| 1958 |
October 27th
Simon John Charles Le Bon is born at Bushey Maternity Hospital, in Watford Hertsfordshire, near London to John and Anne Le Bon
April 26th
Roger Taylor is born at Heathville Hospital in Castle Bromwich, West Midlands to Hughie and Jean Taylor
June 20th
Nigel John Taylor is born at Sorrento Maternity Hospital, Solihull, Birmingham, the only child of Jean and Jack Taylor
February 16th
Andy Taylor is born at Tynemouth Royal Infirmary, near Newcastle to Ronnie and Sandra Taylor.
June 8th
Nicholas James Bates is born in Moseley, Birmingham, to Roger and Sylvia Bates, in his family’s house.
The same year Simon Le Bon starts modelling.
Simon begins acting classes and makes his first record with Pinner Parish Church choir ("Ave Verum" and "O For the Wings of a Dove")
Later this year he makes his TV debut in the famous "dirty shirt" soap advert.
Andy Taylor begins playing guitar and his neighbour, David Black, begins teaching him how to play
Simon stars in West End musical "Tom Brown's Schooldays"
Roger begins making his first drumming attempt using milk bottles and his mum's knitting needles"
John paints metal soldiers and plays wargames with his friend David Twist who’s Nick Bates’ schoolmate
Thanks to David Twist, he meets Nick Bates and finds they live right around the corner from each other in Hollywood (a suburb of Birmingham)
Andy Taylor's mum leaves family and his dad begins to bring him and his brother up.
Andy's dad buys him an electric guitar for Christmas.
Roger begins drumming along with his favourite records, and occasionally with local bands
John begins washing cars to earn money to spend on his hobbies: wargames and music
John and Nick attend their first concert: Mick Ronson at the Birmingham Town Hall. They will also stand in line for hours to get tickets to a Roxy Music show
Andy leaves school and starts playing in different bands. He tours men's clubs in Northern England to earn his living
Roger works in a yacht shop and buys his own boat. Later he sells it to buy a drum kit. He sets it up in his bedroom, and drives his parents mad
Roger joins a punk band called Crucified Toad
Simon plays in a pub band called Bolleaux. He also does one term at art school
Andy joins a pop punk band called The Gigolos, which then changes its name to Motorway
Motorway sign a deal with A&M Records and release their first and only record, a single called 'Teenage Girls'.
In Summer John begins playing electric guitar and joins his first band called Dada. Later he joins his first "real" band, Shock Treatment, with singer David Twist
In July John plays his first live show at Forshaw Heath Rugby Club, Birmingham, UK but it’s not clear which band he’s with
Roger joins another punk band, called Scent Organs (and not Sex Organs), with singer Jeff Thomas
The Scent Organs take turns rehearsing at band member's houses, until Roger's mum arranges for them to practice at the local church hall
The vicar turns The Scent Organs out of the church hall because the neighbours’ complaints,
Simon studies English and drama at night school
Nick leaves school and signs on the dole. He starts learning keyboards.
John fails his A-levels. They begin planning a band together
Andy joins another cover band as lead singer and guitarist, and begins performing at strip clubs and American airbases in Germany, playing six 45-minute sets a night
John attends art college with Stephen Duffy
In Spring Nick and John spend an afternoon at the “Hole in the Wall” pub in Birmingham, thinking hard of a name for their band. They first considered RAF as a name, then John suggests Duran Duran, after the Milo O'Shea character in Jane Fonda's classic sci-fi movie “Barbarella”.
1960
1961
1962
1963
1966
1968
1971
1972
1974/75
1976
1977
The band is formed and the name is chosen.
The first line-up is made as follows: Nick (on sinth and rhythm unit), John (lead guitar), Stephen Duffy (vocals and bass) and Simon Colley (bass and clarinet).
First UK dates
Apr 5 Lecture Theatre, Birmingham Polytechnic University, Birmingham, England (They play to an audience of about 10 people)
Apr ? Lecture Theatre, Birmingham Polytechnic University, Birmingham, England
May 8 Hexagon Theatre, Birmingham, England
May 10 Birmingham University, Birmingham
May 28 The Arts Lab, Birmingham, England (cancelled)
May 29 Hexagon Theatre, Birmingham Arts Centre, Birmingham
June 1 Barbarella's, Birmingham
Towards the end of Summer, Simon is the lead singer of a band called Dog Days. They play their first and last show at Harrow Tech, Harrow, England
UK dates
Nov 25 Red Star Club, Birmingham
? Barbarella's, Birmingham, England
Paul & Michael Berrow open their new club, the “Rum Runner” (273 Broad Street, Birmingham), borrowing its style from the New York’s Studio 54. The walls are all decorated with mirrors
Simon works on kibbutz in Israel and writes early lyrics for “Careless Memories”, “Sound of Thunder”, “Tel Aviv”.
Stephen Duffy and Simon Colley leave Duran to form Subterranean Hawks with TV Eye guitarist David Twist (former singer with John's band Shock Treatment)
TV Eye's singer Andy Wickett joins Duran.
John discovers disco and Chic’s bassist Bernard Edwards, and begins playing bass seriously
The band writes “See Me, Repeat Me”, which will later turn into “Rio”
The Scent Organs play a disastrous street concert in Roger's neighborhood
John and Andy Wickett see the Scent Organs playing at Barbarella's
Andy Wickett meets Scent Organs drummer Roger Taylor at a party, and invites him to a Duran rehearsal
Roger has a formal audition with the band and is hired on the spot to replace Nick's rhythm unit drum machine
Roger's first gig with the band is at “The Austeria”, Birmingham, England
Simon returns to England, works as a hospital porter in Harrow and sings in a dark pop group called Rovostrov
UK dates
Feb 1 Aston University, Birmingham, England
Feb 18 Nashville, London, England
Mar 12 Rum Runner, Birmingham, England
Apr 5 Birmingham Polytechnic, Birmingham, England
May 10 Birmingham University, Birmingham, England
May 29 Hexagon Theatre, Birmingham Arts Centre, Birmingham, England
June 1 Barbarella's, Birmingham, England
Duran make their first demo with producer Bob Lamb. It consists of “Girls on Film”, “Dreaming of Your Cars”, “Reincarnation”, and a song perhaps called “Working The Steel”; John plays both guitar and bass
UK dates
Oct 11 Golden Eagle, Birmingham, England
Nov 14 Birmingham University, Birmingham, England
Nov 15 Birmingham University, Birmingham, England (during one of these shows at the University. the crowd throws everything they can at Duran)
Nov 25 Red Star Club, Birmingham, England
Dec 8 Bewdley Caravan Park, Bewdley, England
Andy Wickett leaves the band to form World Service
Roger suggests to replace him with his friend, singer Jeff Thomas from the Scent Organs.
Jeff Thomas joins the band
Duran place an advert in a music magazine: "Lead-Rhythm guitarist wanted for Roxy-Bowie influenced MODERN band”
London guitarist Alan Curtis (of London's Pride) answers the advert and joins the band (some sources report Alan Curtis had joined the band before Andy Wickett left)
This lineup never performs live
The band travels in Jeff's van to Alan's flat in London for practice and rehearsals
“See Me, Repeat Me” becomes “Ami a Go Go”
Duran record another demo tape with Bob Lamb, consisting of “MM a Go Go” (“Ami a Go Go”), “Enigmatic Swimmers”, “Girls on Film”, and “Breaking Away” (which will later become “Late Bar”)
Simon starts studying in Birmingham University drama department and dates Fiona Kemp
Roger meets Giovanna Cantone at the Rum Runner, where she works in the cloakroom
| January |
UK date
Jan? - Fashion: Aston University, Birmingham, England (with Duran Duran)
Duran take their demo tapes to Paul & Michael Berrow at the Rum Runner. They see the band’s potential and hire them.
Duran become resident band at The Rum Runner earning £20 a night. Paul & Michael also agree to give the band a rehearsal space at the club, and book them for a few gigs.
Alan Curtis doesn't like either of the Berrows, and Jeff Thomas never gets along with Paul, so they both leave the band
| February |
UK date
Feb 1 Aston University, Birmingham, UK
Feb 18 Nashville, London, UK
| March |
UK date
Mar 12 Rum Runner, Birmingham, UK
Mar 25 The Holy City Zoo, Birmingham, England
| April |
Alan Curtis doesn't like either of the Berrows, and Jeff Thomas never gets along with Paul, so they both leave the band
UK date
Mar 25 The Holy City Zoo, Birmingham, England
Andy returns from a European tour
On April 24th, the band put another ad in the Melody Maker music magazine for a "Live-Wire Guitarist"
Andy answers the ad, sells some of his belongings and buy a train ticket to Birmingham for the audition
| May |
Andy impresses John and Nick with his professional experience (since then he had played 600 gigs). He's told the singer's "on holiday" and hired into the band
The guys start working at the Rum Runner, making different jobs for cash. John waits at tables, Roger polishes mirrors, floors, etc. Nick works as deejay, and Andy paints walls and cooks burgers; he lives in friends' houses as he gets established in Birmingham
The Berrows buy new keyboards for Nick, and a new bass for John
Another singer, Oliver Guy Watts, works with the band for less than two weeks, then Fiona Kemp, who works as a barmaid at the Rum Runner, recommends Simon to the band, and vice versa
Simon phones Michael Berrow, who arranges an audition with the band
On May 11th, Simon turns up at the audition with the band. He wears pink leopardskin trousers. They play “Girls on Film”, discuss favourite bands, and agree to try each other out for the summer
Nick said on meeting Simon: "I thought anyone who looks that stupid and writes Rostrov on the front of his exercise book is positively the one, Although he sounded awful, like a choirboy!"
Simon said of his first impression of Nick: "I'd been told that he was a bit of a weirdo, so I was surprised on just how together he was. He did look weird though: he had a pink glazed cotton jacket and purple trousers on. And blonde hair - very, very, very blonde hair. And he had make-up on - but it wasn't as good as it is now."
Band prints tickets for their first show with Simon and Andy in the lineup
Duran Duran sign official management contract with Paul & Michael Berrow
| June |
The Berrows and the band form the Tritec Music Company; using the Rum Runner office upstairs as official address
UK dates
Jul 5 Edinburgh Summer Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland - The first show with the classic lineup (someone says that the first show with the original five was at the Rum Runner instead)
Jul 16 The Rum Runner, Birmingham, England
Jul 19 Cedar Ballroom, Birmingham, England
Jul 22 The Holy City Zoo, Birmingham, England
Aug 6 The Rum Runner, Birmingham, England
Sep 16 Hosteria One, Birmingham, England
Oct 3 Aston University, Birmingham, England
Oct 4 Cedar Ballroom, Birmingham, England
Oct 9 Lyceum Auditorium, London, England (opening for Invisible Girls)
Oct 22 The Holy City Zoo, Birmingham, England (with Mike Berrow on sax)
Oct 24 Cedar Ballroom, Birmingham, England
Nov 9 Marquee Club, London, England
| November |
Simon decides to stay with the band and leaves university.
Michael sells his house for £15,000 to finance a support tour with Hazel O'Connor
The slot costs £ 12,000 Michael said: “It was the best £ 15,000 I’ve ever spent”
THE HAZEL O'CONNOR AND MEGAHYPE TOUR The band lives in a camping bus and earns £10 a week
Nov 14 Hazel O'Connor: Ulster Hall, Belfast, North Ireland (with Duran Duran)
Nov 16 Hazel O'Connor: Dublin Grand Cinema, Dublin, Ireland (with Duran Duran)
Nov 18 Hazel O'Connor: Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales (with Duran Duran
Nov 19 Hazel O'Connor: Apollo, Manchester, England (with Duran Duran)
Nov 21 Hazel O'Connor: Sheffield University, Sheffield, England (with Duran Duran)
Nov 22 Hazel O'Connor: Lancaster University, London, England (with Duran Duran)
Nov 23 Hazel O'Connor: Colston Hall, Bristol, England (with Duran Duran)
Nov 26 Hazel O'Connor: Top Rank, Brighton, England (with Duran Duran)
Nov 27 Hazel O'Connor: Odeon, Birmingham , England (with Duran Duran)
Nov 28 Hazel O'Connor: Liverpool University, Liverpool, England (with Duran Duran)
Nov 29 Hazel O'Connor: Odeon, Edinburgh, Scotland (with Duran Duran)
Dec 1 Hazel O'Connor: City Hall, Newcastle, England (with Duran Duran)
Dec 2 Hazel O'Connor: De Montfort Hall, Leicester, England (with Duran Duran)
Dec 3 Hazel O'Connor: Leeds University, Leeds, England (with Duran Duran)
Dec 4 Hazel O'Connor: University of East Anglia, Norwich, England (with Duran Duran)
It was during the Hazel O'Connor tour, that the band were spotted by A&R man Dave Ambrose from EMI and signed with EMI Records. Perry Haines (who coined the term "new romantic") takes charge of band's image.
They keep their creative control over music, videos, album covers, etc. The band earns an advance of £42,000 for album, tour, and video production, and a retainer of £50 each per week.
| December |
UK date
Dec 8 Marquee Club, London, England (first headlining show standing in for The Associates)
Dec 12 The Venue, London, England (This gig is sponsored by Rusty Egan)
Dec 14 Bow Wow Wow party, London, England (Another Rusty Egan gig)
The band begins recording the “Duran Duran” album at Red Bus Studios, London with producer Colin Thurston. They lay down “Planet Earth” and “Careless Memories”; other tracks are completed at Abbey Road, Utopia and Chipping Norton studios)
Duran meet director Russell Mulcahy and Gerry Laffy (then acting as Russell's assistant);
The video for “Planet Earth” is shot at St. Johns Wood with Russell
By the end of the year the video for “Careless Memories” is shot too, in Soho, directed by Perry Haines and Terry Jones
| January |
UK date
Jan 4 Lyceum Auditorium, London (opening for Sweet)
The band appears on the Richard Skinner sessions on BBC.
The band begins using hairdressers Wilson, Wilson and Wilson in Wolverhampton and Andy begins dating Tracey Wilson
BBC airs a three-minute of a Duran Duran Profile
Duran Duran perform their first gig in London (venue unknown)
February
On Feb 2nd “Planet Earth” single (backed with “Late Bar”) released in UK
Duran Duran do their first photo session with photographer Andy Earl
On Feb 21st “Planet Earth” peaks at #12 in UK and spends 11weeks on the UK charts
First UK Tour The first headlining tour of the UK, in support of the 'Duran Duran' album
Feb 27 Duran Duran: Aston Villa University, Birmingham, England (bootlegged)
Mar 2 Duran Duran: Brady's Club, Liverpool, England (cancelled)
Mar 3 Duran Duran: Manchester Polytechnic, Manchester, England
Mar 4 Duran Duran: Sundown Club, London, England (bootlegged)
Mar 5 Duran Duran: Rock City, Nottingham, England
Mar 6 Duran Duran: Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales
Mar 7 Duran Duran: Leicester Polytechnic, Leicester, England
Mar 8 Duran Duran: Top Rank, Sheffield, England
| March |
Thanks to the video, “Planet Earth” single hits #1 in Australia
| April |
On April 20th “Careless Memories” single (backed with “Khanada”) is released in UK; the 12" single includes a cover of David Bowie's “Fame”
Duran perform “Careless Memories” on “Top of the Pops”
| May |
Duran appear on their first magazine cover: “Smash Hit’s”
On May 9th “Careless Memories” peaks at #37 in UK
First North American Club Tour The first US dates took place in May and June but where or when, specifically, is still to be known
May ? Duran Duran: (venue?), Poughkeepsie, NY, USA (played to about eleven people)
Jun 10 Duran Duran: The Roxy, Hollywood, CA, USA (4 dates?)
| June |
On June 15th “Duran Duran” album is released worldwide. The first pressing does not include “To The Shore”
The band appears on the “Peter Powell Show” on BBC
“Duran Duran” album peaks at #3 in UK and remains in the charts for 118 weeks
The FASTER THAN LIGHT Tour
Jun 29 Duran Duran: Brighton Dome, Brighton, England
Jun 30 Duran Duran: Gaumont, Southampton, England
Jul 1 Duran Duran: Rock City, Nottingham, England
Jul 3 Duran Duran: Apollo, Manchester, England
Jul 4 Duran Duran: City Hall, Newcastle, England
Jul 5 Duran Duran: Tiffany's, Glasgow, Scotland
Jul 6 Duran Duran: Odeon, Edinburgh, Scotland
Jul 8 Duran Duran: Royal Concert Theatre, Liverpool, England
Jul 9 Duran Duran: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England (bootlegged)
Jul 10 Duran Duran: New Theatre, Oxford, England
Jul 11 Duran Duran: Birmingham Odeon, Birmingham, England
| July |
On July 13th “Girls on Film” single (backed with “Faster Than Light”) is released worldwide
BBC “Swap Shop” shows promo for “Friends of Mine” and “Girls on Film”
Duran performs “Girls on Film” on “Top of the Pops”
“Girls on Film2 peaks at #5 in UK
| August |
“Girls on Film” video is filmed at Shepperton Studios with directors Kevin Godley and Lol Creme
| September |
European Promo Performances The German dates are missing
Sep 7 Duran Duran: Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium
Sep 8 Duran Duran: Capitaine Video Club, Paris, France (EMI spends £9,000 on publicity and another £2,000 ferrying Duran fans from the Rum Runner to Paris to ensure a crowd! Broadcast on French radio; some songs appear on various concert bootlegs)
Sep 11 Duran Duran: Mandagsborsen, Stockholm, Sweden (filmed for Swedish TV; bootlegged; Simon interviewed after the show)
Sep 12 Duran Duran: Paradiso Club, Amsterdam, Netherlands (bootlegged)
On September 15th the band flies to America
First North American Headlining Tour Eighteen dates [still missing one or two]. EMI arranges a press conference along the way but the whereabouts is unknown; the set lists include the cover of David Bowie's “Fame”
Sep 16 Duran Duran: Spit, Long Island, NY, USA)
Sep 17 Duran Duran: [venue?], Boston, MA, USA
Sep 18 Duran Duran: Peppermint Lounge, New York, NY, USA
Sep 22 Duran Duran: Bayou Theater, Washington, DC, USA
Sep 23 Duran Duran: Eastside Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA
? Duran Duran: [venue?], Pittsburgh, PA, USA (bootlegged)
Sep 25 Duran Duran: Le Club Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Sep 26 Duran Duran: El Macombo, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (or El Mocambo?)
Sep 27 Duran Duran: [venue?], Detroit, MI, USA
Sep 29 Duran Duran: [venue?], Minneapolis, MN, USA
Sep 30 Duran Duran: Parkwest, Chicago, IL, USA
Oct 2 Duran Duran: The Roxy, Hollywood, CA, USA
Oct 3 Duran Duran: The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
| October |
On October 4th Simon, Nick, John & Roger do an interview on KROQ radio (Los Angeles, CA)
Oct 5 Duran Duran: I-Beam, San Francisco, CA, USA (with Quiet Room)
Oct 8 Duran Duran: Pirate's Cove, Cleveland, OH, USA
Oct 9 Duran Duran: Left Bank, Mount Vernon, NY, USA
Oct 10 Duran Duran: Underground Club, The Savoy, New York, NY, USA
After this show, Duran meets Andy Warhol in the backstage
From Oct 21st to 27th Duran spend a week at Townhouse Studios in London, recording the single and 12" mix of “My Own Way”
On October 29th the band flies to Germany
FIRST GERMAN TOUR Fourteen dates some of which are still missing
Oct 30 Duran Duran: Die Wartburg, Wiesbaden, Germany
Oct 31 Duran Duran: Markthalle Veranstaltungsentrum, Hamburg, Germany
Nov 4 Duran Duran: Jovel, Münster, Germany (with Our Daughter'sWedding)
| November |
On Nov 12th EMI holds a presentation to award the band with their Gold and Silver records for the sales of the “Duran Duran” album
On Nov 16th “My Own Way” single (backed with “Like An Angel”) is released worldwide, except in US
“My Own Way” peaks at #14 in UK with yet another 11 week run on the charts
The CARELESS MEMORIES Tour
Nov 29 Duran Duran: Gaumont, Southampton, England
Nov 30 Duran Duran: Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, England (filmed for the TVS series "Off The Record")
| December |
On Dec 3rd “Top of the Pops” airs Duran's performance of “My Own Way”
Dec 3 Duran Duran: Rum Runner, Birmingham, England
Dec 7 Duran Duran: Kent University Sports Hall, Canterbury, England
Dec 8 Duran Duran: University of East Anglia, Norwich, England
Dec 10 Duran Duran: City Hall, Sheffield, England
Dec 11 Duran Duran: Apollo, Manchester, England
Dec 12 Duran Duran: De Montfort Hall, Leicester, England
Dec 13 Duran Duran: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales (band is involved in a car crash on the way to this gig)
Dec 15 Duran Duran: Arts Centre, Poole, England
Dec 16 Duran Duran: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England
On Dec 17th “Top of the Pops” airs Duran's performance of “My Own Way” once again
Dec 17 Duran Duran: BBC College Concert, Hammersmith Odeon, London, England (filmed by the BBC; 'Careless Memories' recording later released as a b-side; bootlegged)
Dec 19 Duran Duran: Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland
Dec 20 Duran Duran: Empire Theatre, Liverpool, England
Dec 21 Duran Duran: Odeon, Birmingham, England
Dec 22 Duran Duran: Odeon, Birmingham, England
Dec 23 Duran Duran: Odeon, Birmingham, England
Duran performs “Anyone Out There” live on “Old Grey Whistle Test” in the UK
John goes to Ebony (his favourite clothing store on King's Road), and suddenly is blocked by so many fans that the police has to escort him home
| January |
First broadcast of "Off The Record" concert (recorded at Chichester Festival in November 1981) on TVS;
Andy's girlfriend, Tracey Wilson, joins the band as they work on writing new material in France
| February |
On February 21st Andy proposes to Tracey (on his 21st birthday) while she is ill; at first, she thinks she dreamt his proposal.
| March |
Duran record the “Rio” album at Air Studios, London with producer Colin Thurston
“Rio” cover paintings are commissioned to Patrick Nagel;
Duran hires director Russell Mulcahy (who directed “Planet Earth”) to work on several more videos
“The Chauffeur” video is directed by Ian Emes; inspired by the 1974 movie 'The Night Porter' and by Helmut Newton's photography (the dancing girl at the end is Perri Lister, once Billy Idol's girlfriend)
“My Own Way” video is shot at St. Johns Wood, directed by Russell Mulcahy
At the end of March Nick and Andy work on mixing several “Rio” tracks right up to the day they fly to Sri Lanka (Simon, John and Roger were already there)
| April |
Early that month Duran film the videos for “Hungry Like The Wolf”, “Save a Prayer”, and the colour portions of “Lonely in Your Nightmare” in Sri Lanka with Russell
The RIO Tour first tour of Australia; most dates are sold out
Apr 15 Duran Duran: Barton Town Hall, Adelaide, Australia
Apr 17 Duran Duran: Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
Apr 18 Duran Duran: Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia (bootlegged)
Apr 20 Duran Duran: Festival Hall, Brisbane, Australia
Apr 21 Duran Duran: Horden Pavilion, Sydney, Australia
Apr 22 Duran Duran: Horden Pavilion, Sydney, Australia
At the end of the last show Andy collapses of pyrexia, a tropical fever brought on by drinking polluted water in Sri Lanka, and misses the encore
Duran fly to Japan
Apr 25 Duran Duran: Nihon Seinenkan Hall, Tokyo, Japan
Apr 26 Duran Duran: Banpaku, Osaka, Japan
Apr 27 Duran Duran: Kinro Kaikan, Nagoya, Japan
Apr 28 Duran Duran: Sun Plaza, Tokyo, Japan
May 1 Duran Duran: Shibuya Kokaido, Tokyo, Japan
| May |
Duran go from Japan to Antigua in the Leeward Islands and there they film the video for “Rio” and “Waiting for the Nightboat” with Russell
The band returns to England. Andy collapses once again and spends five days in hospital with suspected malaria
Due to Andy's illness, European dates for June and July are postponed to September
“Hungry Like the Wolf” single is released worldwide (backed with the live version of “Careless Memories”)
Duran performs “Hungry Like the Wolf”, “Lonely In Your Nightmare” and “Hold Back the Rain” on “Get Set For Summer” in the UK
On May 10th the “Rio” album is released worldwide; the North American version is released on the Harvest label, and doesn't do very well
On May 13th “Top of the Pops” airs the first of a number of Duran's performance of “Hungry Like The Wolf”
“Hungry Like the Wolf” peaks at #5 in UK, spending 12 weeks in the UK charts
Duran perform “Hungry Like the Wolf” on “Dance Fever”
On May 22nd “Rio” album peaks at #2 in UK (it will spend 109 weeks there)
| June |
On June 1st “Rio” album peaks at #5 in US (it will remain in the US charts for 129 weeks)
The RIO Tour the tour restarts from the U.S.A. and Canada
Jun 23 Duran Duran: Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove, NJ, USA
Jun 24 Duran Duran: Ontario Theatre, Washington, DC, USA
Jun 25 Duran Duran: Pier, New York, NY, USA
Jun 26 Duran Duran: Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Jun 29 Duran Duran: North Stage Theater, Long Island, NY, USA
| July |
The RIO Tour the tour Cont...
Jul 1 Duran Duran: Chance, New York, NY, USA
Jul 2 Duran Duran: Peppermint Lounge, New York, NY, USA
Jul 3 Duran Duran: Paradise, Boston, MA, USA
Jul 5 Duran Duran: Le Club, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Jul 6 Duran Duran: Concert Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nick and John first, then Simon and Roger are interviewed on “Much Music” TV show in Canada
Jul 8 Duran Duran: Heaven, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Jul 9 Duran Duran: Clutch Cargo, Detroit, MI, USA (bootlegged)
Jul 10 Duran Duran: Parkwest, Chicago, IL, USA
Jul 11 Duran Duran: Palms, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Jul 14 Duran Duran: 1st Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Jul 16 Duran Duran: Playhouse, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Jul 18 Duran Duran: Dinwoodie Lounge, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Jul 19 Duran Duran: McEwan Hall Ballroom, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Jul 21 Duran Duran: Commodore, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Jul 23 Duran Duran: Showbox Theater, Seattle, WA, USA (The show is the same day as a massive outdoor Foreigner concert; Duran plays to 660 people)
Jul 25 Duran Duran: Kabuki Theater, San Francisco, CA, USA (cancelled)
Jul 27 Duran Duran: Greek Theater, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Nick meets Julie Anne Friedman at a Los Angeles yacht party
Simon and Nick interviewed on the “California Music Channel”
Simon and Nick are interviewed about band's early days on “Over The Top With Duran Duran” on KIQQ radio (Los Angeles, CA)
On July 29th after three postponements, Andy finally marries Tracey Wilson at Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood, California; John performs the duty of Best Man
| August |
Two weeks after meeting Nick, Julie Anne leaves home to follow the band on tour
Blondie's TRACKS ACROSS AMERICA Tour The band finishes their US tour as an opening act for Blondie
Aug 2 Blondie: Starlight Amphitheater, Kansas City, KS, USA (with Duran Duran)
Aug 4 Blondie: Metro Center, Rockford, IL, USA (with Duran Duran)
Aug 5 Blondie: Five Seasons, Cedar Rapids, IA, USA (with Duran Duran)
Aug 7 Blondie: Parade Stadium, Minneapolis, MN, USA (with Duran Duran)
Aug 8 Blondie: Poplar Creek, Chicago, IL, USA (with Duran Duran) - duplicate date - unconfirmed
Aug 8 Duran Duran: The Savoy, New York, NY, USA - unconfirmed
On august 9th “Save a Prayer” single released in UK (backed with “Hold Back the Rain” remix)
Aug 9 Blondie: Pine Knob, Detroit, MI, USA (with Duran Duran)
Aug 10 Blondie: Agora Theater, Cleveland, OH, USA (with Duran Duran)
Aug 12 Blondie: Civic Center, Providence, RI, USA (with Duran Duran)
Aug 14 Blondie: Meadowlands, East Rutherford, NJ, USA (with Duran Duran and David Johansen) Andy Warhol attends the show
Aug 16 Blondie: Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, USA (with Duran Duran)
Aug 18 Blondie: Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (with Duran Duran) -Maple Leaf Gardens?-
“Top of the Pops” airs Duran's performance of “Save A Prayer”
Aug 21 Blondie: JFK Stadium, Philadephia, PA, USA (with Duran Duran)
John meets Chic's drummer Tony Thompson in the men's room at one of the Blondie shows
Simon and Nick film commercial for MTV
In August 21st “Save a Prayer” peaks at #2 in UK and remain in the charts for 9 weeks
The Duran visit Andy Warhol
| September |
“Carnival” EP (night versions and remixes of “Rio”, “Hold Back The Rain”, “My Own Way”, “Hungry Like The Wolf”, and “New Religion”) is released in North America, Spain, the Netherlands, Japan and Taiwan
The band picks up the European dates postponed from May and June
Sep 23 Duran Duran: Draken Theatre, Stockholm, Sweden
Sep 24 Duran Duran: Draken Theatre, Stockholm, Sweden
Sep 25 Duran Duran: [venue?], Oslo, Norway
Sep 27 Duran Duran: Turku Concert House, [city?], Finland
Sep 28 Duran Duran: Kuttwritalo / House of Culture, Helsinki, Finland
Sep 30 Duran Duran: Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| October |
On October 2nd “Carnival” EP peaks at #98 in the US for one week; it is the first EP to appear on the US charts
Oct 2 Duran Duran: Audimax, Hamburg, West Germany
Oct 3 Duran Duran: Zeche, Bochum, West Germany
Oct 4 Duran Duran: Trinity Theatre, Hamburg, West Germany
Oct 5 Duran Duran: [venue?], Dortmund, West Germany
Oct 6 Duran Duran: [venue?], Stuttgart, West Germany
Oct 8 Duran Duran: Ballroom, Hanover, West Germany
Oct 9 Duran Duran: Biskuithalle, Bonn, West Germany
Oct 10 Duran Duran: [venue?], Darmstadt, West Germany
Oct 12 Duran Duran: Music Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
Oct 13 Duran Duran: Brielpoort, Deinze, Belgium
Oct 14 Duran Duran: [venue?], Paris, France
Oct 18 Duran Duran: [venue?], Lisbon, Portugal
Oct 20 Duran Duran: [venue?], Oporto, Portugal
John injures his right hand in Munich, Germany by putting his fist through a glass wall in a fit of temper; the band postpones some European dates
The band begins a sold-out 25-date tour of the UK
Oct 30 Duran Duran: Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland
Oct 31 Duran Duran: Apollo, Glasgow, Scotland
| November |
“Rio” single is released worldwide backed with “Chauffeur (Sing Blue Silver)”, then in the US, France and Germany, this time backed with “Hold Back The Rain”
Nov 1 Duran Duran: Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland
Nov3 Duran Duran: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England
Nov 4 Duran Duran: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England - the show is recorded and here the band performs the Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel hit single “Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)” which will later be used as a b-side
Nov 5 Duran Duran: Apollo, Manchester, England
Nov 6 Duran Duran: Apollo, Manchester, England
Nov 8 Duran Duran: De Montfort Hall, Leicester, England
Nov 9 Duran Duran: Empire Theatre, Liverpool, England
Nov 10 Duran Duran: Empire Theatre, Liverpool, England
Nov 11 Duran Duran: City Hall, Newcastle, England
Nov 12 Duran Duran: City Hall, Newcastle, England
Duran performs “Rio” on BBC's “Top of the Pops” and later “Rio” and “Hungry Like The Wolf” on “Dancing On Air”
On November 13th “Rio” single peaks at #9 in UK
Nov 14 Duran Duran: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England
Nov 15 Duran Duran: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England
Nov 16 Duran Duran: Hammersmith Odeon, London, England - bootlegged
Nov 18 Duran Duran: Shepton Mallet Showering Pavilion, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England
Nov 19 Duran Duran: Brighton Centre, Brighton, England
Nov 20 Duran Duran: Southampton Gaumont, Southampton, England
Nov 21 Duran Duran: Southampton Gaumont, Southampton, England
Nov 22 Duran Duran: St. Austell Cornwall Coliseum, Cornwall, England - bootlegged
Nov 24 Duran Duran: Glouster Leisure Centre, Glouster, England
Nov 25 Duran Duran: Odeon, Birmingham, England
Nov 26 Duran Duran: Odeon, Birmingham, England
Nov 27 Duran Duran: Odeon, Birmingham, England
Dec 1 Duran Duran: Odeon, Birmingham, England - bootlegged
| December |
“Top of the Pops” airs Duran's “Rio” on December 2nd and “Hungry Like The Wolf” on December 25th
Dec 31 Duran Duran: MTV's New Year's Eve Rock'n'Roll Ball, The Palladium, New York, NY, USA - recorded on TV
| January |
Jan ? Duran Duran: Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel and saxophonist Andy Hamilton join the band on stage
Duran are awarded Best Album (Rio) and Best Group while Simon is awarded Best Male Vocalist at Rock & Pop Awards (city and TV station unknown)
John is featured on “Rockschool” show, demonstrating the “Planet Earth” bass line; the show also includes an interview with Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers
John appears in Japanese commercials for the Aria Pro II bass
Nick visits the Embassy Club in London, and meets Christopher Hamill (aka Limahl, lead singer for Kajagoogoo)
Nick produces Kajagoogoo album “White Feathers” at Chipping Norton and Utopia studios, where Duran recorded their first album
| February |
Kajagoogoo's single “Too Shy” hits #1 in UK
| March |
On March 1st “Rio” album goes gold
Video album “Duran Duran” is released on VHS, Beta, and laserdisc
Andy Warhol films a sequence about Duran for his cable TV show while they are busy with their rehearsal.
On March 19th “Is There Something I Should Know?” single (backed with “Faith in this Colour”) is released worldwide, except in US
Duran perform “Hungry Like The Wolf” and “Girls on Film” on “Saturday Night Live” in the US
“Is There Something I Should Know” single enters UK charts directly at #1 and remains for three weeks
Duran perform “Is There Something I Should Know” on “Top of the Pops”, the “Kenny Everett Video Show” and the “Riverside Show” in UK
| April |
On April 2nd “Rio” single peaks at #14 in US and “Duran Duran” album is re-released worldwide with new package and photos (“Is There Something I Should Know” is added to the tracklist and “To The Shore” dropped)
On April 26th “Rio” album goes platinum in US (1 million units sold) The re-release of “Duran Duran” album peaks at #10 in US
| May |
Duran begin writing new songs at a chateau in Cannes on the Cote d'Azure in France. Work goes on very slowly
“Is There Something I Should Know” single is released in US (backed with “Careless Memories”)
Duran begins five weeks of recording at George Martin's Air Studios in Montserrat with producer Alex Sadkin. Titles for songs on the new album are: “Union Of The Snake”, “The Reflex”, “Cut Loose”, “Spidermouse”, “Madagaska” and “Seven and the Ragged Tiger”, later to become “The Seventh Stranger”
| June |
On June 4th “Is There Something I Should Know” single peaks at #4 in US
On June 20th Duran record “The Reflex” (with the help of a couple of bottles of John's birthday champagne). The day after they appear on the British TV special “A Midsummer Night's Tube” (they were interviewed by Jools Holland in Fréjus, France). The TV special includes a “Faith in This Colour” promo video.
| July |
The band flies back to England from Montserrat via Miami
Jul 20 Duran Duran: Old Dominion Theatre, London, England A performance for Prince Charles and Princess Diana; the show had several sound problems. Bootlegged.
On Jul 22nd “Duran Duran” album goes gold (500,000 units sold)
Jul 23 Duran Duran: Aston Villa Football Grounds, Birmingham, England A benefit concert for MENCAP raises far less money than expected; Paul, Michael and the band each contribute with £10,000 to make up the difference. Bootlegged.
After the Villa gig the band holds a homecoming party at the Rum Runner where John meets Robert Palmer who performed at Villa Park, too. They discuss the possibilities of recording together
Simon announces his engagement to long term girlfriend Claire Standfield
| August |
The band returns to Montserrat for another month of recording. They only get one good song
Nick suffers an attack of "paroxysmal tachycardia" (abnormally fast heartbeat) attributed to stress for working to much. He’s told to take it easy
At the end of August the band moves to 301 Studios, Sydney for the final recording and mixing. They start preparing their Second World Tour
| September |
John is involved in a car accident on Sydney harbour bridge when his BMV goes out of control; he escapes without injury
The band films “Union of the Snake” video near Sydney, using 35mm film (first time for videos)
| October |
The band works at mixing the “Union Of The Snake” single right up to the last minute, so b-side “Secret Oktober” is written, recorded and mixed in only 24 hours
“Union of the Snake” video is released to MTV a week before radios receive the single. Radio stations complain about this decision attesting that would replace radios in the promo game
On October 17th “Union of the Snake” single is released worldwide (backed with “Secret Oktober”)
The rehearsals for the Sing Blue Silver tour begin at Sydney Showgrounds
On October 27th “Top of the Pops” airs Duran's performance of “Union Of The Snake” and two days later the single peaks at #3 in UK
| November |
On November 5th “Union of the Snake” single peaks at #3 in US
Simon, Nick and Roger interviewed by Molly Meldrum for “Countdown Australia” TV show
The SING BLUE SILVER Tour The tour begins with sold-out shows in Australia
Nov 12 Duran Duran: National Indoor Sports Centre, Canberra, Australia
Nov 16 Duran Duran: Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
Nov 19 Duran Duran: Festival Hall, Brisbane, Australia - bootlegged
Nov 20 Duran Duran: Festival Hall, Brisbane, Australia
On November 21st “Seven and the Ragged Tiger” album is released worldwide
Nov 22 Duran Duran: Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Center, Melbourne, Australia
Nov 23 Duran Duran: Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Center, Melbourne, Australia
Nov 24 Duran Duran: Memorial Drive Tennis Courts, Adelaide, Australia
Nov 27 Duran Duran: Entertainments Centre, Perth, Australia
Simon and Claire buy an apartment together in her hometown of Toronto
Nick buys a house in London
| December |
On December 3rd “Seven...” enters UK charts at #1
Dec 6 Duran Duran: Apollo, Manchester, England
Dec 7 Duran Duran: Apollo, Manchester, England
Dec 8 Duran Duran: Queens Hall, Leeds, England
“Oxford Road Show” in UK shows a behind-the-scenes clips from the tour
Andy opens a wine bar with partner Graham Jenkinson in Whitley Bay, near his hometown. It is called RIO and is decorated in art deco style. His father runs it.
On December 10th “Seven...” peaks at #8 in US
Dec 10 Duran Duran: Royal Highland Exhibition Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland
Dec 11 Duran Duran: Queens Hall, Leeds, England
Dec 12 Duran Duran: National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England one of the two NEC shows was taped for “The Tube” TV show, along with interviews with Simon, Nick and John
Dec 13 Duran Duran: National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England
Dec 15 Duran Duran: Brighton Centre, Brighton, England
Dec 16 Duran Duran: Brighton Centre, Brighton, England
Dec 18 Duran Duran: Wembley Arena, London, England
Dec 19 Duran Duran: Wembley Arena, London, England
Dec 20 Duran Duran: Wembley Arena, London, England
Dec 22 Duran Duran: Wembley Arena, London, England
Dec 23 Duran Duran: Wembley Arena, London, England
Thanks to the British tour, “Union Of The Snake” re-enters the UK charts and peaks at #66
John -a devoted James Bond fan- begins dating actress Janine Andrews (best known for her role in “Octopussy”)
| January |
“New Moon on Monday” video is filmed in Noyers, Bercy, and Paris, France
“New Moon on Monday” single is released worldwide (backed with “Tiger Tiger” Ian Little remix)
On January 14th “New Moon on Monday” peaks at #10 in US. Two days later “Seven…” goes gold and platinum in the same week
The SING BLUE SILVER continues The tour goes on to Japan and North America
Jan 17 Duran Duran: Sendai Sports Centre, Sendai, Japan
Jan 19 Duran Duran: Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
Jan 20 Duran Duran: International Exhibition Hall, Nagoya, Japan
On January 22nd “New Moon on Monday” single is released in UK (backed with “Tiger Tiger”)
Jan 22 Duran Duran: Fukuoka International Centre, Fukuoka, Japan
Jan 23 Duran Duran: Castle Sports Centre, Osaka, Japan
Jan 24 Duran Duran: Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
Jan 25 Duran Duran: Budokan, Tokyo, Japan
Russell Mulcahy joins the band to film the “Sing Blue Silver” documentary about the North American tour
Jan Duran Duran: Saddle Dome, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| February |
The SING BLUE SILVER continues The tour goes on to Japan and North America
Feb 1 Duran Duran: P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
On February 2nd Duran appears on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine under the headline “The Fab Five?”
“Top of the Pops” airs Duran's performance of “New Moon On Monday”
Simon and Andy interviewed on “Solid Gold” TV dance show in the US
Nick's girlfriend, Julie Anne, travels with the band during much of the tour.
During the US tour, Nick experiments with photography by manipulating images on his hotel room televisions
Feb 2 Duran Duran: Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA, USA
On February 4th “New Moon on Monday” single peaks at #9 in UK
Feb 4 Duran Duran: Lawlor Arena, Reno, NV, USA
Feb 6 Duran Duran: The Forum, Los Angeles, CA, USA (with Dogs on Fire)
Feb 7 Duran Duran: The Forum, Los Angeles, CA, USA recorded; 'Reflex' and 'New Religion' live tracks later used as b-sides
Feb 8 Duran Duran: Arizona State University Activity Center, Tempe, AZ, USA (with a juggler)
Members of the band are made honorary citizens of Texas in Austin
Feb 10 Duran Duran: Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX, USA (with ZZ Rocks) The opening act was a last minute addition (not on the ticket stub)
Feb 11 Duran Duran: Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX, USA
Feb 13 Duran Duran: The Summit, Houston, TX, USA
Feb 14 Duran Duran: Louisiana State University Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Feb 16 Duran Duran: Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO, USA (with The White Animals) moved from February 17
Feb 18 Duran Duran: Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO, USA
Feb 21 Duran Duran: Dane Co. Coliseum, Madison, WI, USA (with Combo Audio)
Simon and Nick answer fans' questions on WLS radio in Chicago, IL
Feb 23 Duran Duran: Rosemont Horizon, Chicago, IL, USA (with The Kind)
Feb 24 Duran Duran: Rosemont Horizon, Chicago, IL, USA (with The Kind)
Feb 25 Duran Duran: Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI, USA (with Christmas Past) sold out in 20 minutes
Feb 27 Duran Duran: Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, OH, USA
Feb 28 Duran Duran: Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (with Checquered Past featuring Michael Des Barres) - bootlegged I took off Feb 29th
Feb 29 Duran Duran: [venue?], Morgantown, WV, USA
On February 28th Duran are awarded two Grammies for “Best Short Video” and “Best Video Album”. The band, performing in Pittsburgh, is not present to accept
| March |
Mar 1 Duran Duran: [venue?], Roanoke, VA, USA
Mar 3 Duran Duran: Syracuse Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY, USA (with Billy Idol)
Mar ? Duran Duran: [venue?], Philadelphia, PA, USA
Mar 5 Duran Duran: Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Major portions of the video for 'The Reflex' are filmed before and during the show
Mar 8 Duran Duran: Civic Center, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (with The Payolas) CFRA 58AM radio station had a phone in poll to convince Duran to come to Ottawa
Mar 11 Duran Duran: [venue?], Portland, ME, USA
Mar 13 Duran Duran: Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT, USA (no opening act) Show took place during a snowstom, and the scheduled opening act couldn't reach the venue; only about half the audience for the sold-out date showed up.
Mar 14 Duran Duran: Worcester Centrum, Worcester, MA, USA Simon plays a joke on the band just before the show ("I've dislocated me elbow...")
Mar 15 Duran Duran: Worcester Centrum, Worcester, MA, USA
Mar 17 Duran Duran: [venue?], Hampton, VA, USA
Mar 19 Duran Duran: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA
Mar 21 Duran Duran: [event?], Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA Tony Thompson and Nile Rodgers joined the band on stage performing a 20 minute version of Girls On Film (the show is aired on the radio)
EMI holds a press conference, and the band members also handle individual interviews
A man points a gun at Nick and Simon's limo in New York City, but doesn't fire
Mar 23 Duran Duran: Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC, USA
Mar 25 Duran Duran: Jacksonville Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL, USA (with Night)
Mar 26 Duran Duran: Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, FL, USA
Mar 27 Duran Duran: Hollywood Sportatorium, Hollywood, FL, USA
Mar 29 Duran Duran: The Omni, Atlanta, GA, USA (with Swimming Pool Q's)
Mar 30 Duran Duran: Greensboro Coliseum , Greensboro, NC, USA
Mar 31 Duran Duran: Civic Center, Charleston, WV, USA
Apr 1 Duran Duran: DC or Baltimore area? -- dedicated 'Save a Prayer' to Marvin Gaye
Apr 2 Duran Duran: Capitol Center, Largo, MD, USA
Apr 3 Duran Duran: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale (Long Island), New York, USA
Apr 5 Duran Duran: Meadowlands, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
Apr ? Duran Duran: [venue?], New Haven, CT, USA
Apr 9 Duran Duran: Myriad Convention Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| April |
Apr 12 Duran Duran: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA, USA (with The Contractions and The Weather Girls) - bootlegged
Apr 13 Duran Duran: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA, USA
Apr 15 Duran Duran: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA, USA
Concert sequences for the movie “Arena” filmed in Oakland
John gets 20 stitches in his foot from dancing barefoot on broken vodka bottles
On April 16th “The Reflex” single is released in UK with the benefit of a remix by Nile Rodgers and backed with “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)” live version
“The Reflex” single is released in US backed with “New Religion” (live)
Apr 16 Duran Duran: San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, USA
Apr 17 Duran Duran: San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, USA
On April 21st “The Reflex” peaks at #1 in US (their first Number One single in America)
Simon and Clare Stansfield begin living together in northwest London
| May |
From May 4th “Top of the Pops” airs four Duran's performances of “The Reflex”
Duran perform at the Montreaux Festival in Switzerland
Duran arrive in Italy for the second time (the first was in 1982). They do a series of interviews and TV shows. Almost nobody notices their presence.
In May or June (?), on returning of the band from abroad, Andy is arrested by customs officers who charge him for not paying duty on a guitar (it was bought by a staff member and put in the band’s luggage). He is also body-searched for drugs. Sources report it is on that day that he starts thinking of leaving the band
| June |
Simon phones 19-year old model Yasmin Parveneh (he'd only seen her in magazines) and invites her to a movie premiere; she thinks it's a joke and hangs up on him, but he persists until he gets a date
Simon and Yasmin go to see the premiere of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”
Additional crowd and concert footage for “Arena” video is filmed at the Birmingham National Exhibition Center.
The video for “Wild Boys” and additional studio footage for “Arena” are filmed at Shepperton Studios in London, with actor Milo O'Shea (who played Dr. Duran Duran in the 1967 movie “Barbarella”) and director Russell Mulcahy
| July |
The band records “Wild Boys” with producer Nile Rodgers at Maison Rouge studios in southwest London
Simon and Andy perform backup vocals for the Sister Sledge track “Lost In Music” that Nile is recording in the studio next door
John meets Bond producer Cubby Broccoli at a party and proposes that Duran do the next Bond theme
On July 27th Roger marries Giovanna Cantone in Naples, Italy. They honeymoon in Egypt, far from the crowds. Andy is not with the band, staying at home with his wife who’s nearly at the end of her pregnancy.
| August |
“Dancing On The Valentine” video is released featuring the videos from “The Reflex”, “Union Of The Snake” and a different version of “New Moon On Monday”
On Aug 18th Nick marries Julie Anne Friedman in a private civil ceremony at Marylebone Registry Office in London. His "Best Man" is his good friend Elaine Griffiths. A reception is held at the Savoy Hotel in London. They take their three-week honeymoon on a cruise in the Greek Islands
On Aug 20th Andrew James Taylor (aka "Bear") born to Andy and Tracey
Simon sails in Swan World Cup, Sardinia, and meets American racing veteran Skip Novak, who will later become Drum’s captain in the Fastnet and Whitbread races
| September |
Duran attends MTV Video Awards; Nick and Simon present an award
| October |
“Wild Boys” single is released, backed with “Cracks in the Pavement” (live)
John moves to a New York apartment on the Upper West Side during the mixing of “Arena” album
| November |
Nick’s book “Interference” is released featuring abstract Polaroid pictures manipulated by computer
“Top of the Pops” airs a Duran's performance of “Wild Boys”
“Arena” live album is released worldwide. It includes studio single “Wild Boys”. It reaches #6 in the UK chart and stay there for 31 weeks
On Nov 3rd “Wild Boys” peaks at #2 in UK and US
“Sing Blue Silver” documentary video and “Arena” concept/concert film are released on VHS, Beta, and laserdisc
On suggestion of the Berrows and Russell Mulcahy, “As The Lights Go Down”, a one-hour concert video, is created from “Arena” (John apparently didn’t like the idea)
“Sing Blue Silver” and “As The Lights Go Down” are shown on MTV
John plans to do a funky version of T Rex's “Bang A Gong” with drummer Tony Thompson; Andy joins them in this project
Tony introduces John and Andy to Bernard Edwards, now a producer.
John, Andy, Tony and Mars Williams (Psychedelic Furs’ saxophonist (previously asked by Duran to join their live band) discuss the possibility of doing an album with several different singers and think of calling the project “Big Brother”
John, Andy and Tony make a demo with “Some Like It Hot” and “Murderess” and invite Robert Palmer to do the vocals for “Communication”; when he hears they've done “Bang A Gong”, he asks to sing that one and impresses Bernard so much that he suggests doing the whole album with Robert
Capitol/EMI signs the new band to a contract; they name themselves after the Power Station Studio in Manhattan where they've been working
The Power Station begin recording and Bernard Edwards produces.
Nov 16 (or 22?) Duran Duran: (venue?), New York City, NY (Or November 22? Or both?)
On Nov 25th Duran join forces with Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and many stars at Trevor Horn's Sarm West Studio in London to record a single under the name of “Band Aid”. The song is called “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and is made to raise money for Ethiopia.
On Nov 28th Duran Duran performes “The Wild Boys” on German TV show “Musikladen” in Bremen, Germany. The show also features the video of “Do They Know It's Christmas?”
| December |
On Dec 1st “Arena” peaks at #4 in US
On Dec 3rd “Do They Know It's Christmas?” (backed with “Feed The World”) is released in US and UK
Starting from late November, Duran travel to Spain for promotion
The band does an interview about their videos on the Spanish TV show “Disco Visto”, and tapes a holiday greeting for the “Viva 85” show
“Sing Blue Silver” and “As The Lights Go Down” are premiered on British Station ITV respectively on Dec 26th and 27th
Nick holds a party for the opening of an exhibition (running through January 9) for Interference at the Hamilton Gallery, London.
The “Viva 85” New Year's Eve show features the premiere of the “Wild Boys” video in Spain
"History of the Band" - CreditsManuela From Italy
N.B.
My most important source of information in building up the band bio is the Catherine Munroe website www.durandurantimeline.com
For this reason I want to give her proper credits for her precious help. I would never have made it without her fantastic work. Manuela