259161098

We are a San Diego California based DURAN DURAN tribute band composed of dynamic live performers available for short tours, regular local shows, and weekend out of town shows.
We embody and channel Duran Duran, playing note-for-note renditions of Duran songs. We emulate the look and feel of an actual Duran Duran show.
We play everything from Planet Earth and Girls on Film, to Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf, to Wild Boys, to Ordinary World, Notorious, Come Undone and many more.
We do a live tribute to Duran Duran, spanning their career and hits, featuring authentic instruments and clothing.
Johnny Alonso, guitar
Johnny Alonso plays the electric guitar and sings backing vocals for the band. A total east coast guy (New York native, Baltimore heart) Alonso is a graduate of NYU's Actor's Studio. A full time actor - a veteran of the business. He has guest starred in many film and tv shows and had recurring contract roles on the WB's "Dawson's Creek" as Jimmy Franco, and the CW's "One Tree Hill" as Joey D. Currently shooting a new series called "NASA 360" for Discovery Channel, Johnny eagerly jet sets and finds the time to practice and perform with his new So. Cal family RIO.
"I grew up listening to Duran music. But I never really tried to play any of their songs on the guitar. I was more into Agent Orange, The Damned, The Ramones, and Bad Brains. But when aproached to audition for the group, I said yeah...I kinda know all these songs...this stuff will be fun to play live. So, I plugged the Gibson into my half stack Marshall, retied my combat boots and now I'm in the band."
Gil Barron, bass
Singer/guitarist/bassist/pianist based in San Diego. Currently performing at Buon Giorno Ristorante in Bonita, CA.
I play everything from Latin (Gipsy Kings, Luis Miguel, Santana, Jobim) to classic rock (The Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Peter Frampton) to pop (Beatles, Duran Duran, Chris Isaak) to smooth jazz (Sade, George Benson, Bobby Caldwell, Marc Antoine) to old school (War, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder).
Completely self-taught, been playing guitar, bass, piano and singing for 25 years now. Started learning guitar after hearing the Beatles as a teenager. Picked up a bass after hearing John Taylor of Duran Duran. Sang in a gospel choir from 1991-1995. Can sing in both English and Spanish. Favorite singers are Luis Miguel and Frank Sinatra.
Have performed with Flamenco guitarist David de Alva since 1993. Had the fortune of singing with Nicolas and Canut Reyes of Gipsy Kings on separate occasions. I have performed with musicians in just about every genre but I guess I am a balladeer at heart. I love a great song.
My favorite songs include 'Estate' as performed by Joao Gilberto and 'Only the Lonely' as sung by Frank Sinatra. Always looking for other musicians to play with.
Doug Smith, drums
Duran Duran was the first band Doug really got into, back in 1984. It was Roger Taylor who first interested Doug in playing drums. Duran Duran's Strange Behavior tour stop in 1987 was Doug's first concert experience. He remembers going to Lou's Records, Off the Music and Licorice Pizza back in the 80's scouring the bins for Duran imports.
"I had a worn out cassette copy of Arena that I played over and over, with Seven and the Ragged Tiger on the flipside," Doug remembers. "I used to come home from school and listen to Duran Duran and Rio over and over as I did my homework each night."
Doug taught himself how to play drums (right or wrong) by watching other drummers play, most notably Roger Taylor, Stewart Copeland, Larry Mullen Jr, and Tony Thompson.
In the late 80's Doug got into punk rock and drifted away from new wave.
Doug played in a bar band, PRI for about 14 years, and in a punk band, United Riot for one. Doug was a founding member of the San Diego Smiths tribute band Still Ill, and also plays in the country outfit SickString Outlaws.
"Even though I drifted away from new wave for a while, I always listened to 80's music. I really don't like that many new bands. I always find myself listening to Duran, or Depeche Mode, the Smiths, or 80's punk or even classic metal bands from the 80's," Doug explains.
Doug loves music and playing live, reading, writing and film, "but family is my number one priority. I met my wife in college and I think it was love at first site. It only took us 18 years to get together! After we had our daughter Murphy I realized how important family is. Murphy is 3 and a half and our son Finnegan is 1 year old."
Nite Romantics - A Tribute to Duran Duran Tribute City Listing