Good afternoon everyone, today I'm going to talk to you about a band that made a mark in history, specifically if we focus on its casual and colorful aesthetics, I'm talking about Duran Duran.
So let's start.
Style and Boom
The name of the band was taken from a science fiction film starring James Fonda in 1978 called Barbarella. The idea came from two friends who met at the Institute, specifically the bassist John Taylor who came from Mataspank as a free agent and the keyboard player Nick Rhodes born in 1960 and 1962 respectively, who joined the singer and guitarist and Simon to form a musical quartet, however, this initial formation did not bear good fruit after their performance in different venues in Virginia, England, so later the last two members would leave the band to create another called underground, so Duran Duran had to look for new members.
Which were the guitarist Andy Taylor who came from the band Motor Way, the drummer Roger Taylor and the vocalist Simon Le Bon and two in 1961, 1960 and 1958 respectively. Simon Le Bon already had a consolidated background as a vocalist in different punk bands, including top dance, and he studied acting at the University of Birmingham, so as you can see, the members already had some musical experience and information before shaping what would be the great musical project of their lives.
Discography: Key Albums
Duran Duran (1981)
- This first album was recorded with the most important record companies on the global music scene at the time. I am talking about none other than EMI itself.
Featured songs
"Girls on Film"
- "Planet Earth"
Rio (1982)
- Considered his masterpiece, it is a mix of vibrant sounds and memorable videos filmed in exotic locations.
Featured songs
"Hungry Like the Wolf"
"Save a Prayer"
Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983)
- In 1983 he reached the number 1 position in England and the number 4 position in the United States with his third, the Seden Antebragüenza axis
Featured songs
- "The Reflex"
- "New Moon on Monday"
Arena (1984)
- The track was produced by Nile Rodgers, who worked with the band to take their sound to a more experimental level. This is evident in the powerful percussions, the enveloping synths and the almost tribal rhythm.
Featured songs
- "The Wild Boys"
Notorious (1986)
- This album shows a transition towards a more funk sound, marked by the departure of Roger and Andy Taylor.
Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) (1993)
They were also soundtracks for different films and if I have to highlight one among all of them, I would choose A View To A Kill from the film 007 starring the great Roger Moore.
Duran Duran have inspired generations of musicians and artists, and their ability to reinvent themselves has secured their place in pop music history. They have received multiple awards, including a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2022), and their impact lives on.
Their music is a symbol of the 80s, but their relevance goes far beyond that, thanks to their creativity and longevity.
