Showtime to feature back-to-back documentaries on music legends New Order and Duran Duran post-Christmas
Showtime has announced twin documentaries airing post-Christmas that will profile two iconic bands from the 1980s - New Order and Duran Duran.
The aptly-named New Order found a fresh start for themselves in 1980, after the surviving members of post-punk legends Joy Division reformed under a new moniker, following the tragic death of their previous bandleader, Ian Curtis. Guitarist/keyboardist Bernard Sumner took over the recently-vacated vocal duties, while Peter Hook and Stephen Morris remained on bass and drums respectively. Morris's girlfriend Gillian Gilbert was later brought in on additional keyboards and guitars to complete the lineup. The band went on to garner critical acclaim for their eclectic fusion of synth-rock and 1980s African-American dance music, and released 10 studio albums between 1981 and 2015.
The new documentary 'New Order: Decades' will premiere on Friday, December 27 at 7:30 pm ET/PT, and is a Caravan production for Sky Arts. Part-concert and part-documentary, 'New Order: Decades' follows the band's preparations in the re-staging of their acclaimed collaboration, 'So It Goes,' with the artist Liam Gillick and the 12-piece synthesizer orchestra that captured headlines during the Manchester International Festival in 2017.
The documentary is produced and directed by Mike Christie, and executive-produced by Dinah Lord. Check out the teaser for 'New Order: Decades' here:
The second documentary which will follow soon after at 9:00 pm ET/PT is 'Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know' - it offers a candid, retrospective look at the extraordinary career of one of the world’s most beloved new wave groups, Duran Duran, who were renowned for their stylish, uplifting pop and pioneering music videos in the MTV era.
Viewers will also get exclusive access to previously-unseen footage and intimate conversations with the original 1980s line-up, which included singer Simon Le Bon, bassist John Taylor, drummer Roger Taylor, and keyboardist Nick Rhodes. The film not only highlights the defining moments of Duran Duran's four decades-long journey, but also provides a glimpse into what’s next for the members of the band.
'Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know' was directed by the BAFTA award-winning Zoe Dobson. The documentary has been executive-produced by David Notman-Watt and was produced by back2back Productions for the BBC. Watch the teaser for 'Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know' here:
'New Order: Decades' will premiere on Friday, December 27 at 7:30 pm ET/PT and will be immediately followed by 'Duran Duran: There's Something You Should Know' at 9:00 pm ET/PT on the Showtime network.