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With a career spanning twenty five years and over 70 million records sold, the irrepressible DURAN DURAN will be recognised by the British Record Industry at The 2004 BRIT Awards with MasterCard on Tuesday February 17. They will be performing live at Earls Court for the big night out celebrating a fantastic year in Rock, Pop, Dance & Urban Music.

'Outstanding Contribution to Music Award' will be presented to the five original members of Duran Duran (Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor) at The 2004 BRIT Awards, the most anticipated and biggest music awards ceremony in the UK. London's Earls Court will once again stage the event and BRITS TV will broadcast The BRIT Awards with MasterCard, as live, on ITV Network Tuesday February 17.

Duran Duran were formed in 1978 by keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor. With Andy Taylor, Roger Taylor and vocalist Simon LeBon on-board their mission for world domination began when EMI Records signed them up. From the very beginning, they were a band who wrote classic, timeless pop songs combining rock guitars with infectious melodies and memorable lyrics.

Over the past 25 years, they have experienced phenomenal success, both in the UK and internationally, with sales of more than 70 million records. They have achieved no less than 31 chart-topping singles with instantly recognisable favourites such as 'Girls on Film', 'Hungry Like The Wolf', 'Ordinary World', 'Rio' and 'Notorious' and they have notched up an impressive 15 hit albums of which three achieved multi-platinum status.

Duran Duran have fused pop music, art and fashion to an unprecedented degree and have helped elevate the art form of music video to a new level. As both individuals and founders of one of the world's most influential pop groups, the five band members have always pushed the boundaries and set new standards. Looking to set trends, rather than follow them, they have taken risks that others would have shied away from. The results speak for themselves.

Peter Jamieson, Chairman of the BRITS committee, added his own tribute: "The UK music industry, represented by The BPI, is proud to add Duran Duran to the 'Outstanding Contribution' roll of honour. Whilst this award recognizes past achievements which are much deserved, I am just as excited about the band's vibrancy today which augers well for continuing success. Don't miss the BRITS next February!''

Previous recipients of the Outstanding Contribution Award include: Tom Jones, Sting, U2, David Bowie, Eurythmics, The Bee Gees, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Van Morrison and The Who. The 'Outstanding Contribution to Music Award' is in the gift of the BPI council, which comprises record company chairmen from across the spectrum of the UK music industry.

To reflect the huge and ever growing success of new rock music in the UK, a new category, 'BEST BRITISH ROCK ACT', has been added to the list of gongs being handed out at The BRITS. Kerrang! Magazine readers and Kerrang! TV viewers will be asked to cast their vote during December & January for this new addition to the list of awards.

BRITS TV will be filming a series of exclusive live performances for inclusion in 'The BRITS are Coming' shows for ITV1. These build up shows were a huge success last year with over 9 million viewers tuning in. They will be transmitted in the four week period prior to the big night out on Tuesday 17 February. Confirmed acts include -

November 26 - Muse, Sugababes, Big Brovaz - filming at The Clapham Grand

December 11 - Blur, Mis-Teeq, Athlete - filming at The Coronet, Elephant & Castle

December 16 - Starsailor, Sophie Ellis Bexter - filming at Hackney Ocean.

More acts to be announced.

The nominations for next year's BRIT Awards will be announced on -

MONDAY 12 JANUARY 2004 at The Park Lane Hotel.

The 2004 BRIT Awards with MasterCard - Tuesday 17 February 2004.

More info on Duran Duran

The five original members of Duran Duran got back together 18 months ago and started work on a new album that's slated for release early summer 2004. In between writing and recording they have played a limited number of shows around the world in celebration of their 25th anniversary and the release of two critically acclaimed compilations: The Singles '81-'85 box set and most recently their first video anthology 'Greatest' on DVD (both on EMI).

In mid-July, after a record-breaking run of sold-out arena dates in Japan, Duran Duran left audiences breathless when they kicked off their American shows with a concert at LA's world-famous Roxy Theatre, in front of a star-studded audience. Marking the band's return to the first venue they ever played on the West Coast, the Roxy date became the hottest ticket of the summer as fans camped outside the venue for days to buy tickets to the show. Four weeks later the band returned to LA to headline in front of 45,000 fans at KROQ's Inland Invasion.

In late August, the 'Fab Five' hit New York's Ritz ballroom for another spectacular performance, on the eve of the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards (where they were honored with a prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award'), and were greeted by a sold out crowd of screaming fans, paparazzi and celebrities. A one-off show at London's Forum followed, after Q Magazine presented the band with their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Currently half way through a sold-out 17 date run through the US, Duran Duran will head down to New Zealand and Australia in early December for a handful of stadium shows with Robbie Williams.

The 2003 BRIT Awards Earls Court 2, Thursday 20th February (televised the same evening on ITV1)
PRESS: Bernard Doherty / Lucy Hopkins – LD Publicity
TV & RADIO: Tony Cooke / Claire Jarvis – LD Promotions