Duran Duran - OVO Hydro 15/10/2026

A flawless, high-energy arena spectacle.

The build-up to the show was a masterclass in anticipation. The background lighting and heavy haze effect wrapped the arena in an atmospheric, cinematic spectacle as the introduction began. It started with a dramatic, symphonic instrumental version of their new single "Free to Love" that built powerfully for 40 seconds before drawing a massive wave of cheers from the crowd. After about 1 minute, the music dropped into a sudden, brief pause, only to kick back in with heavy, driving drum beats that triggered even more deafening cheers nearly 2 minutes into the countdown.

Duran Duran at OVO Hydro - photo by Stewart Fullerton

Finally, the tension broke perfectly as a voice echoed "please please tell me now," and Simon Le Bon took to the stage alongside the other members. Right at that exact second, you could hear fans in the crowd singing and shouting those exact words right along with him. The track completely exploded, sending the entire arena into a wave of dancing and bobbing as the synthesizers locked into the iconic, repeating melodic tune of "Is There Something I Should Know?".

Simon was full of energy, dancing away across the stage and instantly feeding off the crowds adrenaline. The performance reached another level during the tracks instrumental bridge, where a blazing saxophone part steals the spotlight, showing off a soaring, vibrant solo that perfectly amplified the songs classic 80s punch.


Duran Duran at OVO Hydro - photo by Stewart Fullerton

Despite it being a fully seated event, the crowd instantly arose to their feet the second the music kicked off and the energy didnt waver as they blasted directly into a thunderous performance of "The Wild Boys". The stage design remained highly immersive throughout, blanketed in a vibrant green and blue light array, complemented by playful cartoon graphics on the massive screens. The bands styling perfectly blended their signature New Wave legacy with casual flair, showcasing a sharp focus on their distinct jackets: the drummer kept it sleek and classic in all black, bass player John Taylor rocked a bold leopard print style, keyboardist Nick Rhodes stood out in a red funky jacket, and frontman Simon Le Bon stood out completely in a statement jacket adorned with palm trees paired with flashy silver trousers.

Lead singer Simon Le Bon wasted no time establishing an immediate connection with the crowd. "What do you reckon, Glasgow? Time to bond," he remarked as spotlights swept the arena and sleek, stylized Bond-girl graphics framed the centre screen, seamlessly transitioning the stage into a fiery visual landscape as they launched into their iconic 007 theme, "A View to a Kill".


Duran Duran at OVO Hydro - photo by Stewart Fullerton

During the massive chorus of "Dance into the fire," the graphics on the screen really came alive. The digital flames flared up with such intensity that it looked like the band members were physically standing inside the fire on the screen, creating a stunning, immersive optical illusion.

Throughout the entire set, Le Bon leaned heavily on his bass player, John Taylor, highlighting their decades of shared chemistry and effortless stage presence that kept the arenas energy running hot.

The energy was relentless. Le Bon playfully goaded the audience, shouting, "Looking good, sounding good... want you to make some noise!" When the crowd cheered, he laughed it off, indicating he didnt want just any noise—and immediately began howling himself to show them what he meant. The crowd happily took the cue, echoing wolf whistles and wild wolf noises back to the stage, which seamlessly merged into a nostalgic performance of "Hungry Like the Wolf" featuring a dancing, hungry animated wolf on screen.


Duran Duran at OVO Hydro - photo by Stewart Fullerton

Duran Duran themselves transported the audience straight back to the 1980s, magically recreating that retro vibe through the immense and vivid graphics especially during a brilliant mid-set delivery of "The Reflex". Simon Le Bon paused to give a warm thank you to their support act, Pigeon, before turning back to thank the Hydro audience for their incredible backing, which was met with massive cheering.The momentum carried perfectly into a live performance of their disco-infused new single, "Free to Love", proving their modern material holds up effortlessly against the classics

For an arena show, the overall set volume was remarkably well-balanced—fine on the ears and never overwhelmingly loud, though it didnt sacrifice any power where it counted.

Roger Taylor’s drums felt like a heartbeat driving right through the stadium, providing a heavy, uninterrupted pulse. John Taylor’s bass lines were a masterclass; during "The Chauffeur", a slow-building crescendo completely came alive the moment the bass kicked in.

Nick Rhodes—the "Queen of the shoulder pads"—was iconic behind the keyboard guards. True to form, he never once cracked a smile, but his hooks felt entirely timeless.


Duran Duran at OVO Hydro - photo by Stewart Fullerton

The show was not without minor technical hitches. There were a few visible mic issues for Le Bon at the start, and he was seen touching his earpiece throughout the night, suggesting he had trouble hearing his monitors. At one point, the video screen cut out entirely for about 30 seconds, but it was corrected immediately.


Duran Duran at OVO Hydro - photo by Stewart Fullerton

The nostalgia spikes were massive. The room absolutely exploded for "Planet Earth" (introduced perfectly with "Play the fkn bass, John Taylor!"), "Hungry Like the Wolf", and the roaring main-set closer a massive mashup of "Girls on Film / Psycho Killer".

One of the most poignant moments of the night arrived when Simon Le Bon made an emotional dedication to Ukraine and those facing struggles around the world, wishing them happiness and peace. Launching into a moving rendition of "Ordinary World," Le Bon looked out at the crowd and beautifully described the view as "a galaxy of light" as the arena filled with thousands of glowing phone torches.
Following the main sets flashy light display for "Psycho Killer", the band made a quick exit. Glasgow wasnt having it, immediately erupting into shouts, whistles, and the classic chant: "No Scotland, No Party!"


Duran Duran at OVO Hydro - photo by Stewart Fullerton

Duran Duran returned for a triumphant, two-song encore. The stripped-back, retro atmosphere carried perfectly as the crowd sang along to every word of "Save a Prayer".

Curiously, the legendary "Rio" initially felt a bit lost among the other massive songs in the setlist as the night reached its ultimate end. However, the energy completely shifted when Simon Le Bon blew three sharp whistles like a direct instruction to the band, letting the instruments take full control. He then ran to the back of the stage, disappearing entirely out of view behind the keyboards—perhaps for a well-deserved, quick rest.


Duran Duran at OVO Hydro - photo by Stewart Fullerton

Moments later, he reappeared at the front of the stage and started jumping up and down, instantly igniting the crowd and ensuring the concert ended on an absolute high. Decades into their legendary career, Duran Duran proved they still possess the ultimate formula for a flawless, high-energy arena spectacle.

Review by Laura Somerville, photography by Stewart Fullerton

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