Duran Duran To Receive Video Visionary Honor At MTV EMAs
English new wavers Duran Duran will be honored with the first MTV Video Visionary Award Sunday night at the MTV European Music Video Awards. Music-News reports that the “Rio” hitmakers are being recognized for their pioneering, unique sound and strong visuals which have influenced a generation of musicians.
In a statement released to the Hollywood Reporter, the band — fronted by Simon Le Bon — thanked MTV for the network’s years of support, and they extend their gratitude to the various directors who helped them realize their vision over the years.
“It is no coincidence that our rise was paralleled by the growth and ultimate world domination of MTV. The birth of music videos as a way to simultaneously bring our music to a global audience [revolutionized] the business. We took this new short form of film making and tried to make it our own. We have had some incredible experiences over the years making our videos.”
The statement continued, “We have worked with some of the most talented directors in the world – without whom we would not be honored here today. We are really proud to be the recipients of this new award. Thank you MTV.”
Duran Duran kicked off the EMA honor with a live stream party performance Saturday night at the famed Piazza Duomo in Milan, where they were joined onstage by Mark Ronson. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the new award honors music innovators who have made an undeniable impact in the music videos art form.
OMG @MarkRonson is here WHAT. #MTVMusicWeek pic.twitter.com/uNuOEC2HF7
— MTV EMA (@mtvema) October 24, 2015
MTV released a statement on October 23 saying that the British band’s “sound and strong visual sense have influenced a generation and continue to vibe with music fans the world over.”
The band recently released the official video for “Pressure Off,” a track from their latest, 14th studio album Paper Gods. Longtime collaborator Nile Rodgers and soul songstress Janelle Monae are featured in the black-and-white video, which serves as a glimpse into their own ’80s past and future. The video references the classic Back to the Future movie, as they released the clip on October 21 — the day Doc Brown and Marty McFly traveled to in Back to the Future II. Check out the video below.
Paper Gods placed No. 10 on the Billboard 200 following its Sept. 11 release, and at No. 5 on the Official U.K. Albums chart, earning the group its tenth top 10, Billboard reports. Since the 1980s, Duran Duran have sold more than 100 million records.
What happens in Milan….#Duranlive pic.twitter.com/aPM9FzpAMN
— Duran Duran (@duranduran) October 24, 2015
According to drummer Roger Taylor, recording Paper Gods, which was produced by Mark Ronson and feature guest vocals by Lindsay Lohan, was like having a “proper job.”
“We’d roll up about 12pm and work until eight or nine in the evening,” he says. “For the two years we were making the album, we kept good hours, no slacking off, five days a week. There’s no taskmaster as such, but Nick is definitely the most motivated. But then, we all are. There’s no reason to be in this band in 2015 unless we’re all motivated. That’s the only thing that keeps us going. Or perhaps an eternal lust for affirmation. Maybe it’s that?,” he adds mockingly.
Duran Duran will take the stage at the 2015 MTV EMAs Sunday, October 25. The ceremony will air on MTV Sunday at 5 PM (ET). The show will be hosted by Ed Sheeran and Ruby Rose. It will feature performances from Pharrell Williams, Justin Bieber, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Ellie Goulding, Jason Derulo and more.
[Image courtesy John Phillips/Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty ImagesGetty Images]
