Duran Duran is one of the bands that best personifies the 1980s. In the middle of that exciting and dynamic decade, Duran Duran was a perfect fit - musically and physically - to dominate the rotation on a relatively new music channel MTV.
It’s standard practice now, but Duran Duran was the first band I ever saw that used huge video screens over the stage to bring the audience close-ups of the band - as their fans became used to seeing in their music videos.
In 1993, Duran Duran found new success and was resurrected with their hit "Ordinary World" - a song that reflected the maturation of the band and its audience. Lyrics like "where is the world that I recognize?" spoke to the life that Simon LeBon had lived, and the losses that he had suffered.
On the eve of their concert in New Orleans - I talked to bassist John Taylor in his hotel room in Austin, TX. We talked about the early years of Duran Duran, who they are as a band, how they’ve grown, the new album and tour - and, of course, I asked John to share a good groupie story with me. John's answer was surprising and respectful, and spoke to how Duran Duran has evolved since those heady days at the beginning of the 80s, and the new romantic era.
Take a listen to my conversation with John Taylor in the audio player above - and see you at the Smoothie King Center tonight!
