Late Bar

"Late Bar" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran. Written about the Rum Runner, a club in Birmingham where the band began writing and rehearsing, it incorporates early elements of their developing sound, including funk-influenced rhythms, prominent keyboards, and vocals by the lead vocalist Simon Le Bon.

The song was released on 2 February 1981 as the B-side to Duran Duran's debut single, "Planet Earth", but was not included on their first studio album, Duran Duran (1981). "Late Bar" became a favourite in the band's early live performances and has since been recognised by critics as one of the band's greatest songs.

"Late Bar" was written about the Rum Runner, a club in Birmingham where Duran Duran began writing and rehearsing.^[1] The song is a pop^[2] track that features what would become recognisable elements of the band's sound: "tight, pulsing funk patterns" from the bassist John Taylor and the drummer Roger Taylor, "manic riffing" from the guitarist Andy Taylor, "voluminous keys" from the keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and a "shadowy, goth-tinged bellow" from the lead vocalist Simon Le Bon.^[3] Lyrically, the song focuses on "all-night parties in hotel rooms". Le Bon's vocal performance ranges "from a deep insouciant croon to a deranged 'la la la' in the chorus". The band's "squelchy, angular attempts to emulate Chic" and Le Bon's vocals were described as "works in progress".^[4]

"Late Bar" was released as the B-side of Duran Duran's first single, "Planet Earth", on 2 February 1981.^[5] The song was not included on the band's debut album Duran Duran (1981). Rhodes explained that this was because the band came from "a generation where obscure B-sides were sort of important on 7-inch vinyl", and they were "determined to have them". He added that for "the first five years or so — well, probably longer actually, the first 10 years — we really kept up that", with "Late Bar" being the first example.^[1] In the band's early years, the song was a favourite of their live performances.^[5]

Despite being released as a B-side, "Late Bar" has since been recognised by critics as a standout track in Duran Duran's catalog. Both Rik Flynn of Classic Pop and Jeremy Allen of The Guardian ranked it as the second greatest Duran Duran song.^[3][4] Flynn wrote that the song "made for an essential 7-inch", referring to its inclusion on the "Planet Earth" single.^[3] Allen noted that while Duran Duran were still developing their sound, "Late Bar" was "magnificent" and "draws you in".^[4] The author Steve Malins referred to it as "one of the group's best B-sides".^[5] Paul Sinclair of SuperDeluxeEdition described it as an "effortless pop song that evokes the whole 'new romantic' movement".^[2]

Credits adapted from Flynn except where noted:^[3]

Duran Duran

• Simon Le Bon – vocals^[4]
• Andy Taylor – guitar
• John Taylor – bass guitar
• Roger Taylor – drums
• Nick Rhodes – keyboards, synthesisers

Production

• Colin Thurston – production, engineering^[6]

• Malins, Steve (2013). Duran Duran – Wild Boys: The Unauthorised Biography (Updated ed.). London: André Deutsch. ISBN 978-0-233-00392-4.