Astronaut (album)

New deal, new album

Finally, after lengthy negotiations, the band signed a four-album deal with Epic Records (a subsidiary of Sony BMG Music Entertainment) in June of 2004. The songs were given a final polishing with producer Don Gilmore and then mixed by Jeremy Wheatley in June and July. R&B producer Dallas Austin produced three tracks on the album, and Nile Rodgers' early production work remains on another three.

Related Topics:
Epic Records - Sony BMG Music Entertainment - Don Gilmore - Jeremy Wheatley

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Limited copies of the new album were released with a bonus DVD which included 45 minutes of live and behind-the-scenes footage from Wembley Arena, recorded in April 2004. The CD/DVD set came in DVD-sized packaging and European copies bore copy protection, a holdover from the BMG days.

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A worldwide media tour accompanied the September release of the first single, "(Reach Up For The) Sunrise", with more surrounding the release of Astronaut in October; in fact, the pace became too hectic for guitarist Andy Taylor, and in November Duran Duran announced he was suffering from exhaustion and flu, and would not be participating in band promotion until January 2005. The remaining four members continued with television appearances, and a stand-in guitarist was hired for the scheduled radio station Christmas concerts in December. Subsequently, January concert dates in Japan had to be postponed until the summer, after Roger broke a bone in his right foot in December.

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"Sunrise" debuted at #5 in the UK singles chart. Astronaut debuted at #1 on the Internet album chart (that is, physical albums bought through Internet vendors), #3 in the UK album chart, and at #17 in the US Billboard Top 200 album chart, with similar Top Twenty debuts elsewhere in the world. In late November, it reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Chart.

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Meanwhile, the CD/DVD set debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Music Video chart.

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The second single, "What Happens Tomorrow" was released 31 January, 2005. It was not the quick starter that "Sunrise" was, but slowly gained chart position and radio play, supported by a nearly sold-out tour of North American arenas and stadiums, touted as the band's "largest tour ever". Later in 2005, "What Happens Tomorrow" was used in a promotional spot for the U.S. digital cable network Fox Soccer Channel; Simon LeBon and John Taylor had also appeared in a separate spot for the network. Andy Taylor missed several American dates in February and March to attend his ill father's hospital bed and subsequent funeral.

Related Topics:
31 January - Digital cable - Fox Soccer Channel

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"Nice" was announced to be the next single in Europe to coincide with the band's tour there. However, not only has the European tour ended but so has the second American tour. It was believed that the single would not have a commercial release or music video, but would be downloadable. But "Nice" was only released to radio in Europe, fairing poorly and being quite unknown.

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