White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) performer Melle Mel
Charts
Duran Duran version
A 1995 cover version of "White Lines" featuring performances from Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel was released as the second single from English new wave band Duran Duran's eighth studio album, Thank You (1995). The single reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 5 on the US Dance Club Songs chart, No. 20 in Australia and No. 31 in New Zealand. The band continues to perform the song as a regular part of their live set.
This single had more promo releases than most bands have releases, and across this myriad of 12" and CD singles the band released more than 20 distinct remixes and edits of "White Lines", many of which were crafted by DJ Junior Vasquez. Apart from the singles and the Thank You album, the song also appeared as a B-side on the first single from the album, "Perfect Day".
A black and white music video was shot in January 1995 by Nick Egan, featuring Duran Duran, Melle Mel, and the Furious Five performing the song accompanied by breakdancers and people in skeleton masks.
On July 8, 2009, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson did a lip sync version of the Duran Duran cover featuring puppets on backing vocals.Critical reception
Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "England’s favorite former pretty boys have taken to the streets for the first single from their long-in-the-works album of covers entitled Thank You. To lend validity to the song the group, now a quartet, enlisted Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five as well as Melle Mel to lend background vocals. While the combination may sound frightening, the song has already picked up major adds at Modern Rock, and following the success of their last album, should also get Top 40 airplay." Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report felt that "at first this Grandmaster Flash classic and Duran Duran seem like an unlikely pairing, but it won't after you hear the finished work. This first release from an album of covers [...] is an exceptional effort."