Duran Duran are officially back in the lab with one of their most legendary collaborators.
On Saturday (June 1), the iconic U.K. band teased new material via Instagram, sharing a snapshot from Abbey Road Studios with the caption, “Working with our good friend Nile at Abbey Road Studios this weekend. Stay tuned…”
Nile Rodgers, who’s been behind some of the band’s biggest hits, also shared the moment on his socials, writing, “We had as much fun working yesterday as ever!” The reunion marks the first time Rodgers and Duran Duran have worked together in nearly a decade, following their last collaboration on 2015’s Paper Gods, which featured the funk-infused single “Pressure Off” with Janelle Monáe and cracked the Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic.
Rodgers’ relationship with the band stretches back more than 40 years. He remixed their first Billboard No. 1 single “The Reflex” in 1984, produced the fan-favorite “The Wild Boys,” and went on to helm their fourth studio album Notorious (1986). His signature grooves helped shape Duran Duran’s post-new wave sound during a critical period of their evolution.
The super-producer later reunited with them for 2004’s Astronaut, marking the return of the original five-piece lineup.
The news arrives just days before Duran Duran kick off their European and U.K. tour with Rodgers and CHIC joining as special guests. The tour begins June 3 in Finland and includes major stops in Amsterdam, Rome, Dublin and the U.K., wrapping in early July.
While the band hasn’t confirmed whether the Abbey Road sessions are for a new album or standalone release, this marks the first major studio move since their Halloween-themed album Danse Macabre, released in 2023.
Duran Duran have sold over 100 million records worldwide and earned two Grammy Awards. Their latest chart appearance came with Future Past in 2021, which debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard 200. Rodgers, meanwhile, remains one of music’s most decorated producers, with credits spanning David Bowie, Madonna, Daft Punk and more.
