If there was ever a band to enjoy the early success of MTV then Duran Duran would be one of the best candidates. They became the poster boys for synth-pop during the early and mid eighties thanks to there manufactured sound and damn good looks. There music became the embodiment of the big in America, Model dating and hedonistic life style.
They spearheaded what was regarded as the Second British invasion of America in 1983 and MTV regularly endorsed there songs with massive playtime. They took music to a new high gloss level and this was portrayed in the no expense spared promo videos. However, the band could not shake of that image and many didn't take there work seriously enough.
The Band was formed in 1978 in Birmingham by Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Steven Duffy and then later joined by Andy Taylor, Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor. Although there were 3 Taylors none of them were related. Stephen Duffy left the band in 1979 and the rest of the guys carried on the band. They eventually signed for EMI records. There first hit was Planet Earth which hit the top 20 and was quickly followed by careless memories which didn't make the impact hoped. It wasn't until the third single Girls on Film that things took off. The reason why because of the video which showed Topless women grappling with each other. A massive success although heavily edited for the MTV censors.
They followed this success with other material such as hungry like a wolf (Jungle colonial scenes) and Rio(bikini clad women). The band were living out theres and many others fantasies. As the months progressed everybody had heard of Duran Duran. The teen market exploded as the band were on all magazines and papers and they adorned most teenagers walls, they were dubbed the fab five by the popular press and Princess Diana expressed her interest by claiming they were her favourite band.
Over the pond Duran Duran were making huge strides and the release of Something I should know cemented there position as the top band and was quickly followed by the Union of the snake , new moon on Monday and the Reflex which went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic. By the time they released Wild Boys they were at there peak and even graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and picking Grammy awards for there video work. They really cracked onto a winning formula.
During the mid eighties, the band took on side projects and effectively the band split in two with the results the Power Station and Arcadia hitting the airwaves. As soon as the project finished the band got back together and recorded the theme for the new James Bond film A View to a Kill. This was a huge hit going top in America and number 2 in the UK. This turned out to be last single the original 5 would record.
The band took a break and soon Roger and Andy Taylor were to declare they were out which left the remaining three to continue with help from other musicians. They released Notorious which did OK but by the end of the eighties the music scene was changing and Duran Duran were increasingly getting left behind. They tried to shed that old familiar teen idol image for a more serious sound but they somewhere along the line were not being taken in by the public, although sales of All she wants is were enough for a top 10 hit, the fall from the pedestal and the lack of promotion from there record label made the end of the eighties a time to take stock and reinvent the group for the nineties and beyond.
To there credit the band has done this and although have been derided by many, there music has stood the test of time and they still live on as a guilty pleasure.
To view Duran Duran songs during the 80s, click on the song title. Enjoy!
Planet Earth
Rio
Hungry like a wolf
Is there something I should know
Wild Boys
Girls on film - Censored one
A view to a kill
Notorious
Reflex
Recommended Listening or purchasing of Duran Duran Albums in the 80's. Click on the title for more information.
Duran Duran
Rio
Seven and the ragged Tiger
Arena
Notorious
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