DURAN DURAN


A LOT OF LINE-UPS AND FINALLY BACK TO THE BEGINNING

This band started in the 1978 and had many hitsover the years. Members left the group and was replaced by others and in 2003 they were back with the original line-up doing their first shows together in 18 years!!

You'd better check on www.duranduran.com for new dates around the world.
In October 2006, Andy Taylor left the tour and the rest of the band continued touring without him. The band said they had come to a point when they just couldn't work together with Andy any longer.

In 1985 the band recorded "A View To A Kill" for the James Bond movie and then the guys split up to do other projects. Andy and John started The Power Station. Nick, Simon and Roger formed Arcadia.
Later Andy and Roger left Duran Duran and the other 3 guys continued as a three-piece group releasing the album Notorius.

In 1989 guitarist Warren Cuccurullo (from Missing Persons and also with Frank Zappa) and drummer Sterling Campbell, were official new members of the group. Sterling then leaves the band in 1991.

In 1993 they release "The Wedding Album" featuring the hit "Ordinary World" and in 1997 John Taylor leaves the band.

And then in 2002 the original line-up got together again and have been in the studio and is now touring around the world!!!


ROGER TAYLOR

Roger is the drummer and he left Duran Duran 1985 to retire to his farm with his family. He returned after nearly 10 years in 1994 to help with the Thank You album. He had been invited to play on all subsequent Duran albums and he played on 3 tracks, (only two are known of), Perfect Day and Ball Of Confusion. In 1997, he formed a short lived band called Freebass.

He married Giovanna Cantone 1984 in Naples, Italy and lead singer Simon LeBon was his Best Man. They have a son named James.


JOHN TAYLOR

Born June 20, 1960, Birmingham, England

John, the bass player, was the co-founder of Duran Duran with his friend, Nick Bates (known as Nick Rhodes). John started out on the guitar, but switched to bass when Roger joined the band as the drummer.
John was the charismatic members of the band and quite popular among the girls. He was voted Most Fanciable Male in many teeny/pop music magazines.

In 1983 he was involved in a car crash that almost claimed his life.

John and guitarist Andy, formed The Power Station (together with Tony Thompson, drummer from Chic and Robert Palmer on lead vocals) in 1985.

John also began his solo projects, with his first single release 'I Do What I Do' in April 1986 - the theme for the film '9 1/2 Weeks'.

In 1991, John married Amanda de Cadenet, who later gave birth to their daughter Atlanta in 1992.

He did some more solo projects during 1995-96 an in January 1997 John announced that he was leaving Duran Duran.

He currently lives in Venice Beach, California.


NICK RHODES

Born June 8, 1962, Birmingham, England

Nick ("One finger Rhodes"), the keyboard player was the driving force behind Duran Duran with John Taylor. He early changed his name from Bates to Rhodes.

Nick is an art lover and has published his own book of polariod photographs entitled 'Interference' in 1984, followed by an exhibition at the Hamiltons Gallery, London in 1985.

Nick married Julie-Anne Friedman in 1984. They had a daughter Tatjana Leigh Orchid in 1986. Nick is now in another relationship with Madeleine Farley.

Since Duran Duran split and reformed in 1986, Nick has been one of the constants in the ever changing line-ups.


ANDY TAYLOR


Andy began his musical career at the age of 5, after been given a plastic guitar as a present. When Andy was 13 years old, he was playing pro and by the time he joined Duran Duran, he had played over 600 gigs all over Europe.
After seing an add in Melody Maker, Andy spent the last of his money on a train ticket to Bimingham.

Andy met his wife Tracey at her family hairdressers (Wilson, Wilson & Wilson) in Wolverhampton. She was styling the band's hair. Their wedding was called off three times due to band work commitments. The fourth attempt was successful and they married in Los Angeles. He added her maiden name to his and they became known as Wilson-Taylor.

Andy later opened a wine bar in Whitely Bay, simply named 'Rio'.

Together with John he started the project The Power Station. However, by 1985 things were turning sour for Andy and he quit amongst acrimonious words from both sides. By his own admission, Andy went to LA for a couple of years to sort himself out.

During that time, he was offered a $5 million solo record deal. He decided to get Steve Jones (ex-member from Sex Pistols). He bought him a new guitar and gave him $50,000. The end result was an album called 'Thunder'. However it charted low and was disappointing.

He did the soundtrack to the film 'American Anthem' and also recorded with Robert Palmer on 'Addicted To Love'.

In 1986 he released the single 'Take It Easy' and went on a US Solo Tour. In 1987, he wrote and produced 'Out Of Order' by Rod Stewart, which created 4 Top Ten hits.

By 1988, Andy was producing and co-writing for British Band Thunder and they produced 'Back Street Symphony'. In 1989 Andy produced 'Silver Destruction' the ultimate in British Biker Bands.

The start of the 90's saw Andy producing the 2nd Thunder album 'Laughing on Judgement Day' and in 1991, he played guitar for Paul Norgens. By 1992, he was producing for Jericho (reincarnation of Then Jericho). and in 1994 when the Power Station began to be resurrected again Andy went on tour with Power Station and Robert Palmer.

Andy and Tracey has a son named Andrew James, born 1984.

Find more at: www.andytaylor.com

 

SIMON LE BON

Born October 27th 1958, Herts, England.

Simon, the lead singer started out as a childhood actor and started taking acting classes after school at age 5. He appeared in a number of TV commercials from the age of 6. At the age 13 he was selected among hundreds of others to star in the West End musical "Tom Brown's schooldays".

He was introduced to Duran Duran by an ex-girlfriend and showed up at the audition in pink leopard skin trousers and though the rest of the band didn't think he sounded that good, they liked his attitude and lyrical ideas.

He's been with Duran Duran together with Nick Rhodes through all the different line-ups over the years.

In 1985 Simon capsized with his sail boat "Drum" in the Fastnet race but survived because he and the rest of the crew were caught in an "air pocket". Despite the accident Simon decided to participate in the "Whitbread Round the World" race later that year.

Simon married supermodel, Yasmin Parvaneh in 1985 and together they have 3 daughters - Amber Rose, Saffron Sahara and Tallulah Pine.


Most of this info was found at www.duranduran.com


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Photos: Band 1983 by Brian Aris, Andy then by Bradford Branson, John now by Joel Warren. Other photos unknown (if you have the info, please inform me)