Birmingham band Duran Duran honored in home city before Utilita Arena gig

Legendary Birmingham band Duran Duran set the stage on fire in their home city with their brilliant performance on Friday (May 5) just like they have been doing for several decades.

But, their celebration for the night started earlier when the Lord Mayor of Birmingham presented them with an award.

The globally famous band, with Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Robert Downey Jr. as friends and fans, were presented with a Lord Mayor’s Award right before their homecoming gig at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham city centre on May 5.

Frontman Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes - who are now the Rock and Roll Hall of Hame inductees - were seen pictured with Lord Mayor Cllr Maureen Cornish while receiving the award.

They tweeted the photo saying: “The band receiving their Lord Mayor’s Award from Councillor Maureen Cornish, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, before their show on 5 May.

“You may remember the Lord Mayor unveiled the blue plaque commemorating the site of the Rum Runner as well this past December. Quite an honour.”

During their last visit to Birmingham, Duran Duran performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2022.

They were the headline act for the curtain raiser concernt in July 2022. Their star is still peaking with their album Future Past opening at No. 3 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. The band also performed for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Party and at their headline show at Hyde Park, which was attended by some 70,000 fans.

Their Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony act had more than 30,000 spectators and millions more watched it from around the world.

What Birmingham City Council said

Birmingham city council said in a statement: “The award was made in recognition of Duran Duran’s outstanding achievement and exceptional service to Birmingham and its people through inspirational and dedicated work as world-renowned musicians, writers, and producers of music, which has raised the city’s reputation for music and creativity.”

Lord Mayor Cllr Maureen Cornish said: “The past weekend has been very busy with the Coronation and Great Birmingham Run, but it was great to kick it off by presenting a Lord Mayor’s Award to Simon, John, Roger and Nick at their homecoming gig on Friday. Birmingham is very proud of these Wild Boys, as am I, for putting Birmingham on the international stage.”