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Duran Duran Profile from Patches Magazine March 1984
DURAN DURAN have become the worlds Favourite Pop Band. As Duran fever sweeps Britain, Patches Proudly Presents...
The Duran Duran Story

The first Duran Duran Line up played its debut gig in 1978 at a Birmingham club called Barbarella's. The Line up was 16 year old Nick on Keyboards and rhythm unit, John on lead guitar, Simon Colley on bass, and Steve Duffy on vocals. Steve and Simon left soon after.

The Twosome then recruited Andy Wickett as lead singer and he in turn approached Roger to come and play drums for them. Rogers forceful drumming was enough to convince John to take up the bass, so they could develop a tighter rhythm section

Out of this line up, the Duran Duran sound emerged. John and Nick began working on a song, which was to become known as Girls on Film. After they made their first demo tape, Andy Wickett left to try other things. Meanwhile a new guitarist was found in Andy Taylor.

While trying to get gigs during this period, Duran Duran came into contact with Paul and Micheal Berrows who ran The Rum Runner, Birmingham's Trendiest nightclub. Besides offering them a residency at the club, the Berrow brothers offered to co-manage them. They started to rehearse regularly at The Rum Runner and it was there they auditioned Simon Le Bon.

Simon turned up wearing a now legendary pair of pink spotted trousers and clutching a book of lyrics. Amongst the lyrics were Night Boat and The Chauffeur. Nick and Roger knew Simon was the one the minute they clapped eyes on him. When the other two saw him the next night, they too were convinced. They all went along to The Rum Runner and within half an hour they had written Sound of Thunder. Finishing the song, Nick and John winked at each other and said 'This is it'. Duran Duran were on their way.

THE EARLY DAYS

Autumn 1980 and the boys were offered the support slot of Hazel O Conner's national tour. Without a second thought Micheal Berrows sold his house to finance them on the road. During the tour, they were spotted by a man from EMI and, on the last night they were offered a recording deal. They Immediately went into the studio and recorded Planet Earth for release as a single. Girls on Film and Careless Memories followed. June saw the release of the first Duran Duran album and also their first headlining tour of Britain.

The New Romantic craze was in full swing and Duran Duran embraced the tag like no other. 1982 brought us songs like Save a Prayer and exotic videos to go along with them. Recording in foreign paradises became a Duran Duran trademark. From April to December they embarked on a World Tour, taking in Australia, Japan, USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium and France. Duran-mania was sweeping the world.

1983 must rank as Duran Durans best year to date. In March Is There Something I Should Know gave them their first number one. After spending much of the year abroad, they came back to play live in Britain. The country went Duran Crazy, and the mania continues. And Simons comment 'It looks as though Duran Duran are going to be the band to dance to when the bomb drops'.
Simon Le Bon

Simon John Charles Le Bon was born on October 27 1958. At the age of five he enrolled in acting classes, and later made his first TV appearance as th 'dirty kid' in the Persil advert. Throughout his childhood, ating and singing were Simon's first loves. In the wild days of 1977, he set up his first band, a punk outfit under the name Dog Days. Unfortunately for them (but fortnately for Duran fans), they played only one gig, which was a disaster.

The year after Simon took a job as a hospital porter which lasted slightly longer than his stint in the punk band. Following that Mr Le Bon went to university, where he met and fell in love with a girl called Fiona Kemp. Fiona happened to be a barmaid at a club called The Rum Runners and knew of a band who practised there, and who were looking for a singer. She suggested that Simon apply for the job. Why not thought he, and arranged to meet Nick and Roger the Next Day
John Taylor
On June the 20th 1960, Jean and Jack Taylor elebrated the birth of their only son, Nigel John Taylor. Jack worked in a car factory in birmingham which was perhaps where his young son picked up his passion for cars. Always concious of his image, the boy dropped the Nigel from his name and became known as plain John Taylor. At school, 14 year old John begged his music teacher for guitar lessons, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Although he failed his A levels John was accepted into art school, where he was to design many of the early Duran Duran posters. John had a natural creative talent, a talent that he shared with a mate of his from down the road called Nick Bates who was later to be known as Nick Rhodes. The two of them also shared a love for bands like Roxy Music and the music of David Bowie. Out for a drink one lunchtime, they talked about the Film Barbarella and in particular the character of Duran Duran, which they decided was to be the name of the band they were about to form.
Andy Taylor
Andrew Taylor, the geordie of the band was born on February 16th 1961. He was the first born of the Taylor family, which was later ompleted by Ronnie, Lynette and Anne. Like John, Andy's main love at school was music. He played his first real gig at the age of 13 and from then on lost all interest in school. One day he just decided to give up his education all together and concentrate on making music. He joined many bands but never really fitted in with any of them. Seeing an advert placed by the other members of Duran in a national music paper, Andy with his guitar in one hand and his amp in the other, hopped on a train to Birmingham - and stayed.
Roger Taylor
Roger Andrew Taylor, the man never without a piece of chewing gum in his mouthcame into the world on April 26th 1960, at Heathville hospital Birmingham. Rodg (as he is known to the rest of the band) developed his first musical interest when he was abot Ten. Spurred on by his older brother, he developed a great interest in Motown music. But even before that he'd been known to bash away at the sauepans with his mothers knitting needles. Leaving school with five O Levels, he joined his firt band called The Scent Organs. He later drummed for a punk band called Crucified Toad. It was while he was bashimg the skins for them, that he was approached at aparty one night and asked to drum for a band called Duran Duran.
Nick Rhodes
Roger and Sylvia Bates were pleased to announce the birth of thier son Nicholas Bates on June 8th 1962, at thier house in Moseley, Birmingham. Always a lively toddler, Nick did quite well at school, showing a flair for art and english. Nick caused no problems for his parents until he came home with his hair bleached blond. A succession of colours followed, including Black, Pink, bourgondy, red, orange and blue. He began to loose interest in school, and at the age of sixteen, brought himself a synthesiser. It ws around this time that Nick started to keep company with John Taylor from down the road.