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Duran Duran to Perform Virtual Gigs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the for-varying-degrees-of-'live' dept.

Sir Haxalot writes "The British band Duran Duran is to create a virtual island within the online world of Second Life, on which they will perform actual live concerts." From the article: "Three-dimensional versions of the band members - called Avatars - have been commissioned and will be revealed in September. The band hopes to perform their first virtual concert in the coming months. Rhodes added: 'We are hoping to give the crowd that come to the virtual concert a real immersive experience, so they can interact with us and react while we are stage.'"

67 comments

  1. Kudos by Kesch · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They are embracing new technology and trying new distribution methods, good for them.

    --
    If this signature is witty enough, maybe somebody will like me.
    1. Re:Kudos by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Also, Duran Duran were the first band to sell a song for download.

    2. Re:Kudos by craXORjack · · Score: 3, Funny

      On the down side, now they won't be able to play the Goldstein Bar Mitzvah which was a paying gig and this Second Life island is going to cost them at least $9.95 a month.

      --
      Liberals call everyone Nazis yet they are the closest thing to it.
    3. Re:Kudos by Korgan · · Score: 1

      Actually, they have an entire sim (64sq km of land on a dedicated server) which costs them US$199/mnth in land use fees. Just to buy the sim itself costs US$1500.

      Also, I only pay US$6/mnth for Second Life. When you pay Quarterly or Anually the price drops significantly. US$9.95 is the most you'd pay for a premium account, not including any land use fees.

      Having said that though, I am currently paying US$70/mnth just in land use fees on top of my US$72/yr subscription. This is all in land use fees for the various in-game properties I have.

    4. Re:Kudos by Threni · · Score: 1

      > They are embracing new technology and trying new distribution methods, good for them.

      A "virtual gig" though.... I mean, that's a DVD, right? Either I'm watching the band live, or I'm just listening to a CD. I don't get what's not a gimmick about the whole thing.

    5. Re:Kudos by AcidLacedPenguiN · · Score: 1

      please tell me you're making return on that investment :)

      --
      disclaimer: I've been known to store numbers in my ass for which to dig out when quantities are required.
    6. Re:Kudos by elrous0 · · Score: 1
      Bands in Second Life usually perform live. But the "concert hall," as it were, is a virtual creation, as are their avatars. People come watch the concert and interact with the band from all over the world all at once in this virtual space.

      So you're listening to them live, they're listening to and reading your feedback live, but you may be in California while they're actually in London.

      If that doesn't explain it, you'll just have to check out second life for yourself. There are some good concerts/performances there and some bad ones (much like real life).

      -Eric

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    7. Re:Kudos by Threni · · Score: 1

      > So you're listening to them live, they're listening to and reading your feedback live,
      > There are some good concerts/performances there and some bad ones (much like real life).

      Unlike real life there's apparantly an element of the band reviewing my feedback. That never happened with normal bands, so how will it happen with a virtual one?

    8. Re:Kudos by elrous0 · · Score: 1
      A running log is kept of all comments being typed in real time. So, if the badn can see their monitors as they're playing (or between songs) they can respond to comments, praise, questions, etc. This is the norm in live SL performances.

      -Eric

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    9. Re:Kudos by Korgan · · Score: 1

      Yes and no. ;-)

      The land I have put commercial projects or shops or whatever on is breaking even and paying for itself. Thats all good. My "home" I still pay for myself, but I have no problem with that.

      Where things fall apart is that I still end up spending like US$200-300 a month on toys and other things I see and want ;-) Well, admittedly thats coming down now as I start to build up a collection of things and struggle to find new stuff I want. But with so many newbies coming into SL, theres almost always going to be something new to catch my eye.

      I feed the economy more than take from it ;-) Shop keepers paradise I am ;-)

  2. Does anyone know? by aschoeff · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...if they need any virtual roadies?

    1. Re:Does anyone know? by bcat24 · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think they'd be more interested in virtual groupies. :)

    2. Re:Does anyone know? by jpardey · · Score: 1

      I doubt it. However, I'm pretty sure they have at least a few virtual groupies.

      --
      I have freaks! I did something right...
    3. Re:Does anyone know? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pssst.... look at the poster above you. He beat you by more than two hours.

    4. Re:Does anyone know? by jpardey · · Score: 1

      Hmm, odd... I didn't even see that. I blame slashcode!

      --
      I have freaks! I did something right...
  3. A virtual island? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    A virtual island? Will there be an NPC named Rio who dances on the sand?

    1. Re:A virtual island? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      De plane, boss! De plane!

  4. Oh come on... by Fred+Porry · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Are people actually paying for this? Okay, it may be great for fans, but...do you have to pay extra for this? It just makes no sense to me...

    1. Re:Oh come on... by Korgan · · Score: 1

      No, you could attend the concert entirely for free just by http://secondlife.com/ss/?u=0e0a47b321633ec4bf7e7b 1232505838">signing up for a basic account to Second Life.

      There is no cost to access the game. The only time cost becomes an issue is if you want to own your own land. But theres nothing stopping you accessing events in the game, or creating your own items, or buying anything you might possibly want.

    2. Re:Oh come on... by Korgan · · Score: 1

      Errrr fixed link

    3. Re:Oh come on... by 27,000 · · Score: 1

      It is possible to charge players to access a sim. Considering the maximum player count in a single sim (40? 60?) I expect the band will charge to take advantage of scarcity. Even if they don't, there aren't many slots to see them in. At best you might hear them over SL Public Radio, unless there's some mad concert system in production.

      --
      My problem with spontaneous human combustion is that never seems to happen to the "right" people.
    4. Re:Oh come on... by Fred+Porry · · Score: 1

      Uhm, okay, thank you. :)

  5. Hmm by Who235 · · Score: -1, Troll

    Does Second Life take place in 1983?

    Seriously - Duran Duran has virtually sucked for virtually 25 years.

    1. Re:Hmm by MustardMan · · Score: 0, Troll

      No, they have actually sucked. Perhaps you meant to say they have virtually no talent?

    2. Re:Hmm by SinGunner · · Score: 1

      And to think that's longer than you've been alive. "Woah."

    3. Re:Hmm by Quantum+Fizz · · Score: 1

      Maybe virtual Barbarella will show up, destroy the evil Duran Duran, and help rid the world of the scourge of crappy music.

    4. Re:Hmm by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Have you actually listened to their early stuff? (I'd guess the answer is 'no') They get a lot of crap for their later stuff, but they had some great songs early on. Rio was a great album (in fact, I'd say every song is good), and their early hit Planet Earth was really good, too.

      --
      Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    5. Re:Hmm by Karma+Farmer · · Score: 1
      They get a lot of crap for their later stuff, but they had some great songs early on.
      If you think about it, you'll realize you believe that's true for most bands you liked when you were 13.
    6. Re:Hmm by Who235 · · Score: 1

      I wholeheartedly agree. 1983 was not a random date - that's when Seven and the Ragged Tiger came out.

      I contend that was an even better record than Rio.

      But since then,

    7. Re:Hmm by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 1

      I wholeheartedly agree. 1983 was not a random date - that's when Seven and the Ragged Tiger came out. I contend that was an even better record than Rio.

      I liked Rio more than 7RT (though that was a good album too), but I agree that it was all over after that. They should have just let the band die.

      --
      Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
    8. Re:Hmm by apflwr3 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Does Second Life take place in 1983?

      Seriously - Duran Duran has virtually sucked for virtually 25 years.

      I know you're trolling, but that does beg the question-- will the Duran Duran avatars be modelled after their 40-50 year old bodies today (complete with wrinkles) or will they be the pretty-boys from the Rio video? Not that I particularly care, of course... Ahem...

      This kind of this could literally give a "Second Life" to musical acts whose careers ended when their looks started to go.

    9. Re:Hmm by bladesjester · · Score: 1

      Personally, I like Duran Duran, but I decided to be kind of minimalist when it came to buying the cds and just got the greatest hits album. It had basically everything I wanted from them. I took that route with a few bands that I had a lot of stuff for on tape and lp just because, while I liked them, I didn't want to deal with all of the filler.

      On the upside, their greatest cd makes for really fun driving music =]

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
    10. Re:Hmm by j0nkatz · · Score: -1

      NOT true! I still like ALL of Twisted Sister's stuff!

      --
      Don't mod me, bro'!!!!
    11. Re:Hmm by ObitMan · · Score: 1

      On the upside, their greatest cd makes for really fun driving music =]
      damn you! You've found me out!

      --
      Who run Barter Town?
    12. Re:Hmm by bladesjester · · Score: 1

      Duran Duran is a staple in my driving music selection. It's right up there with Placebo, ZZ Top, Tom Petty, and Garbage.

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
    13. Re:Hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For some strange reason this sounds like an excerpt from Snow Crash, though I highly doubt Duran duran would need to do this to avoid stalkers.

  6. Cool! They are transformers! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They are going to turn into a stage! Will they transform into tour buses at the end of the gig?

  7. Publicity by Thanatos69 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Are they just doing this to create publicity for themselves or is SL paying them to do this to bring in the older crowd?

    1. Re:Publicity by elrous0 · · Score: 1
      Actually, the SL crowd generally skews older than other online "games." I'd put the average second lifer in their mid-late-thirties, though I've attended second life events where the age range of participants ran from 18 to 70.

      -Eric

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  8. No one cares by Karma+Farmer · · Score: -1, Troll

    No one cares

    1. Re:No one cares by Tyger · · Score: 1

      I find it ironic that someone named "Karma Farmer" is trolling.

    2. Re:No one cares by Spazntwich · · Score: 2, Informative

      Maybe he's more like American farmers, and hoping to be paid karma to not post.

    3. Re:No one cares by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I find it ironic the above post is an offtopic troll, yet was moderated "informative."

  9. Interaction by bahwi · · Score: 1

    /dance

    1. Re:Interaction by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 1

      >> they can interact with us and react while we are (sic) stage

      So there'll be a minigun included with the ticket price then?

  10. Anyone hear about.... by Nexzus · · Score: 1
    the new processor from AMD optimized for playing 80's MP3's? It's called the Duron Duron.

    /Yeah, I shamelessly stole it from Bash.org

    --
    Karma: Can only be portioned out by the Cosmos.
  11. no one got it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Boy, do I feel old right now...

  12. Duran Duran, huh? by FusionDragon2099 · · Score: 2

    I hope I get a good view...

    1. Re:Duran Duran, huh? by abandonment · · Score: 1

      nah, you'll still be expected to pay $50 and get nosebleed seats...wonder if they'll sell virtual binoculars so you can actually see the 5 pixel animations too?

      lol

      --
      Gekido's Lair
    2. Re:Duran Duran, huh? by FusionDragon2099 · · Score: 1

      It appears you did not get the subtle reference to the James Bond film for which Duran Duran did the theme song for.

  13. Interaction by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 1
    Rhodes added: 'We are hoping to give the crowd that come to the virtual concert a real immersive experience, so they can interact with us and react while we are stage.'


    Interact and react. In Quake or Unreal Tournament sense? Duran Duran Deathmatch.
  14. Aha! by DuranDuran · · Score: 1

    I for one welcome my virtual gigs!

    --
    "You can justify anything by putting it in quotes, adding a famous name and making it a sig" - Albert Einstein
    1. Re:Aha! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      No, not a-ha, it's Duran Duran. (sorry, bad 80s humour)

  15. The Gorillaz did this with holograms by FauxReal · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Gorillaz did a virtual performace using holograms at the European MTV Music Awards show in Nov 2005.

    --
    Deltron 3030 - Virus (music video)
    1. Re:The Gorillaz did this with holograms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      Yes but the Gorillas suck!

    2. Re:The Gorillaz did this with holograms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not the same thing. This is a real band playing in a virtual world to an online audience, while what Gorillaz did is a virtual band playing in real life to a live anduence. Please try to at least read and understand the blurb. (And same goes to whoever gave this post an informative point)

    3. Re:The Gorillaz did this with holograms by Russellkhan · · Score: 1

      And your point is....?

      --
      Information doesn't want to be anthropomorphized anymore.
    4. Re:The Gorillaz did this with holograms by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 1

      The difference here appears to be that (apart from guest rappers) the Gorillaz' singing and music was done off a recording. I believe Damon from Blur once mentioned that none of the actual band members were even in town at the time. TFA isn't clear on this point, but it seems Duran Duran will still be playing and singing live, and just broadcasting the live feed into the game.

      --
      Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
  16. Aha? by Junta · · Score: 1

    No no no, they did Take On Me, these guys are one of those other groups from back then.

    --
    XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
  17. Good fit... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    ...since they're virtually still popular.

  18. so what's different? by cyberbian · · Score: 3, Funny

    I bet they've been performing virtual concerts in their minds for years now...

    It's probably just bad boys experiencing the reflex.

    --
    if I claimed I was emperor just because some watery tart lobbed a scimitar at me they'd put me away!
  19. /cluck by Ulrika+Zugzwang · · Score: 1

    I'll be there with my Chicken Hat on! :D ~Ulrika~

  20. Oh great by QuantumFTL · · Score: 1

    One more thing to add to my iptables block list...

  21. Ordinary? by frantzdb · · Score: 0

    This sounds like anything but an Ordinary World.

  22. That's fine.. by Si · · Score: 1

    As long as they don't mind being paid virtual money.

    --


    Why is it that many people who claim to support standards have such atrocious spelling and grammar?
  23. No, the cat does not "got my tongue." by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

    > "The British band Duran Duran is to create a virtual
    > island within the online world of Second Life, on
    > which they will perform actual live concerts." /shout "Free tickets at loc 9232.18, 8108.77!"

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  24. I Know A Guy Who Runs FOH For Them.... by Black-Man · · Score: 1

    And he swears he's never seen some many hot late 30-somethings show up for a gig in his life than at a Duran Duran concert. Of course I ask him if he hit on any of them... "I'm running sound for them dude".

    He also said they had an army of laptops running Logic during the show. So... they might as well put on a virtual show, sounds like they already are!