Duran Duran Biography

Rock group. Members of its most famous line-up included Nick Rhodes (originally Nick Bates, 1962- ), John Taylor (1960- ), Simon Le Bon (1958- ), Andy Taylor (1961- ), and Roger Taylor (1960- ). Named after a character in the 1960s science fiction cult classic Barbarella, Duran Duran became one of the leading New Wave rock acts of the 1980s—known for their good looks, flashy videos, and unusual lyrics.

The band was started in the late 1970s in Birmingham, England by keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist John Taylor (he later switched to bass guitar). The pair had been friends for years, having met when they were barely in their teens. They had the same taste in music—especially glam rockers T. Rex, David Bowie, and Gary Glitter—and in fashion. In 1980, Simon Le Bon auditioned for the group, wearing pink leopard-print pants, which left an indelible impression. He soon became the group’s lead singer. Guitarist Andy Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor completed the quintet. (None of the Taylors are related.)

After playing numerous gigs in the Birmingham area, Duran Duran hit the British charts with the single “Planet Earth” in 1981, which reflected their post-punk meets pop style. For the group, their image was as important as their sound. They wore makeup and dressed in foppish clothes, which were part of the new romantic style of fashion and music popular in England at the time. Later that year, they released their self-titled debut album. While many critics largely disregarded their music, Duran Duran was embraced many teen-oriented magazines and developed a large following, especially with female fans.

One of the early success stories on MTV, Duran Duran soon took advantage of an emerging promotional tool—the music video. Their first video for “Girls on Film” caused quite a stir for its risqué content. With their second album, Rio (1982), their cinematic music videos helped make them stars in the United States. “Hungry like the Wolf” depicted the quintet as adventurers and received heavy rotation on MTV, which helped the single reach the number three spot on the charts. The video for the title track was also popular and showed them living the glamorous life in Sri Lanka. As part of the band’s sexy and stylized image, the album also featured a flawless female face on the cover by artist Patrick Nagel. For all of their attractive trappings, they were skilled musicians capable of crafting synthesizer-driven New Wave pop songs.

While they received little critical notice for their music, Duran Duran did get some recognition for their artistic vision. They won two Grammy Awards for Best Video, Short Form for “Girls on Film/Hungry Like the Wolf” and Best Video Album for Duran Duran. Around this time, the band was already releasing its third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983). The album spawned several hits, including their first number one single, “The Reflex.” Known around the world, Duran Duran had legions of fans waiting for them at nearly every stop on their tours.