid £8.50 a ticket to raise money for Mencap.^[1][2] It was one of only two concerts that summer by the band, the other being on 20 July before the Prince and Princess of Wales at London's Dominion Theatre.^[3]

Duran Duran's charity concert at Villa Park 1983

Benefit concert by Duran Duran
Official programme cover
Location	Birmingham, England
Venue	Villa Park
Date(s)	23 July 1983 (1983-07-23)
Duration	4 hours
Supporting acts	Prince Charles and the City Beat Band Robert Palmer
Attendance	18,000+[1]

Birmingham was chosen as the venue, as it was where the band members' first met and formed the group.^[4] The concert and subsequent shows in the area have always been regarded as a "homecoming".^[5] This event was particularly special to Roger Taylor as he once had ambitions to be Aston Villa's goalkeeper and was a regular spectator at the ground.^{[citation needed]}

Background

The show started at 6 PM when the host, BBC Radio 1 presenter Peter Powell, introduced the opening act "Prince Charles and the City Beat Band", which was followed by Robert Palmer who included the songs "Johnny and Mary" and "Some Guys Have All the Luck" in his performance.^[6] Friendships from this concert helped Palmer, in late 1984, to join members of Duran Duran as lead singer of the super group the Power Station.^[7]

Finally, Duran Duran took to the stage at 20:40 hours beginning their opening song as two giant black curtains slid open revealing them on a brightly lit stage with a backdrop consisting of six inflatable Roman-style pillars designed by Henry Thompson. The band performed the following:^{[citation needed]}

1. "Is There Something I Should Know?"
2. "Hungry Like the Wolf"
3. "Union of the Snake"
4. "Lonely in Your Nightmare"
5. "New Religion"
6. "Night Boat"
7. "Friends of Mine"
8. "Save a Prayer"
9. "Planet Earth"
10. "My Own Way"
11. "Hold Back the Rain"
12. "Careless Memories"
13. "Rio"
14. "Fun Time"
15. "Girls on Film"

The concert finished at 22:00 hours with an after show "homecoming" party held at the city's Rum Runner nightclub.^[8]

The programme which consists of 11 glossy double sided flyers with pictures on each side housed in a white glossy folder cost £2.00.

Band line-up

• Simon Le Bon – vocals
• John Taylor – bass guitar
• Andy Taylor – guitar
• Nick Rhodes – keyboards
• Roger Taylor – drums

References

1. "Nostalgia: When Duran Duran rocked Aston Villa ground". Sunday Mercury. 18 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
2. Powell, Fiona Russell. "Simon Le Bon – The Face Interview". fionarussellpowell.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
3. Rhino (19 July 2022). "July 20, 1983: Princess Diana attended the Prince's Trust Rock Gala at London's Dominion Theatre. The show was headlined by Duran Duran, who met and chatted with the young royal. This was the first Duran Duran show after The Rio Tour finished, held during a period when the band had their first UK no.1 single with IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW?". Retrieved 29 August 2024 – via Facebook.
4. Laws, Roz (15 July 2008). "Duran Duran@Birmingham NEC". Sunday Mercury. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
5. "Duran Duran set for home town gig". BBC News Online. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
6. "Robert Palmer Biography". sing365.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
7. "Power Station". '80s Music Lyrics. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
8. "History of the Band!: 1983". Retrieved 26 July 2009 – via WebCite.