Duran Duran

Artist Image: Duran Duran
Attribution

Biography

Duran Duran are an English Rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States. Since the 1980s, they have placed 14 singles in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart and 21 in the Billboard Hot 100 and have, according to the Sunday Mercury, sold more than 100 million records. While they were generally considered part of the New Romantic scene along with bands such as Spandau Ballet when they first emerged, they later shed this image. The band worked with fashion designers to build a sharp and elegant image that earned them the nickname "the prettiest boys in rock." The band's controversial videos, which included partial nudity and suggestions of sexuality, became popular in the early 1980s on the then-new music video channel MTV. Duran Duran were among the first bands to have their videos shot by professional directors with 35 mm film movie cameras, which gave their videos a much more polished look. In 1984, the band were early innovators with video technology in their live stadium shows. The group was formed by Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Stephen Duffy, with the later addition of Roger Taylor and, after numerous personnel changes, Andy Taylor and Simon Le Bon. (None of the Taylors are related, and Roger Taylor is not to be confused with the Queen drummer of the same name.) The group has never disbanded, but the line-up has changed to include guitarist Warren Cuccurullo from 1989 to 2001 and drummer Sterling Campbell from 1989 to 1991. The reunion of the original five members in the early 2000s created a stir among the band's fans and music media. Andy Taylor left the band in mid-2006, and London guitarist Dom Brown has since been working with the band as a session player and touring member.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1978
Number of Albums 65
Record Label EMI
Website www.duranduran.com
Wikipedia Duran Duran on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

When did MTV debut?

early 1980s

...Sidelights When MTV dawned in the early 1980s , it changed the face of popular music forever, and the British rock group Duran Duran was one of the fir...
How many members did Duran Duran have?

five

...s one of the first acts to take full advantage of its possibilities. The five member band of young men, with sculpted faces often adorned with makeup a...
What type of music did Duran Duran begin producing?

pop

...uran Duran began producing clean, sparkling (if not critically acclaimed) pop tunes. But what set them apart immediately were their videos: somewhat s...
How many albums have the group sold?

more than 70 million

...ould do a lot with it. But, with more than 25 years together and more than 70 million albums sold, the group has proven its significance well beyond t...
What has success in pop music always depended on?

image

...l beyond the video screen. Success in pop music has always depended upon image at least as much as the music itself. These girls had little use for th...
What was the perfect vehicle for propelling the band beyond obscurity?

music video

...ted faces often adorned with makeup and expensive clothes, saw in the music video the perfect vehicle for propelling them beyond obscurity and their m...
Who said video to us is like stereo was to Pink Floyd?

Nick Rhodes

...to us is like stereo was to Pink Floyd, said Duran Duran keyboa rdist Nick Rhodes . And we saw we could do a lot with it. But, with more than 25 years ...
How long has the group been together?

more than 25 years

...dist Nick Rhodes. And we saw we could do a lot with it. But, with more than 25 years together and more than 70 million albums sold, the group has prov...
When did Simon first see Yasmin in a magazine?

1984

... and has a gorgeous wife. Simon famously spotted Yasmin in a magazine in 1984 and fell for her instantly. He tracked her down for a date via her model...
How many beautiful daughters does Le Bon have?

three

...wn for a date via her modelling agent and the rest is history. They have three beautiful daughters. And if all that isnt enough to make you sick, he c...
What school did Le Bon go to?

Pinner County Grammar School

... to make you sick, he can grow a great beard. Le Bon went to Pinner County Grammar School , the same school that Elton John attended some years earlier...
Who did Bon form Duran Duran with?

John Taylor and Nick Rhodes

...audition? It was here when he formed Duran Duran with friends John Taylor and Nick Rhodes along with singersongwriter Stephen Duffy in 1978, but Duffy...
What was the name of the guitarist who joined the band?

Andy Taylor

...s personnel changes before settling on the lineup including guitarist Andy Taylor and lead singer Simon Le Bon in May 1980. When Duran Duran emerged t...
What was the name of the band's first major hit?

Girls on Film

...tish Invasion of the US in the 1980s. The band's first major hit was Girls on Film (1981), from their selftitled debut album, the popularity of which ...
When was Girls on Film released?

1981

...on of the US in the 1980s. The band's first major hit was Girls on Film ( 1981 ), from their selftitled debut album, the popularity of which was enhance...
On what channel did Girls On Film's music video appear?

MTV

... a controversial music video. A heavily edited form played in rotation on MTV . The band's breakthrough sophomore album was Rio (1982), which peaked at...
What was the name of their third album?

Seven and the Ragged Tiger

...ard for Best Music Video in 1984. Their followup third album, Seven and the Ragged Tiger , became their only UK number one album and featured the US an...
In what country did HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF rank number six on the Billboard 200 album chart?

US

...1982), which peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 album chart in the US , number two in the United Kingdom, and number one in Australia and Canada...
Who won the Grammy award for Best Video in 1984?

Hungry Like the Wolf

...o in the United Kingdom, and number one in Australia and Canada. Hungry Like the Wolf won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Music Video in 1984. The...
In what year did the band topped the US charts with the single A View to a Kill?

1985

...er one album and featured the US and UK number one single The Reflex. In 1985 , the band topped the US charts with the single A View to a Kill from the...
What was the name of the 2004 album?

Astronaut

...80s. The original lineup from the New Romantic era reunited for 2004's Astronaut , a move that helped revive the band's profile. Inspired by David Bowi...
What did Duffy later form?

Lilac Time

...year, Duffy and Colley both left the group Duffy would later form the Lilac Time and were replaced by former TV Eye vocalist Andy Wickett and drummer ...
What did John Taylor switch to after recording a demo?

bass

...nd drummer Roger Taylor. After recording a demo, John Taylor switched to bass and guitarist Alan Curtis joined the band, only to leave within a matter...
What was Duran Duran's first single?

Planet Earth

...antic circuit in England and had secured a record contract with EMI. Planet Earth , the band's first single, quickly rose to number 12 upon its spring ...
In what year did the band secure a record contract?

1980

... Duran Duran were still having trouble finding a vocalist. By the end of 1980 , Duran Duran had become popular within the burgeoning new romantic circu...
What number did Planet Earth rise to?

12

...t with EMI. Planet Earth, the band's first single, quickly rose to number 12 upon its spring 1981 release. Immediately, Duran Duran became the leaders...
In what year will Duran Duran release their 14th studio album?

2015

...ongs that first propelled them to fame, fortune and critical acclaim? In 2015 , Duran Duran will cement their place in that illustrious grouping with a...
When you're young, youre not scared of what?

upsetting people

...the tension within the band. When youre young, youre not scared of upsetting people , and actually we can still push that sometimes. But harsh words ar...
In what month and year will the band begin a global tour?

February 2005

... a new album Astronaut, and has announced a global tour beginning in February 2005 . Other influences the band has mentioned include Mick Ronson, The C...
Who was the band's first singer?

Stephen Duffy

...olls, Velvet Underground, Visage and Blondie. Their first singer was Stephen Duffy , who went on to lead TinTin and The Lilac Time. Several drummers an...
What was Stephen Duffy's career?

TinTin and The Lilac Time

...die. Their first singer was Stephen Duffy, who went on to lead TinTin and The Lilac Time . Several drummers and guitarists were tried, as well as a han...
When did Duffy leave Duran Duran?

1979

... as well as a handful of vocalists after Duffy left Duran Duran early in 1979 . The owners of the club, brothers Paul and Michael Berrow, became the ba...
Who were the owners of The Lilac Time?

brothers Paul and Michael Berrow

...fy left Duran Duran early in 1979. The owners of the club, brothers Paul and Michael Berrow , became the band's management, and paid them to work as do...
What did they do when they weren't rehearsing?

work as doormen, DJs and glass collectors

...others Paul and Michael Berrow, became the band's management, and paid them to work as doormen, DJs and glass collectors when they weren't rehearsing....