As Simon Le Bon is at pains to point out, they love Birmingham, and Birmingham loves them. It’s a long way from the Rum Runner Club in the late 70’s, but Duran Duran have survived Beatle-mania levels of excitement, splits and side projects, critical indifference and re-appraisals, and many yachts (of both the super and sinking variety) to side-step the trap of becoming just another nostalgia act.

A homecoming gig at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena was the perfect setting to remind everyone where they’ve been and – occasionally – what they still have to offer, as recent (ish) collaborations with Mark Ronson, Janelle Monae and Blur’s Graham Coxon show that they are still a cultural force. However, it’s their back catalogue that their audience are here to lap up, and they don’t disappoint, with a frenetic opening section of hits.  “Is There Something I Should Know” is accompanied by some pop art visuals depicting them in their pomp, segueing into a sinewy “The Wild Boys”, the panache of “A View to a Kill” and a swaggering “Hungry Like the Wolf”.

It’s a startling pace that they can’t quite keep up, but all the better for it as subtler pleasures are revealed, especially as they showcase their 90’s return to form in a shimmering “Come Undone” and the yearning “Ordinary World” – possibly their best song.

Their combination of rock swagger and art school pretention is a tension Duran Duran tantalisingly never resolve, and they walk that tightrope with absolute commitment, even when they veer into slightly preposterous territory.  “The Reflex” remains a completely bizarre piece of brilliant nonsense.  And perhaps no one has ever looked like they enjoyed being a pop star quite so much as Simon Le Bon.

A finale of “Planet Earth” and “Girls on Film” remind everyone of their place in New Romantic history, whilst a triumphant encore of “Save a Prayer” and “Rio” transports everyone back to a world of Sri Lankan beach video shoots and supermodels, when pop was fun, excessive and happily angst free.

Four stars

Duran Duran was reviewed by  Tim Bisset on Tuesday 20 October at Utilita Arena Birmingham