Battle of the bands

THEY were the New Romantic heart-throbs who went shoulder-pad to shoulder-pad against each other in the 1980s.

And now Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet are vying for supremacy once more – not in the pop charts this time, but on the West End stage.

Both groups are bringing their stories to the theatre in rival shows. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of To Cut A Long Story Short, their first chart entry, Spandau Ballet are putting together a jukebox musical with many of their hit songs.

Meanwhile, Duran Duran, who have sold 100 million records globally, have recently completed the first draft of a stage musical that they hope will go to the West End next year.