Who are Duran Duran

Duran Duran is an English new wave band that emerged in the late 1970s and became one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1980s.

Who were the original 5 members of Duran Duran?
The original line-up was Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, and Andy Taylor. However, the line-up of Duran Duran has changed a few times over the past few decades, with the departure of Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor in 1986 and the band’s 20-year hiatus after the Live Aid concert.

The band was formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, by keyboardist Nick Rhodes, guitarist John Taylor, bassist Nigel John Taylor (no relation to John), drummer Roger Taylor, and lead vocalist Simon Le Bon.

The band’s sound was characterized by its combination of new wave and electronic music, with catchy hooks, driving rhythms, and memorable lyrics. They were known for their stylish and colorful music videos, which helped to establish them as pioneers of the music video genre.

Duran Duran’s self-titled debut album was released in 1981 and contained the hit singles “Planet Earth” and “Girls on Film.” The album’s success established the band as a major force in the new wave scene, and they quickly gained a devoted following.

The band’s second album, “Rio,” released in 1982, cemented their status as superstars. The album spawned hit singles like “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Rio,” and “Save a Prayer,” and the band’s music videos for these songs became iconic in the early days of MTV.

Over the course of the 1980s, Duran Duran continued to release hit albums and singles, including “Seven and the Ragged Tiger” (1983), “Notorious” (1986), and “Big Thing” (1988). They also continued to push the boundaries of music video artistry with elaborate, cinematic videos for songs like “The Wild Boys” and “A View to a Kill,” which was the theme song for the James Bond film of the same name.

Duran Duran’s popularity began to wane in the early 1990s, but they continued to release albums and tour, and their music has remained influential to this day. In 2001, the band released “Astronaut,” their first album with the original lineup in over a decade. The album was a critical and commercial success and brought Duran Duran back into the spotlight.

In addition to their musical achievements, Duran Duran has also been recognized for their contributions to fashion and style. Their bold and innovative fashion choices helped to define the look of the 1980s, and their influence can still be seen in fashion today.

Duran Duran are recording a new album with Andy Taylor. The 62-year-old guitarist – who left the band in 2006 – revealed last November when the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that he had been battling stage 4 prostate cancer for five years and now bassist John Taylor has revealed their former bandmate has agreed to part of a “meaningful” new record they are working on.

John said: “When he dropped the bomb two days before the Hall of Fame, it was really shocking and terribly sad. We’re working on an album right now that is going to be coming out at the end of the year and he’s playing guitar.

“Had he come to LA and just gone on the TV show, we probably wouldn’t have even thought about it. That [the album] happened as a result of this. There’s a lot of cover songs on the album, songs meaningful to us when we were kids. So having him be a part of that project is great.”
The ‘Girls on Film’ hitmakers will record most of the record in Los Angeles and London but frontman Simon LeBon will also head to Ibiza to record with Andy in his studio.

John added: “LeBon is flying to Ibiza to work with Andy. I kind of wish I was there. I think it’ll be great.

“It’ll be really profound for them. They haven’t been in the studio together in maybe 10 to 20 years.”

In conclusion, Duran Duran is a legendary band that played an important role in the new wave and electronic music scenes of the 1980s. Their catchy songs, stylish fashion, and groundbreaking music videos helped to make them one of the most influential bands of their time. Despite ups and downs in their career, they continue to be a beloved and influential group in the world of music.