Singer Simon Le Bon admitted he had to overcome the “terror” of performing live in front of fans.

The Duran Duran frontman, who has been appointed MBE, also confirmed he had no intention of slowing down his music career as he was recognized for his services to music and charity on Tuesday.

Le Bon dropped out of university to perform with the group, which became synonymous with the New Romantic scene, after a successful audition in the 1980s.

With hit songs including Rio and Hungry Like The Wolf, Duran Duran had a number one album in the UK charts with Seven And The Ragged Tiger in 1983 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Speaking of his performances after receiving his royal honor from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle, Le Bon told the PA news agency: “It is the most immediate and essential aspect of our job, to get up and sing a song or make music in front. of a crowd.

“Whether it’s five people in the living room or around a campfire, or standing in front of 30,000 people with their arms raised, it’s essentially the same thing. It may feel very different.

“I used to be a very nervous artist.

“I was terrified and little by little I have been able to overcome that fear and I no longer have it.

“I just go out there and it feels natural.”

When asked if leaving university to study Duran Duran felt like a gamble, Le Bon said it was a big decision, but he had “no doubt it was the right thing to do.”

He said: “I met some guys who were ready to get on stage and perform professionally at the highest level, without having to finish a lot more school, and it was all about writing and creativity.

“I just thought, ‘This works for me,’ and I could tell from the band that they were very serious and that we had a very good opportunity.”

Duran Duran has returned to the mainstream music scene in recent years, including the headline act at the Latitude Festival in July.

The group also performed at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Party in front of Buckingham Palace in 2022, which Le Bon described as an “incredible event.”

The 66-year-old suggested his renaissance was due to his longevity and the internet, which saw his music picked up by “a new generation of audience” who had access to older songs and “started to look back.”

Speaking about the future of Duran Duran, Le Bon said the group will “move forward” while sharing their love for their profession.

He said: “It scares me to think what would have happened to me if I didn’t have to prepare for a show or a tour or write something new.

“I think I would slowly wither like a leaf and fall apart.

“It’s good to have a reason to live besides a family.

“I love music, I love my job.

“I feel incredibly lucky to do what I do, I would recommend it to anyone.

“It’s hard, but it’s worth it.”