Nick Valensi joins Duran Duran on stage in Paris

The Strokes guitarist Nick Valensi made a surprise appearance during Duran Duran’s performance at the Accor Arena in Paris. Valensi joined the band for the final song of the night, the 1982 classic “Rio,” performing alongside Simon Le Bon and John Taylor.

The appearance occurred while The Strokes were concluding their European tour with a final show in Dublin, which did not feature Valensi. The guitarist has been taking a temporary break from his band’s 2026 world tour, a hiatus announced by the group in May.

The collaboration was facilitated by a personal connection: Valensi is married to Amanda de Cadenet, a media producer and photographer who was previously married to Duran Duran bassist John Taylor. Valensi noted that despite the short 48-hour notice, he was prepared for the performance.