Duran Duran Danse MacabreDuran Duran have announced their 16th studio album: Danse Macabre, in time for this year’s Halloween.  The record is due for release on October 27th on Tape Modern via BMG and available to pre-order here.

Catalysed by one special live performance that Duran Duran filmed in Las Vegas on October 31st of last year, Danse Macabre promises to be the soundtrack to their ultimate Halloween party.

Title track Danse Macabre is released today as the first of three brand new songs. The song features former bandmate Warren Cuccurullo on guitar in his first collaboration with the band since 2001.

Speaking about Danse Macabre, Nick Rhodes says: “The song celebrates the joy and madness of Halloween. It is the title track of our forthcoming album, which gathers together an unusual mix of cover versions, reworked Duran Duran songs and several new compositions.

“The idea was born out of a show we played in Las Vegas on October 31st, 2022. We had decided to seize the moment to create a unique, special event…the temptation of using glorious gothic visuals set to a dark soundtrack of horror and humour was simply irresistible.

“That evening inspired us to explore further and to make an album, using Halloween as the key theme. The record metamorphosed through a pure, organic process, and not only was it made faster than anything since our debut album, it has also resulted in something none of us could have ever predicted.

“Emotion, mood, style and attitude have always been at the heart of Duran Duran’s DNA, we search for light in the darkness and darkness in the light, and I feel we have somehow managed to capture the essence of all of that in this project.”

Simon Le Bon elaborates: “It’s about a crazy Halloween party. It’s supposed to be fun!”

John Taylor adds: “After all these years, Danse Macabre offers an interesting insight into the personality of the band. The music packs a real punch.”

Fans can also look forward to Duran Duran’s Halloween covers of 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.

Duran Duran Danse Macabre
Duran Duran Danse Macabre cover

As well as Warren Cuccurullo, the album includes more special collaborations with former Duran Duran band member Andy Taylor, producer, guitarist and composer Nile Rodgers, Victoria De Angelis of Måneskin, and producers Josh Blair and Mr Hudson.

Andy Taylor first joined Duran Duran in 1980, co-writing and playing guitar on their first three studio albums: Duran Duran (1981), Rio (1982), and Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983), before leaving the group to pursue a solo career. 16 years later he returned for 2004’s Astronaut, before parting company once again with the other four original members in 2006.

With Andy’s departure, Warren Cuccurullo joined the band full time in 1989, contributing both song writing and guitars to the albums Big Thing (1988), Liberty (1990), The Wedding Album (1993), Thank You (1995), Medazzaland (1997) and Pop Trash (2000).

Fast forward to 2023 and Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo’s presence on Danse Macabre captures the true spirit of the album – a celebration of the raw energy and sense of fun that comes when friends make music together in a room.

As well as a second collaboration with Warren Cuccurullo on Love Voudou, Danse Macabre will feature newly recorded versions of Nightboat and fan favourite Secret Oktober 31st (both featuring Andy Taylor on guitar).

The song made its first appearance as b-side to the 7” single Union of The Snake and is now, 40 years later, seeing its first ever physical release on a Duran Duran studio album.

Danse Macabre will be released on 27th October via Tape Modern for BMG with artwork featuring images adapted from a collection of authentic vintage séance photos sourced by Nick Rhodes at auction.

It will be available on Black 2LP and CD, with a limited edition smog 2LP available through HMV and indie stores. It will also be available on high-res blu-ray audio, exclusive to Super Deluxe Edition.

The band’s official artist store features exclusive merchandise bundles, a limited Translucent Galaxy 2LP and cassette. Pre-order here.

DURAN DURAN – DANSE MACABRE TRACKLIST

 

  1. Nightboat
  2. Black Moonlight
  3. Love Voudou
  4. Bury A Friend
  5. Supernature
  6. Danse Macabre
  7. Secret Oktober 31st
  8. Ghost Town
  9. Paint It Black
  10. Super Lonely Freak
  11. Spellbound
  12. Psycho Killer (feat. Victoria De Angelis)
  13. Confession in the Afterlife