On this day, 13 Dec 1981, Birmingham’s new romantic band Duran Duran played Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens on their Careless Memories tour.
The band were just back from their first North American tour and the trip to Cardiff almost ended in disaster with the band involved in a car crash on the way to the gig.
The band had earlier in the year performed at Cardiff’s Top Rank, but their increased popularity meant their next visit was to the larger Sophia Gardens Pavilion.
The band's debut single "Planet Earth" had been a Top 20 hit, so it was regarded as a major setback when "Careless Memories" stalled at No. 37 in the UK charts, particularly as it was to herald the June release of the debut album Duran Duran.
It has since come to light that the decision to release the single was not the band's but EMI's. After its failure, executives decided to let Duran Duran choose their own single releases. The band's first selection was "Girls on Film" and it duly became their first Top 5 hit in the UK.
Setlist
Anyone Out There
Planet Earth
To the Shore
Late Bar
Last Chance on the Stairway
Sound of Thunder
Faster Than Light
Khanada
Night Boat
My Own Way
Girls on Film
