- News
- Posted
We Are Rewind WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition
We Are Rewind has announced an exclusive collaboration with Duran Duran for the WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition, a portable cassette player that pairs the band's distinctive visual world with a thoroughly modern take on the classic Walkman style. Finished in a look that echoes the chrome and shimmering tones associated with Duran Duran's Pop Trash era, the player is supplied with a special reissue of the album on cassette, turning the bundle into both a listening device and a collectible object that nods to the period when the band's tapes were a defining part of pop culture.
The WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition is based on We Are Rewind's existing cassette platform but tuned and presented specifically for this collaboration. The player is built around an aluminium chassis rather than plastic, giving it a more solid, premium feel and improved durability for regular use at home or on the move. Inside, the transport and dedicated headphone amplifier are optimised for cassette playback to deliver what the company describes as true hi-fi sound from the format, with careful attention paid to noise, stability and output power. Bluetooth connectivity has been added so that users can pair the player with modern wireless headphones and speakers, while a standard headphone output allows it to be used with traditional wired models. Power comes from a built-in rechargeable battery charged via USB C, with up to 12 hours of playback on a single charge, removing the need for disposable AA cells.
The collaboration is framed as a celebration of Pop Trash and of the physical formats that accompanied its original release. As Duran Duran's creative art director, designer and photographer Andrew Day puts it, 'When Pop Trash was originally released, the internet was in its infancy and streaming really wasn't a thing. Who knew that 25 years later, a cassette player would be a fitting way to celebrate its anniversary. The team at "We Are Rewind" bent over backwards to make sure this wonderful collaboration with the band was a truly fitting one. The result is something that's a lot more "Pop", and a lot less "Trash". Over the moon and back with the result, and I'm pretty sure Liberace would approve.' The package is intended to drop fans straight back into that era, but with a cleaner, more reliable playback experience than many surviving vintage machines can offer.
We Are Rewind positions the project as a way to reconnect listeners with the value of tangible music in a streaming dominated landscape. Founder and CEO Romain Boudruche comments that 'Duran Duran always had a look, a sense of style and control of how they looked and how they sounded and their association with cassettes is clear. We're delighted to work with the band and help music fans connect with the value of music and physical media in an age of streaming'. The partnership also lands at a time when cassettes are enjoying a modest revival, with UK cassette sales reported to have risen by more than 200 percent in the first quarter of 2025, underlining a broader renewed interest in physical formats alongside digital access.
In terms of functionality the WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition is more than a playback only device. A built-in recording option allows users to create their own analogue tapes by connecting a powered microphone or feeding a line level signal into the 3.5 mm input, making it possible to capture mixes, live takes or curated playlists direct to cassette. Bluetooth support enables tapes to be heard through wireless headphones and speakers, while legacy wired models can still be used via the conventional headphone jack. The move to a rechargeable battery charged over USB C offers up to 12 hours of operation between charges, reducing running costs and waste compared with traditional battery powered portables. The aluminium casing is designed to withstand everyday knocks better than older plastic shells, and for those who want to lean fully into the retro experience there is even an optional dedicated belt clip and a pencil in the box for manual tape rewinding.
We Are Rewind is a specialist manufacturer focused on reimagining cassette players for contemporary listeners, combining retro inspired industrial design with updated mechanics, electronics and connectivity. The company aims to offer devices that capture the charm and tactility of tape while meeting current expectations for build quality, audio performance and compatibility with today's listening habits. The WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition is priced at €169, $199 or £149 and is available directly from We Are Rewind and selected retailers. Info and photos by We Are Rewind.
