Style icons, sonic pioneers, and now headliners of the Workday Rising 2025 Customer Appreciation Party on September 17, Duran Duran personify the themes of innovation, agility, and transformation that define this event. From the dawn of MTV to the birth of AI, their legacy proves that the future belongs to the bold.
Get ready to dance into the future... Duran Duran, the iconic British band whose sound has helped define and delight generations, will be headlining the Customer Appreciation Party at Workday Rising in San Francisco this September. Known for pushing creative and technological boundaries from the start, they are renowned the world over as forward-looking thinkers who have consistently harnessed new technologies in service to their timeless music. Here's a quick look at their journey from MTV favorites to modern trailblazers.
Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, Duran Duran took their name from a character in the cult sci-fi film Barbarella. The original lineup gelled in the early ’80s with Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, and Andy Taylor (no relation). They quickly became known not just for their catchy synth-rock sound, but for their cinematic music videos that helped launch the MTV era.
Trivia: Duran Duran was one of the first bands to shoot music videos on location around the world—including the lush jungles of Sri Lanka and beaches of Antigua.
From 1981 to 1985, Duran Duran dominated the charts with hits like:
Their mix of fashion, glamour, and New Wave swagger made them global icons. But they weren’t just pretty faces—they were sonic experimenters, blending electronic textures with funk, punk, and pop long before it was mainstream.
Unlike many of their peers, despite some line-up changes in 1985, Duran Duran hit another all-time high in the mid ‘90s with “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone,” reminding the world of their songwriting prowess, depth and powers of reinvention.
In the 2000s, the original lineup reunited, releasing new material and selling out tours. Their secret? Evolving their sound while staying true to their artistic DNA.
Among their many hits, the 2004 single "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise" stands out—not only as a powerful return to form, but as a fitting anthem for our Workday Rising theme: Illuminate your work day. With its uplifting energy and call to action, the song reflects both the optimism of a new day and the spirit of transformation that defines our community. Just like Workday helps people and organizations rise to their full potential, this track is a reminder to aim high—and reach up.
Duran Duran’s 2021 album Future Past marked another leap forward, showcasing collaborations with artists like Tove Lo, CHAI, and Blur’s Graham Coxon. But it’s their recent use of AI that has captivated both longtime fans and new audiences.
For the video of "Invisible," Duran Duran pioneered another first, working with an AI named Huxley, developed by Nested Minds, to create a haunting, shape-shifting visual experience. The AI was trained to interpret the song's emotional content and generate images accordingly. The resulting video blurs the line between human creativity and machine perception.
Don’t miss this high-voltage celebration of community, creativity, and a future lit by possibility.
This kind of artistic experimentation fits right in with the theme of Workday Rising—where the future of work, technology, and human-AI collaboration are front and center.
As AI transforms the way we work, Duran Duran’s performance reminds us that technology is ultimately a tool for expression and connection. They’ve thrived in multiple waves of disruption—analog to digital, CDs to streaming, and now human to AI collaboration.
Their performance at Workday Rising is a statement: Creative resilience and innovation go hand-in-hand.
Customer Appreciation Party (CAP)
Theme: Bay Nights, Birthday Lights
When: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 7:30–10:30 PM
Where: 24 Willie Mays Plaza (Home of the SF Giants)
Who: Headliner: Duran Duran, plus DJ Umami and a dazzling drone show
What to wear: Shine bright—think metallics, sequins, and anything that sparkles
What to expect: Food, drinks, photo ops, and unforgettable vibes as we celebrate Workday’s 20th birthday!
This isn’t just a party—it’s a high-voltage celebration of community, creativity, and a future lit by possibility. Let’s rise—and shine—together.
Ready to join us? Head over to the Workday Rising website to learn more and register!
Don’t get left behind in the AI revolution. You can’t afford to miss this future-defining moment.
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