The legendary amfAR Gala Cannes is back, and this year’s event is shaping up to be something truly Notorious, headlined by a live performance from Duran Duran. Mark your calendars for May 22, when the black-tie soirée takes over the iconic Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, promising an unforgettable night of music, fashion, and philanthropy. It’s Duran Duran’s only French show announced for 2025 so far, making it a spectacle légendaire that is absolument essentiel.
Surely, our boys will deliver, and they’ll look damn good doing it.
Cannes Prepares for the Sound of Thunder
The architects of genre-bending pop, the very visionaries who unleashed “Hungry Like the Wolf” upon an unsuspecting world, are “do-do-do-do-do’ing” their way back to the amfAR stage. Their first Cannes appearance, back in 2013 alongside Dame Shirley Bassey, Ellie Goulding, and Hot Chelle Rae, was peak Cannes — and proved they’re still the coolest cats from Rio to the Riviera. That year’s event, with Carine Roitfeld’s “Ultimate Gold Collection” runway and an auction featuring a Leo DiCaprio space trip and a private Duran Duran gig, solidified their Cannes legacy.
Now, their 2025 return promises another show-stopping performance for a vital cause.
Duran Duran in Cannes 2013
A Star-Studded Night for a Cause
Hosting the evening’s festivities is none other than Taraji P. Henson. She said, “I am proud and excited to be supporting amfAR at this year’s Cannes benefit gala. AIDS is far from over, and we must continue to stand together and support the lifesaving research that is our best hope of finally ending this deadly pandemic.”
Since its inception in 1993, the amfAR Gala Cannes has raised MILLIONS for AIDS research and treatment programs. The night will also feature an exclusive live auction, with luxury items, one-of-a-kind experiences, and stunning artwork, all auctioned off by the renowned Simon de Pury. Meanwhile, fashion icon Carine Roitfeld is once again curating a high-fashion runway show that will have everyone talking, and gawking.
Photo: John Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor in Cannes 2013
Cannes Film Festival and the Legacy of amfAR
The amfAR Gala is the crown jewel of the Cannes Film Festival, the world’s most prestigious film celebration. Cannes has been rolling out the red carpet since 1946, drawing the biggest names in cinema, fashion, and music to the French Riviera. But amid all the Hollywood glitz, amfAR stands out for its commitment to fighting AIDS, a mission it has championed since its founding in 1985. Originally spearheaded by Dr. Mathilde Krim and Elizabeth Taylor, amfAR has played a pivotal role in advancing HIV/AIDS research and has been instrumental in funding groundbreaking treatments.
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc: The Ultimate French Riviera Escape
Of course, an event this spectacular needs a setting to match, and the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc delivers. Nestled in the town of Antibes, between Cannes and Nice, this historic hotel has been the playground of Hollywood royalty, literary icons, and various beautiful people since 1870. Overlooking the Mediterranean, the hotel is the epitome of Riviera luxury, with its stunning infinity pool, private cabanas, and legendary hospitality. It’s no wonder it’s been the go-to destination for everyone from F. Scott Fitzgerald to the Rolling Stones. It’s a gas, gas, gas, apparently.
Photo: Gisella Bernales-Taylor, Roger Taylor, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Nefer Suvio attend amfAR’s 20th Annual Cinema Against AIDS Gala during The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 23, 2013 in Cap d’Antibes, France. Credit: dpa picture alliance
Boys Gone Wild
Duran Duran’s relationship with the French Riviera stretches beyond their amfAR appearances. In the early 1980s, as they crafted their iconic ‘Seven and the Ragged Tiger‘ album, the band moved into a château in Valbonne, nestled near Cannes. Then there’s the now-iconic Elton John story detailed in Elton’s memoir Me, and Andy Taylor’s book Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran. The story goes that during the filming of the ‘I’m Still Standing’ music video, Sir Elton met up with the boys from Duran and the afternoon turned into a full-blown, coke-fueled hotel room trashing “wobbler”, complete with nude rolling around on set, and a punch thrown at Elton’s manager (allegedly by John Taylor). Wild boys, indeed.
Will the Le Beard Make a Comeback?
As the Riviera sun sets and the amfAR gala’s is grazed by the afterglow, one thing’s certain: the photographic evidence will be drool-worthy. Will we see Simon in another everyday-man plaid button-down and burgeoning Le Beard? Time will tell. One thing is for sure, Duran fandom will be feasting on the visual goldmine long after the curtain drops at this year’s event.