 1980
After two years, founding members Nick Rhodes (keyboard)
and John Taylor (bass) finalize the Duran Duran line up with
Roger Taylor (drums), Andy Taylor (guitar) and Simon LeBon
(vocals). They begin work on their first record, titled Duran
Duran.
1981
Duran Duran release their first single "Planet Earth"
off of their eponymous debut LP. It enters UK Top 20, the
album reaches #3 and sells in excess of 2.5 million copies.
Duran Duran test the waters of the US by playing an extensive
club tour, including a stint at the Roxy in Los Angeles and
the Ritz in New York City.
The band make the first extended video to accompany the dance
mix of their song "Girl's on Film." It is directed
by Godley and Crème and meets with much controversy.
1982
Duran Duran support Blondie on their US tour. Their
newly released record Rio spawns three UK Top 10 hits - "Hungry
Like the Wolf", "Save a Prayer", and "Rio".
Carnival, an EP of extended re-mixes taken from the Rio album
is released.
Spectacular music videos follow as the band go to Sri Lanka
with Director Russell Mulcahy to film videos for "Save
A Prayer", "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Lonely
in your Nightmare" then on Antigua to film "Rio".
Princess Diana declares Duran Duran her favorite band.
MTV grabs hold of "Hungry like the Wolf", which
later becomes one of the 15 most played videos ever.
The US discover Duran Duran and send "Hungry Like the
Wolf" and "Rio" into the Top 10.
1983
"Is There Something I Should Know?" goes
straight to #1 in the UK (only the fourth time that had ever
happened in chart history) and reaches #4 in the US.
Seven and the Ragged Tiger, the group's third album,hits
UK #1 and the first single, "Union of the Snake,"
explodes around the world.
Nick Rhodes produces the hit "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo.
Simon and Nick are Guest VJs on MTV and Andy Warhol stops
by to pay them a visit.
Duran Duran perform on Saturday Night Live and do a video
signing in a Times Square store, where they are mobbed by
fans and the police riot squad are called to control the crowd.
Duran Duran release a video album and the band perform on
MTV's first ever New Year's Bash.
The group perform at the Prince's Trust Concert at the Dominion
Theatre, where Prince Charles and Princess Diana were in attendance.
Years later, it was revealed that the IRA had attempted to
plant bombs in the lavatory of the theatre in an assassination
attempt, but the plot was foiled.
1984
Seven and the Ragged Tiger spawns two further hit
singles, "New Moon on Monday" and "The Reflex,"
which becomes their first US #1.
The group appear on the cover of ROLLING STONE, where they
are christened as the FAB FIVE. Duran Duran appear on the
Band Aid charity record, "Do They Know it's Christmas?"
along with Bono, Sting, George Michael, Boy George and others.
The band win two Grammy Awards for best long and short form
video.
Following this success, Duran Duran undertake a major US
arena tour. They are the first act to utilize live video cameras
and screens in their show.
Hysteria reaches "Beatle mania" proportion. They
break every existing merchandise record. During the tour,
the mayhem is documented in the film Sing Blue Silver.
A show is recorded and results in the live album Arena, which
also includes the Nile Rodgers produced single "Wild
Boys" which goes #2 in the US and #1 around the World.
1985
The live version of "Save a Prayer" is released
as a single in the USA."A View To a Kill," the theme
song from the James Bond movie of the same name, goes #1 worldwide.
It is the only Bond theme to ever hit #1.
Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes form Arcadia with drummer Roger
Taylor, whose Platinum album So Red the Rose yields the Top
20 single "Election Day." Guests on the Arcadia
CD include Grace Jones, Sting, David Gilmour and Herbie Hancock.
Nick and Simon Guest VJ on MTV, with artist Keith Haring
painting the entire set during the hour.
Duran Duran perform at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia for the
Live Aid charity event. It turns out to be the last performance
featuring the original line up.
Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor leave Duran Duran.
1986
Warren Cuccurullo, formerly of Frank Zappa's band
and Missing Persons, takes over as guitarist.
John Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon release the funk-based
album Notorious. The single of the same name reaches #2.
1987
Duran Duran deliver further singles "Skin Trade"
and "Meet El Presidente" from Notorious and set
out on the Strange Behaviour World Tour. The band plays a
charity gig at the Beacon Theatre in NYC, where Lou Reed joins
them onstage to perform "Sweet Jane" and "Walk
on the Wild Side."
The band participate in a behind the scenes documentary called
Three to Get Ready. Shot entirely in Black and White, the
movie is shown at many film festivals.
1988
Big Thing is released, generating the hits "I Don't Want
Your Love" (Top 5 worldwide) and "All She Wants
Is." The video for "All She Wants Is," directed
by avant- gardephotographer Dean Chamberlain is awarded by
MTV for its innovation.
To kick off their tour in support of the album, the band
get back to basics and begin the Caravan Duran Tour, playing
small clubs in the States and abroad.
1989
The United States Army discover the use of music was very
successful in psychological warfare against their enemy. In
1989, the Bush Administration found it necessary to invade
Panama to rid the country of General Manuel Noriega. To increase
Noriega's tension and unease, the Army began to play a selection
of loud music near his base, including Duran Duran's "Hungry
like the Wolf." The band continues to tour in support
of Big Thing, moving in to larger venues with the Electric
Theatre Tour.
1990
Ten years of Duran Duran is documented by both an album and
video entitled Decade. The mega-mix "Burning the Ground"
captures some of their finest recorded moments.
Warren Cuccurullo becomes a permanent member of Duran Duran,
as they release their sixth studio album Liberty and the singles
"Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)" and "Serious."
To the disappointment of their fans, the band chooses not
to tour.
Simon, Nick, Warren and John start preparation and writing
for next Duran Duran studio album. Duran Duran hole up in
PRIVACY studios to record tracks for their self titled seventh
CD, also known as The Wedding Album. They collaborate with
Brazilian musician Milton Nascimento on a song called "Breath
after Breath."
The band perform at the KROQ (CA) Acoustic Christmas show.
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