Duran Duran back at Sanremo 2025: the iconic British band's 40th anniversary of their last appearance at the festival. The group, which last performed in Sanremo on February 9, 1985, when Pippo Baudo presented them to the public with the song “Wild Boys,” was welcomed back by Carlo Conti.
At Sanremo 2025, Duran Duran thrilled the audience with a medley of their most iconic songs and, naturally, did not miss out on the occasion to perform “Wild Boys.” After setting the Ariston on fire, the band's frontman, Simon Le Bon, received a special award from the City, the “Amici di Sanremo” prize.
The Duran Duran's visit to Sanremo 2025 also saw the performance of “Psycho Killer,” a song by Talking Heads, which the group recorded a cover of in 2023. On that occasion, Maneskin's bassist Victoria De Angelis joined the band on stage, performing the cover with Le Bon. Victoria, who is also the lead singer of the winning band of Sanremo 2021 and the Eurovision Song Contest, has recently embarked on a solo career as a DJ, releasing her debut single “Get Up Bitch! Shake Ya Ass” on August 30.
During the performance, a fun gag took place between Simon Le Bon and Katia Follesa, a popular Italian comedian. Just before the group left the stage, Katia appeared in the audience, dressed as a bride, holding a sign that read “I'll marry Simon Le Bon.” The reference is to the 1986 film “Sposerò Simon Le Bon,” based on the novel by Clizia Gurrado, which is a perfect portrayal of an era.
The event reminiscent of Duran Duran's previous participation in Sanremo 1985, with Simon Le Bon's broken foot and the fierce rivalry between Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet fans. The 1985 season was marked by characteristic highlights, such as sharp images, Messaggerie Musicali, DeeJay Television, Moncler, and Timberland.
In the end, Katia Follesa and Simon Le Bon shared an impromptu wedding ceremony on stage, culminating in a kiss, making her the dream come true for all the teenage girls who, in 1985, considered Simon Le Bon the impossible crush.