![]() Simon, Nick, and Roger formed Arcadia, a band with similar sensibilities to the regular group. John and Andy leaned into a more rock-oriented direction, forming The Power Station with singer Robert Palmer and Chic drummer Tony Thompson. This resulted in two side projects occurring at what appeared to be the band’s peak. The band would also win two Grammys that year (for long and short-form video) and get featured on the cover of Rolling Stone.Īfter a rapid ascent and amazing success, there was desire in the ranks to stretch. 1984 saw a worldwide tour that was captured on the live Arena album a new single on the collection, “The Wild Boys,” went to #2. Subsequent single “New Moon on Monday” went to #10, but “The Reflex” was their first song to go all the way to #1 in America. Top Twenty five times with songs from three albums in one year. “Union of the Snake” hit #3 before the year was over, giving the band the distinction of having hit the U.S. Before 1983 was out, the band had recorded and released their third album, Seven and the Ragged Tiger. Public appearances produced screaming mobs of fans. Throngs of people filled the streets at signings. Members of the band have compared this period to Beatlemania, and they weren’t wrong. “The Reflex” (Uploaded to YouTube by Duran Duran) Buoyed by this success, the band re-released their first album in the States with an added single, “Is There Something I Should Know?,” which went to #4. As popular as the songs were, the videos were even bigger driven by constant rotation on MTV, album sales soared. The album went to #6 in the States in 1983, and a fusillade of hit singles saw major success, including “Hungry Like the Wolf” (#3), “Save A Prayer” (#16), and “Rio” (#14). The new Rio dropped in late 1982, with the group repositioned as a dance band. The band convinced their American label, Capitol, to allow them to remix and re-release the entire album. However, Rio stiffed in the U.S., except for some dance remixes that were popular in the clubs. “Hungry Like the Wolf” (Uploaded to YouTube by Duran Duran) in March of 1982, they were on their way to being superstars. The band began to generate more attention for both their songs and their looks they also earned many new fans when they toured in support of Blondie. was via its sexually charged video for “Girls on Film,” which underwent serious editing to be shown on MTV. One of the earliest impressions that the band made in the U.S. Their first album, Duran Duran, arrived in June of 1981. From the beginning, the band was conscious of showmanship and image stylist Perry Haines and other designers collaborated with the group on their look.įrequent Duran Duran collaborator Russell Mulcahy directed “Rio” (Uploaded to YouTube by Duran Duran)Įventually, the group signed with EMI in December of 1980 and hit the studio soon after. The final “original” line-up would coalesce into John Taylor (bass), Nick Rhodes (keyboards), Roger Taylor (no relation, drums), Andy Taylor (also no relation, guitar) and Simon Le Bon (vocals). The most substantial contributor who didn’t stick around was guitarist Andy Wickett he co-wrote “Girls on Film” and the song that would become “Rio” before leaving to join The Xpertz (his later band, World Service, would open for his old mates in the ’90s). The line-up of the band went through a few configurations in the early days. Durand Durand, minus the title and the extra Ds. The reigning punk club was called Barbarella’s in a bit of nod, Nick and John decided to name their band after a character from the film, Dr. The dominant styles at the time were the New Romantic movement (characterized by an embrace of a pop-oriented, synthy sound and fashion inspired in equal measure by ’70s Glam Rock and the Romantic period of the early 1800s) and British punk (typified by the anti-authoritarian bent of The Clash and The Sex Pistols). Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, both still in their teens at the time, worked at the club and assembled a group to serve as the house band. The story begins at Birmingham club Rum Runner. Here’s how five lads combined pop music and high style to create an audio-visual legacy that’s lasted for four decades and counting. Duran Duran hit stores 40 years ago this week and helped to drive what observers called the Second British Invasion. Powered by a fervent fanbase and regular rotation on MTV, the band stormed the charts around the world, beginning with their self-titled debut album. Formed in Birmingham, England in 1978, Duran Duran exploded into popularity alongside the Video Age.
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