Duran Duran - Union Of The Snake (Live Aid 1985)

Duran Duran performing at Live Aid in front of 100,000 people in the John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia USA on the 13th July, 1985. The event was organised by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine disaster. Broadcast across the world via one of the largest satellite link-ups of all time, the concerts were seen by around 40% of the global population.
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[@venanciahopkins5035]

John Taylor on bass! He was always one of my favorite bassists! Duran Duran will always be a great band!

[@phillymichelle8370]

John Taylor is a beautiful man! I was SO in love with him, I think I was 12 years old...lol John was my first crush and I had his pic all on my bedroom walls. He was a great bassist too. God, I think Simon was wacked out on something that day. I remember when he hit that major clunker in "View to a Kill" and thinking...what the F Was THAT????

[@alvarolozano711]

All right

[@ykook7000]

Everyone loved Nigel then

[@laurentzeitoun4490]

Simon looks like Elvis

[@tabithagamblin5117]

He sure does I was thinking the same thing.

[@arricammarques1955]

Loathes the comparison.

[@janicecrim9515]

Yup, that's what I was thinking!!

[@bijou201]

Damn, I always say this (at Live Aid) and I finally found the someone who thinks the same 😆👌👊

[@tnt01]

100%

[@SantaCruz008]

Wow what a performance! Andy Taylor is a beast on that guitar! :D

[@AncientWisdomUnveiledCDW]

Andy always a rocker love it

[@TheDoug625]

Love how Andy's guitar is a little louder in the mix in this live performance.

[@starman2089]

I love it too! Shine on Andy!

[@purplebrit]

Andy's guitar was always up louder in the mix when they played live. The main reason for liking them live over the records.

[@BMC846]

So cool!😎

[@BadBoyBoogie-ko6rj]

I'm a lifelong drummer and Hard Rocker. I've always appreciated these guys. Very talented with guts to be different. They ran up their Flag and it paid off.

[@sl4983]

Very well said

[@sl4983]

Just saw them in concert 3 weeks ago

[@Dan.Chaytor]

These boys can play for sure

[@Jesuscger]

The sound in this concert wasn't good and the bass was off, this one is much better: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGnchnqDl5ajrJY

[@billcowan5539]

I grew up a Metal Head but I have to admit that these Guys have a ton of talent 🙏

[@yurikoda0223]

Union of the snake is on the ground🎵👍✨😜They reunioned about a decade ago, my Mom said to watch the TV show, "Oh, just in order to make big money!" We went to their live performance at local live house, too! 👍✨🎵

[@TheANTICELEB]

Duran great band forever

[@yavhe6084]

OMG !! Simón lebon is so beatifull

[@denisgaviria8602]

He's handsome man...

[@GamingDragonFlower]

I think he's gotten more handsome with age!

[@DRu.913]

Love Andy's look here! He was full on metal Andy 🤟🎸🎶

[@mattbingham2856]

duran duran has never ever been "metal" they copied the mainstream rockers who had more hits and more plays on MTV, and they got paid for being the followers.

[@TheDoug625]

@@mattbingham2856 he's talking about Andy's look, and Duran Duran never "copied" anyone musically.

[@Lawrence_619]

a VERY underrated set....everybody was sorta looking past them, except for the MTV-kids. But in my opinion, they turned in one of the better sets in the whole deal. And it sorta confirmed the obvious for me...that they are a LOT better, live..than they are on wax.

[@glynisjones8128]

Wow - we were so blessed by this bands talent!!!!!!!

[@francesco4007]

AMAZING PERFORMANCE ! SIMON SINGS LIVE PERFECTLY ITALY LOVES DURAN DURAN

[@scottspencer-rowell490]

Let's all be fair here that day was a hot day and with a crowd of thousands he was tired but he still tried he was good he is always good

[@rahan9886]

90000 in the audience

[@michaelscoots]

They hadn’t performed together in a year.

[@johnobrien7860]

I agree...and Queen called their light rig The Pizza oven for good reason... heat dries up the vocals.

[@FieryKTarot]

Like we cared anyway. I was so excited to see them live!

[@phemeanndizon4968]

I really love their performance here in this song..... I remember their 1984 US "As the lights go down" tour.....

[@thepanel2935]

A couple of comments about Duran Duran at Live Aid '85... The band hadn't played a live gig together for many months. The together-ness of the group was gone. They arrived and left the stadium separately. Nick, Simon and Roger had black hair as they were still in their gothic 'Arcadia' mode. John and Andy were big cocaine users at the time, but they held it together enough to do a second Live Aid performance after Duran Duran as 'The Power Station'. The split into two separate camps (Arcadia and Power Station) indicates the level of fracturing that had taken place between them. Andy was angry at the band throughout this whole time, and Roger was _over_ the whole fame thing... but at least Simon's clothes were beautiful in this show... who made those jackets for them? (Nick had a similar one in mist-grey which he wore in an advertisement for Roland synthesizers.)

[@rojaktar3509]

Isn't or wasn't Andy Taylor forever at loggerheads with the rest??????

[@thepanel2935]

@@rojaktar3509 yes, I think so. Andy wanted a more 'rock' approach and sound with their music, not the stuff that Nick wrote for the band. Nick really was the bandleader and composed most of it.

[@yulvanmorales8329]

With his songs and this i was passing my young life 📽️🐍📀🎶✔️

[@mossion]

One of my fav songs from my youth

[@vanianeves3740]

Mine too... I was 11... 😊❤

[@maudrumatik]

Nowdays we would see at least one drum machine, here there are a drum and two percussionists...when music was played 😢

[@oneworld9071]

AWESOME song, performance, and singer I've underappreciated for decades...... I heard this in a vintage T-shirt shop on Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollyweird a few years ago. Every time I hear it I get a pleasant deja vu........ :) Also happened with The Fixx...... I actually used to HATE "One Thing Leads to Another" because it got to be like the FM station put it on loop mode with an occasional commercial. Same with Steve Miller....... The Joker. Fly Like an Eagle. The other several songs....... overplayed to death and way beyond...... alright already I got it on the 19,374th time ya played it...... today....... This singer's voice was definitely distinctive, and quite powerful.

[@JavierRojas-eg2ow]

El look de simon y nick es el de arcadia y de john y andy el de power station.

[@joycastorico2638]

A performance that you never saw this day!

[@marciahelenasilvamarciahea7437]

OMG! This is Fantastic! Love Duran Duran Songs! Congratulations Duran Duran!

[@j3ss75]

simons energy tho- i love this guy

[@user-vc2ym2hj6j]

Andy Taylor is the best guitarist i have ever knwon

[@susannahandrews3786]

Esagerato

[@user-vc2ym2hj6j]

@@susannahandrews3786 pas du tout

[@jasonmarques1480]

He's so good he managed to get Robert Plant to sing "Stairway to Heaven"

[@grimreaper7931]

Historic live ever.....

[@dmmjsm]

They were terrific! John Taylor smoking on the bass!

[@andrearaspa5489]

Union of the snake!! Bellissima canzone e bei ricordi degli anni 80! Grandi Duran Duran in grande forma

[@Badboy-dg1dh]

Grandissima forma e senza essersi preparati come storia ben dice in merito all 'evento. Duran forever👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@nickcastle91]

Per giunta questa esibizione è molto più grintosa per via del tono più rock essendo i sintetizzatori molto più bassi della versione studio e la chitarra più presente per non parlare del fatto che il sassofono è molto più presente che in studio (dove fa solo l’assolo) e accompagna anche il cantato.

[@Jacurlz08]

I remember watching this on TV and crying, because couldn't go 💓🙌😍

[@starman2089]

Simon is giving me young Elvis energy!

[@tnt01]

100%

[@nelsonrogers7906]

True professionals....👍👌✊

[@JulioCarlos69]

Una gran performance de una gran cancion para un gran evento, eso solo lo hace duran duran

[@marlonrosaslara2446]

union of the snake duran duran me encanta el grupo musical

[@unselflover]

Andy is such an underrated singer.

[@Badboy-dg1dh]

E non si erano preparati.. Bellissima performance.. In culo ai critici di sempre.. Duran 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@claudiafernandes3448]

Albun lindo deles notorius

[@MrBlueberry81]

Great to see Andy tearing it up.

[@darwinrz]

MrBlueberry81 Such an underrated guitar player. His guitar parts are so good.

[@jeffalbert8109]

Luvvvvvvv Andy Taylor;

[@SPZSuL]

C o i s a F i n a 👏🏼

[@gemimercury3679]

Excellent performance, he was 80's Salt Lake. They were always on the radio, he was first name only.

[@pablogomez607]

Tengo 33 años soy del 87 pero nací con esta música y siempre me ha gustado y me siento parte de ella!!

[@alanrivas2726]

Me habría encantado estar ahi, lástima que nací en el 92

[@harri7416]

Duran Duran were impossibly cool. Le Bon's outfit... the two backing singers...

[@toddmartin6572]

Andy Taylor looked real ‘party mode’ here...

[@tnt01]

He was into it. Lol

[@silviodesiati5154]

Un show espectacular para ña mejor banda del.mundo los 5 grandes y andy espectacular como.suena esa guiitarra al.igual q la bateria de roger y lavoz del mas grande de la musica SIMON vamos duran duran vamos clua a huracan de argentina

[@deanoboy10]

Andy is shre-d-d-ing!!!

[@tribigio]

Grande Band che vive ancora oggi di luce propria.

[@cgleafy4774]

I really wish they didn't have tech difficulties. The bass cut off, the mic and sound stuff where really bad. This probably ticked off the band while playing, specially simon, besides the other problems they already had

[@andreaelizabethramirezlope1316]

Llenan el escenario totalmente 😍

[@davemiller7676]

This is rare ...they barely ever sing this ...my fave

[@thepanel2935]

Nick Rhodes said it was difficult to play _'Union'_ live in concert -- his synthesiser parts were complicated and involved.

[@lw3764]

The song was brand new when Live Aid happened so they kinda had to play it even though it's a hard song to do live.

[@mikemitchell5994]

I just went to their concert. They didn't play this or New Moon 😢

[@victornunes1303]

​​@@mikemitchell5994on certain occasions they play Union on the Snak these days. New Moon on Monday never played again, they only sang a small part of the chorus. I so wanted New Moon on Monday, The Seventh Stranger and Shadows on Your Side to be played live again. They are one of the best in SATRT and among several

[@Amy.Scorpio]

Iconic ❤️

[@patriciaharrison]

Just amazing!!!🎉

[@martinpanks992]

What a band!.

[@simonmannick8389]

Andy Taylor Just smash it, Guitar Hero.

[@angelatanurdzic7508]

Duran Duran ❤❤❤

[@resa.walters]

OMG, NICK!

[@MrTkeddo]

Elvis dressed like MJ.

[@theWARMJET]

Hahaha

[@Stormeyworld]

lol

[@claudiafernandes3448]

Y Love Duran Duran Brazil Belo Horizonte show fantastic in BH hall 2017 turnê welcome New show

[@michellelovitte8455]

Roger was tired of the teeny bopper fame. He just needed a break from it all. It turned out to be 20 years! But hey...good to have him back!

[@oncavegana24]

Telegram force and ready I knew this was a big mistake There's a fine line drawing My senses together And I think it's about to break If I listen close I can hear them singers, oh Voices in your body coming through on the radio The union of the snake is on the climb Moving up it's gonna race it's gonna break Through the borderline Nightshades on a warning Give me strength at least give me a light Give me anything even sympathy There's a chance you could be right If I listen close I can hear them singers, oh Voices in your body coming through on the radio The union of the snake is on the climb Moving up it's gonna race it's gonna break Through the borderline The union of the snake is on the climb Moving up it's gonna race it's gonna break Through the borderline If I listen close I can hear them singers, oh Voices in your body coming through on the radio The union of the snake is on the climb Moving up it's gonna race it's gonna break Through the borderline The union of the snake is on the climb It's gonna race, it's gonna break, it's gonna move up Through the borderline The union of the snake is on the climb Moving up it's gonna race it's gonna break Through the borderline The union of the snake is on the climb It's gonna race, it's gonna break, it's gonna move up To the borderline

[@rojaktar3509]

Never DID understand their classic hit lyrics-but that's even better

[@sushilean]

Duran Duran ❤❤❤ lo máximo

[@JACOBHEYDEN1]

Simon is so different than in Band Aid 6 months before.

[@lonelyheroine]

Getting his hair cut short and dyed black has a great deal to do with it.

[@johnygonzalesherrera7874]

Para mi el. Mejor tema de Durán Durán

[@claudiafernandes3448]

Recordatian de show in Belo Horizonte Brazil 2017 paper gods um.show brillant

[@danilogiannibirolo1187]

Yeah!! Andy !!!!

[@pedromolina3473]

Fue un excelente concierto para ayudar vivan Los 80s

[@dalecollins2085]

Shocking !!

[@albertomercado3445]

El bellísimo Simón Lebon

[@scampy9744]

Je viens de découvrir , le chanteur Duran Duran Simon le bon deja le bon il y a une espace Moi je connais les noms de famille écrit LEBON sans espaces Venant sur l'île de la RÉUNION Mi aimerait bien que Simon le bon a des origine Réunionnaise Sans pour cela c'est un tres grand chanteur professionnel 😉

[@maric.9891]

great

[@claudiafernandes3448]

You beautiful 😍 Simon le Bon Brasil y Love Duran Duran 🇧🇷 Duran spetacular y Love Brasil muchos shows in Brasil.fantantcs

[@Juki.227]

4:12 mmmquéee hombre más divino!!!

[@nazanbursal7137]

Besttt DD

[@yasneiraesther9486]

Simón Le Bon es lindo, preciosisimoo o ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@johnyvico]

2nd greatest concert next to Woodstock

[@GastonDark5]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@rodrigobelo8780]

Top

[@michellelovitte8455]

Pretty good considering they hadn't seen each other in a year. They all showed up and left separately. John was high, Andy was angry with the band, Roger was not happy at all.

[@sholagagates833]

They were annoyed with each other? (I am not a big fan yet)

[@michellelovitte8455]

@@sholagagates833 the whole band was.

[@sholagagates833]

@@michellelovitte8455 and the bad sound in the concert haha

[@MyEnime]

Roger is never happy

[@gianpauldulfo4707]

yeah it's pretty obvious from the drums its like roger forcing the peadls of the kick drum

[@kellygwyn2721]

I’ve loved them every time I seen them in concert.

[@chris55068]

The percussionist later went onto tour with pink floyd 87 to 94

[@AntoRecord]

Realy? His name is?

[@WizardGlik]

THIS is what happens when The Power Station meets Arcadia!

[@emilymathews7073]

Nick Rhodes looked like he’s typing at a business computer when he plays. Not saying he’s bad; he just looks that way to me!

[@andresihotang2314]

I see that "A View to A Kill" performance in Live Aid wasn't included. As Simon hit a bad note at one moment, which according to him is the most embarrassing thing he ever experienced. And Andy's frustration nod after that bad note is clear to see on camera. Either Simon asked it not to be inlcuded in DVD (like how Plant and Page asked not to include their shambolic performance), or the organizer decided so, is not important.

[@cchocopie]

듀란듀란 초전성기때네, Live Aid 이날 거의 준헤드라이너 ㅎㅎㅎ

[@TheSienna29]

Simon was "off" here. But Simon at 70% is better than most of the live stuff now

[@resa.walters]

The whole sound setup was squeaky during most of the songs, not ideal

[@resa.walters]

Duran Duran is sooo good live, I saw them when I was 13, they are the best live!

[@susannahandrews3786]

Probably a bit drunk or high on something

[@michaelscoots]

They hadn’t performed live in a year. Also I heard the monitors weren’t dialed in.

[@guyincognito1560]

@@resa.walters Keyboards, bass were mixed in way too low at the start, took Simon out of his space for a bit. They got it fixed for the most part but this song kind of suffered from the chaos of the sound systems.

[@charlottewalker6854]

Break it through the bordeline❤

[@dididonna92]

I want A View to a Kill video tooooo

[@dididonna92]

@@50milliondownthedraintonym16 yes and Simon sang out of tune 🤣

[@alanfox7312]

Simon le bon used to go to drama schools in Coventry with the DJ journalist Jon gaunt

[@elainechristina5086]

❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣

[@claudiafernandes3448]

Jhon Bello

[@jjaviera505]

What happened with the bass?? The song sounded empty

[@j3ss75]

the bloody tech issues. felt bad for them. wembley live aid had much better sound :/

[@Jesuscger]

No bass sound....Andy saved this performance, but I think they shouldn't have performed without bass guitar.

[@marcelobalbinot1115]

Andy Rules 🇬🇧

[@DJLorraineOfficial]

Onion Of The Snake!

[@troypol343]

Anyone notice the bass goes out around 1:23.

[@messamommy]

No i listened to it twice and my ear phones arent cheap so???

[@polar_fox24]

just a few secs

[@mbrew3244]

He had problems with that rig, there's a bass dropout during "View To A Kill". for about 10 seconds just after 'the bum' note. He's looking back at the rig...he knows there's a problem.

[@amara_the_god2145]

The mic was squeaking. That had to have been annoying. Not Simon’s fault either.

[@danielavaca4414]

2:27 playing real but the sound got mad

[@resa.walters]

What else is he saying when he starts speaking? "Oh no not again" I can't understand the rest...

[@ericverunac4667]

I have always wondered what Simon sayd in the middle, after Oh no not again, Take cover, (something) to the world ooh and at the end before Was it shore to shore babe? Anyone understand it?

[@mattma96]

Does anybody hear the BASS GUITAR sound here...?

[@resa.walters]

What is Simon saying here and there when he's speaking in the song? I can't make out the words, does anyone know? I got "shore babe?"

[@corneatopia]

Simon was way off this night. Singing off key in moments and throwing in some weird improv lines like "Oh no not again!" That line is a Freudian Slip, I believe. Andy held this together by a string as the bass was non existent due to some tech flaws.

[@j3ss75]

1. the sound tech was rubbish and so wasn’t their fault. 2. simon was on the verge of losing his voice. 3. they hadn’t played together for a long time as they were off doing other things. -so i think simon held it together pretty well. felt bad for him.

[@adamatincul2618]

@@j3ss75 That explains it all. They weren't on fire that day, but they are still awesome and I love them.

[@thepanel2935]

Was there no bass in the live mix due to tech difficulties?

[@tnt01]

​@@j3ss75john was high as a kite here. Read his book.

[@j3ss75]

@@tnt01 i have read it twice

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

John and Andy pulling double duty

[@lasstunsspielen8279]

Does anyone know what happened to the bass after 1:20?

[@aemit_s_]

it fell out. probably technical difficulties. live aid is popular for their shitty set ups for the artists. that's why the mic is squeaking, bass was muted and the mics weren't properly adjusted. every artist who was there had the same problem.

[@FGMP78]

was the bass even amplified?? :D :O!!!

[@oaktowndimond668]

Huh? Are you insinuating John can't play bass?