Live music

IN the ’80s they said their ambition was to be dancing “when the bomb dropped”. The threat of World War III may have receded, but Duran Duran are still dancing, 30 years on, and so are their fans. At the O2 in Dublin on Tuesday night, the largely 40- and 50-something crowd were in festive form, with a fine mix of Santa and the DD staple — trilby hats — in equal measure.

Simon le Bon bounded onto the stage in silver sparkly trousers, looking slim and fit for 53, thrilling the largely female audience. With two of the three original Taylors, and Nick Rhodes, in tow, Simon proved that the ’80s pop kings never went away. Kicking off with Before the Rain, the first part of the show saw the running order liberally sprinkled with new songs, causing a few furrowed brows among the “here for the hits” audience.