And we just sort of dug in with each other, and nobody quit. We started spending time together, started hanging out together, enjoying each other's company, writing new material together and enjoying that process. 'There was a lot of arguing and fighting, but then there were moments when we just blew our own minds. 'It's not like once we all signed on there were no second thoughts there were as many second thoughts as otherwise,' Taylor said. Simply reuniting for a cash-in tour a la The Eagles would have been a lot easier, but Taylor said the process of writing new music was vital to the reunion's success. After they 'tore the roof off the place,' they convened in Los Angeles with Rhodes, who said he was up for a reunion of the original band, but only if a new Duran Duran album was part of the deal.Īfter a few phone calls, the three unrelated Taylors gathered with Rhodes and LeBon and recorded 'Astronaut,' a 12-song collection that sounds like Duran Duran without sounding outdated, a club-ready, groove-heavy set built for 2005. He was touring as a solo act around 2000 when LeBon joined him onstage in New York for a few songs. Taylor said the decision to regroup came incrementally. We're trying to turn ourselves on, and everyone else at the same time.' We're not just dragging our asses around, trying to make a buck here. 'We love what we do,' John Taylor said in an interview from his Los Angeles home before the tour launched. tour stopping in Salt Lake City on Saturday, the first time the original quintet has ever visited Utah. Back then, the quintet merged several musical styles with platinum success thanks to the members' love of glammy romantics like Roxy Music, art-rockers like David Bowie and American funksters like Chic, and they took advantage of the then-new medium of music video to become arguably the biggest beneficiaries of MTV's birth in 1981.Īfter dwindling to only two original members by the end of the 1990s, the original Duran Duran - singer Simon LeBon, bassist John Taylor, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, guitarist Andy Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor - is back with a new album, 'Astronaut,' and a massive U.S.

It's easy for the cynical to dismiss Duran Duran's reunion, especially for those who cringe at the memory of '80s pop music, whether it's the poofy hair, inexplicable fashions, synthesizer-heavy sounds or MTV-induced style dominating musical substance that rubs them the wrong way.įor fans of the band who were dubbed 'The Fab Five' by the music media at the time - so fast and widespread was Duran Duran's early '80s success - the re-emergence of the five original members for the first time since 1983's 'Seven and the Ragged Tiger' album is cause for celebration. He later moved on to direct films including 1986's cult favorite Highlander and others in later decades.MTV's earliest wild boys are back, and bringing new songs and old hits to SLC

Mulcahy was recognized for his incredible work when he received the Video Vanguard Award at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards. He became one of the most prolific music video directors of the decade also creating The Motels 'Only the Lonely', Billy Joel 'Allentown', Spandau Ballet 'True', Elton John 'I'm Still Standing', Elton John 'I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues', Bonnie Tyler 'Total Eclipse of the Heart', Billy Joel 'A Matter of Trust', Kenny Loggins 'Meet Me Halfway', Def Leppard 'Pour Some Sugar on Me' and Billy Joel 'We Didn't Start the Fire' in addition to dozens of others. For Duran Duran, Mulcahy also directed videos for 'Rio', 'Is There Something I Should Know?', 'The Reflex' and 'The Wild Boys' among others. Previous to this, as the artform was evolving into mainstream popularity, Mulcahy had directed other music videos including The Buggles 'Video Killed the Radio Star', The Vapors 'Turning Japanese', Rod Stewart 'Young Turks' and Kim Carnes 'Bette Davis Eyes' among many others. Director Russell Mulcahy, who had directed the band's first video 'Planet Earth,' was brought back to make the music video for 'Hungry Like the Wolf' and would direct many of Duran Duran's music videos in the decade.

Duran duran hungry like the wolf