News > Music > Duran Duran Plot "Second Life" Gig

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TUESDAY OCTOBER 10 2006 5:00 PM

Duran Duran Plot "Second Life" Gig

Submitted by Colin_ORegan

Edited by Colin_ORegan

Tags: Duran Duran, Second Life, Nick Rhodes, Tour, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake

Eighties sensation Duran Duran set themselves ahead of the curve by welcoming videos open armed, making women hungry like a wolf for their spyboy, debonaire good looks. Well, the original Brit Boy band, wants to do it all over again in cyberspace.

The band plans to be the first major act to play a live performance for the residents of the "Second Life" virtual reality game. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes talked with Reuters:

When I first saw the "Second Life" site, it was a real epiphany for me. I knew this type of technology was developing and starting to flourish, but I had no idea there was a site up there already -- which was the size of Luxembourg in virtual acres. I looked at it from a creative point of view and thought, 'We should do a concert in here, and have our own space in here, and move on from (having a Web presence) and finally come into 3-D.

The band haven't figured out exactly how they will make the show happen, but they want to make sure the live show is exactly that, live. The band are hard at work with engineers trying to discern exactly how to make a real live concert translate into the digital world for the inhabitants of "Second Life." Again, from Rhodes:

We're beta testing all kinds of things. I want to make it as authentic as we possibly can, in that we will perform in a room, or a concert space that we build. As it will be live, there will be several hundred other people's avatars. Certain things we will need to pre-prepare, but we will push the limits of the technologies and see how we can make the thing magical and mystical.

I love magical, mystical shows.

Obviously there is no word on the show date, but in the meantime, the band is touring in the first life, in anticipation of their record due in early 2007. The new album is said to feature production from Timbaland, and contributions from Justin Timberlake:

10/15/2006 Bratislava, Slovakia (Slovak Republic) - Expo Arena
10/17/2006 Belgrade, Serbia - Hall 1, Belgrade
10/19/2006 Bucharest, Romania - Palace Hall
10/20/2006 Sofia, Bulgaria - Winter Palace of Sports
10/22/2006 Athens, Greece - Hellinikon Fencing
10/26/2006 Chicago, United States - Sears Centre
10/29/2006 New Orleans, United States - The Voodoo Music
11/2/2006 Providence, United States - Providence Performing Arts Center
11/3/2006 Atlantic City, United States - House Of Blues
11/4/2006 Niagara Falls, United States - Seneca Niagara Falls Casino
11/6/2006 Albany, United States - Palace Theatre
11/9/2006 Greenville, United States - Pepsi Pavilion
11/11/2006 Miami, United States - Bicentennial Park

Comments

RubberSoul

Los Angeles, CA

February 2003

OCT 10, 2006 05:11 PM

I don't understand the concept of a "live concert" inside of a video game. Like you'll be able to listen to what may or may not be live (how would you know it isn't prerecorded?) through your computer speakers while you sit at home? Some concert. Although, I suppose it can't suck much worse than a normal Duran Duran concert.

ether_medius

Toronto, ON

November 2004

OCT 10, 2006 05:39 PM

RubberSoul said:
I don't understand the concept of a "live concert" inside of a video game. Like you'll be able to listen to what may or may not be live (how would you know it isn't prerecorded?) through your computer speakers while you sit at home? Some concert. Although, I suppose it can't suck much worse than a normal Duran Duran concert.

Well it's "live" in the sense that the musicians are playing and streaming the show "live" over the 'net.

The audience can be deceived with pre-recorded stuff, but it's possible to pick out the fakes.

It's all pretty rudimentary and in its infancy technology-wise, but hey -- it's a way to interact with a band from your living room on a wednesday night after work. Sure live stuff will likely be better and more entertaining, but they're just different methods to the end result if you think about it.

Drackinn

Goleta, CA

October 2006

OCT 11, 2006 04:18 AM

Hey i heard about bands playing in SL, but i've yet to actually catch one live. I'd like to though. Sounds like a lot of fun, yay for the metaverse =)