Arena is a live album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 12 November 1984 through Parlophone. In 2004, the album was reissued on CD in remastered form with two bonus tracks.
Arena was Duran Duran's first live album, released at the peak of their commercial success in late 1984. It included one new song, the studio recorded "The Wild Boys", which as a single was a worldwide hit, reaching no. 2 in both the UK and the US.
Arena was released together with a number of corresponding releases, including the conceptual concert film Arena (An Absurd Notion), a documentary tour book and a board game. An edited version of the film with just the live performances, As the Lights Go Down, was also released. Arena marked the last album release featuring the complete original five-piece line-up of the band until the 2004 album Astronaut.
| rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
| rev2score =
| rev3 = Rolling Stone
| rev3score =
| rev4 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev4score =
| rev5 = Smash Hits
| rev5score = 7/10
| rev6 = Spin Alternative Record Guide
| rev6score = 2/10
Upon its release, Smash Hits reviewer Dave Rimmer criticised the album for its lack of "any kind of live feeling", but still gave it a 7 out 10 rating for its "competent" content.
Duran Duran
- Simon Le Bon - lead vocals, ocarina on "The Chauffeur"
- Nick Rhodes - keyboards, synthesizers, sound effects, backing vocals
- Andy Taylor - guitars, backing vocals
- Roger Taylor - drums, percussion
- John Taylor - bass guitar, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Andy Hamilton
- Raphael DeJesus
- B.J. Nelson
- Charmaine Burch
Technical
- George Tukto – engineering
- Jason Corsaro – engineering ; mixing
- Duran Duran – production
- Nile Rodgers – production
Artwork
- Assorted Images – sleeve production
- Mike Owen – outer photography
Charts
Weekly charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Arena
! scope="col"| Chart (1984–1985)
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
| 8
|-
|-
|-
|-
! scope="row"| European Albums (Music & Media)
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
| 8
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)
| 1
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|}
Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1984 year-end chart performance for Arena
! scope="col"| Chart (1984)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
| 75
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
| 63
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (Gallup)
| 31
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1985 year-end chart performance for Arena
! scope="col"| Chart (1985)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
| 72
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
| 33
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
| 25
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
| 32
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (Gallup)
| 73
|-
! scope="row"| US Billboard 200
| 61
|}