Spandau Ballet

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Where Duran Duran can still count on the star treatment

Between car bombs, kidnappings and cocaine wars, Colombia never had a chance to savour the 1980s. Other capital cities enjoyed visits by Englishmen with big hair and pastel suits, but not Bogota. It was a decade, in other words, without Duran Duran.The wait is over. The band has arrived in Colombia to a heroes' welcome. South America's one-time pariah nation greeted Duran Duran's gig in Bogota last week as the latest sign that it is finally becoming normal. Of course, getting in a lather about a band that peaked a generation ago may sound less than normal, but it is understandable. Colombia has come a long way. Cities are safe, guerrillas are surrendering and tourists are visiting. With homicidal mayhem abating, the country has happily joined the rest of the world in singing along to Wild Boys, View to a Kill and Save a Prayer. No matter that the rest of the world stopped doing so two decades ago.Local media swooned over Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor as if they were all-conquering sex-god rock stars. Burly cameramen set down their gear and clamoured for autographs.For a band hardened to mocking, naff-obsessed British critics it was an exhilarating change. "That was the most amazing press conference I've ever experienced," Le Bon beamed afterwards.It may be churlish to point out that Colombia goes ape over pretty much any international act that comes to town. Kylie Minogue was received with rapture a few days before Duran Duran. She is a big star, true, but Boy George got the rapture treatment in September. Colombia's capital has become one of the safest cities in the region. The risk of being bundled into a car boot and tethered to a tree in the jungle for six years is now negligible. Kylie did have her luggage stolen, including a laptop, but that did not dent her enthusiasm. "We met her on our way in at the airport and she said Colombia was so far easily the best leg of her tour," said Rhodes.Memo to Spandau Ballet and Adam Ant: Bogota, go.Duran DuranColombiaguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds