Biographic - Sunday August 16, 2015 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

In the early days, they were routinely derided as a boy band of new wave dandies, a passing fad that would fade faster than the frilly shirts they sported. Three decades later, Duran Duran is still going strong and is cited as a major influence by artists as diverse as Franz Ferdinand, Pink, and Beck. Named for the character Durand Durand in the sci-fi romp "Barbarella," Duran Duran formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978. By the time the band released its debut single, Planet Earth in 1981, the lineup had settled at Simon Lee Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor. (None of the Taylors are related.) They quickly became a worldwide sensation, thanks in large part to their stylish good looks and the lavish videos, usually filmed in exotic locales, that accompanied their string of hit singles. At the height of their success, the band record the title song to the movie "A View To a Kil" it became the first James Bond theme to top the U.S. pop charts. But tensions within the band were mounting and with Duran Duran on hiatus, the camp split into two factions, Simon teaming up with Nick and Roger to form Arcadio, while John and Andy recruited singer Robert Palmer and chic drummer Tony Thompson to create The Power Station. In 1985, both Duran Duran and the Power Station performed to a tv audience of more than 1.5 billion people during the "Live Aid" concert, but by 1986, Duran Duran was reduced to the trio of Simon, Nick and John. Guitarist Warren Cuccurullo and drummer Sterling Campbell were recruited to the ranks, but the band's popularity had passed its zenith and Duran Duran began to slip from the radar. 1993's "Wedding Album" featuring the hit "Ordinary World" saw an upsurge in fortunes, but the impetus was soon lost. Following the subsequent departure of John Taylor, the band was reduced to the two original members, Simon and Nick, plus Cuccurullo, the lineup that soldiered on four therest of the decade. In 2003, the original lineup reconvened, they were awarded the MTV Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2005, 20 years after starring at "Live Aid," they headlined the Rome concert of the "Live8" extravaganza. The following year, Andy left the ranks once more. Next month sees the release of the first Duran Duran studio album in 5 years. Produced by Mark Ronson and Nile Rodgers, "Paper Gods" features as diverse as John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Janelle Monae and Lindsay Lohan!

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