Mark Ronson and his band The Business Intl played an all-star show at London’s Hackney Empire last night (September 29).
Performing tracks from his recently released album, ‘Record Collection’, along with older songs from previous record ‘Version’, the songwriter-producer was joined by guests on stage including members of Duran Duran, Boy George, The View’s Kyle Falconer and rapper Spank Rock.
Singer Rose Elinor Dougall, previously of The Pipettes, also performed, not only singing her parts from ‘Record Collection’ but also filling in for Lily Allen on Ronson‘s cover of Kaiser Chiefs‘ ‘Oh My God’.
Falconer took lead vocals on ‘The Bike Song’, as he does on the new record, and played a guitar emblazoned with the Scottish flag. He also stood in for Amy Winehouse to provide vocals on the cover of The Zutons‘ ‘Valerie’.
With his band dressed in matching black and silver suits, at various points through the show Ronson drummed, DJed, played guitar and keyboards, and even sang live.
Despite all the guests, the New Yorker still found room for most of Duran Duran, with Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor linking-up onstage with the producer who has just recorded their latest album, to perform the likes of ‘Girls On Film’.
“If you’d have told me years ago that I’d get to play onstage with these legends it would have blown my mind,” Ronson told the crowd.
The biggest crowd cheer of the night was saved for ‘Record Collection’ collaborator Boy George, who appeared to sing the tender ‘Somebody To Love Me’, with a Ronson declaring: “This is my favourite track from the new album. It’s great to be back in London – the city where I was born!”
