Cruel World presented by Goldenvoice returned to the Brookside at the Rose Bowl May 11th in Pasanda, CA with better weather than last year, as a few songs into Iggy Pop’s set the festival had to be canceled and resumed the next day. This year Cruel World was headlined by Duran Duran, Interpol, and Blondie. The lineup also included Dreamcar, Simple Minds, Placebo, Soft Cell, Adam Ant, Ministry, Gary Numan, and the Jesus and Mary Chain. In total there were over 30 bands across three stages.

For Dreamcar (Tony Kanal), they played their first performance for 2024 the night before Cruel World at the El Rey Theater. Their first performance since 2017 took place last year. Just a month prior Kanal played Coachella for two weekends for No Doubt’s first performances since 2015. Dreamcar played an 11 song set including “After I Confessed,” “We Rats,” and “Kill For Candy,” and a cover of David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream.” It was easy to see how ecstatic frontman Davey Havok, also of A.F.I. was over the next set from Adam Ant as he had mentioned it throughout the performance. During Adam Ant’s set, Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros drummer Stephen Perkins was spotted in the pit. Blondie was the second to last performance of the mainstage and this was their second Cruel World appearance with the first taking place in 2022 when the festival was two days. Original Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock joined the same year as a touring member. Blondie played a set full of hits like “One Way or Another,” “Call Me,” “Rapture” and “Heart of Glass.” 

Closing out Cruel World was none other than Duran Duran (John Taylor) whose last L.A. area shows were at the Hollywood Bowl in 2022 for three nights. Their Future Past 40th Anniversary Tour included Nile Rodgers & Chic, and Bastille playing arenas across the country and U.K. Duran Duran played a 16-song set just two songs shorter than their regular set on tour. The show began the same as their Future Past tour with the four original members coming out on a riser in the center. Like Blondie before, Duran Duran played a number of hits which included “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “A View to a Kill,” “The Reflex,” “Girls on Film,” an encore of “Save a Prayer,” and “Rio.”