Hall of Fame 3
This post is dedicated to my brother, David.
It’s been a long day. I’m tired. We’re on the train on the way to Birmingham. David is fussing because, well, he always fusses. Our hot breath condenses against the windows of the train where long limbed girls in too much make up are leaning in their tottering heels, heading to the town in 4 inches of lycra. David is telling me for the 19th time the plan for the evening, where we’re going to go and what we’re going to do. I ignore him because that’s the best thing to do when his inner procrastinator goes insane. We get to the venue, my feet begging for mercy in my beautiful but painful boots. We buy t shirts we can’t really afford and lager and cider that comes in plastic bottles, lending everything an odd taste. I’m not too sure about my backcombed hairdo, I like my new dress and think I’ve pulled off something close to decent make up. The man on his 12th cider who is leering at me seems to think so.
We’re one of the first people in the venue. It’s huge and echoes with so few people inside. David dashes about taking photos and generally “having a David” as I call it, where his nerves get the better of him and he can’t stop talking. I’m under a layer of items- my handbag, his bag, our coats, a programme, bottles of water and my mobile phone. I shift them all on the floor when the lights dim and the audience has a united moment of hushed awe.
I’ve been to a lot of gigs. I’ve seen little baby faced bands perform in venues where the stages wobbles nervously when someone jumps up and down. I’ve been to the 02 arena and seen massive bands whose lighting equipment alone is worth more than my house. I’ve enjoyed them all- but this- this is something different. We’re in Birmingham, the home town of one of my top five bands of all time. Can we hear you scream Birmingham? The boys are back in town! Put your hands in the air for Duran Duran!
I’m a super fan of this band. I categorise my fandom by levels. Do I own more than one album? Do I own and wear a band t shirt? Have I met them? Do I own at least one their albums on vinyl? The answer to all of these for Duran Duran is yes, yes I do. Will I bore anyone unlucky enough to be cornered by me about why they’re so good? Oh, a thousand times, yes.
The show was sensational. It was amazing. It was perfect. They played a brilliant mix of old and new material, they got the audience involved; the stage was mesmerising and the lighting fantastic. They looked like they were enjoying themselves. They sang and danced and jumped up and down to every song. Me and David, well, we could barely talk when we got out. We sang every word, we danced to every song. We put our arms around each other and swayed in unison for “Ordinary World”, and we nearly knocked each other unconscious during a particularly spirited dance to “Planet Earth.” When the cold night air hit us like a slap outside, we ring our Mum and squawk at her excitedly on the way to the train about how amazing the show was.
Duran Duran were formed in Birmingham in 1978. The group was formed by Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Stephen Duffy. Roger Taylor joined a little later. Simon Le Bon and Andy Taylor joined after several line-up changes (despite the name connection, the Taylor’s are of no relation.) Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor are still in the band today. Nick plays keyboards, Simon sings, John plays the bass and Roger plays drums.
The group has never disbanded over the years- although members have joined other side-acts and in some cases left and come back.
The band was considered part of the “New Romantic” scene of the early 80’s, along with fellow bands Spandau Ballet, ABC and Japan. The band signed to EMI Records after receiving critical attention, and also became one of the first groups to work on their own remixes. They were also praised for their keen sense of visual style- Nick in particular has a passion for art and a flair evident in everything he does- I’m personally a big fan of his natty knitted jumper in the video for “The Reflex”.
Before I move on to talking about the actual music- which is what I was supposed to be doing, men can look away for a second. Ladies, lets say a note of thanks to whoever created these boys. Why are they all so gorgeous? It’s not fair. You’re supposed to have talent or good looks- its plain greediness to have both. For my money, John Taylor is the best looking but I wouldn’t say no to anyone else, at any point in their careers. Forgive me, I’ll calm down now.
The bands first album “Duran Duran” was released in 1981. Their first single “Planet Earth” reached number 12 in the UK charts. The now infamous video for “Girls on Film” provided the band notoriety as it featured nubile young things in various states of undress. I was in “The Reflex” nightclub in Birmingham, the first time me and David planned to see the band who unfortunately had to cancel due to illness. I was chin deep in my 14th cocktail when the unedited video came on the screens. Every single man in there stopped immediately what they were doing and stared open-mouthed at the screen until it ended. Lines of dribble made their way down shirts unnoticed. Incidentally, if you’re ever in Birmingham I highly recommend that nightclub. The DJ deserves a medal of honour for spinning the very best of the 80’s. I would love to tell you more about that night but I forgot most of it around the time David stopped buying my drinks in glasses and merely handed me a straw and a jug. Some heavily inebriated and very tall man stuck his hand down my dress, and I think I fell off the revolving dance floor into the lap of someone dressed as (I hope only dressed as) a police officer. I do remember dancing with a man who told me he was gay and appeared to be dressed in an all in one green jumpsuit. I forget your name but you are quite a dancer. The hangover the next morning was like a brick to the face but it was totally worth it.
In May 1982 the band released their second album, and my personal favourite “Rio”, achieving great success with the songs “My Own Way” “Hungry Like The Wolf” the beautiful, haunting “Save a Prayer” and the title song “Rio”. I’m a huge fan of “Save A Prayer”- it is easily one of my “Desert Island Discs”, a song I couldn’t live without listening to . It is the most perfect, beautiful and moving song and I’ve spent many a night watching the sunset from my window and listening to the song.
The band supported Blondie, were dubbed as “The Fab Five” by the British press and even named by the late Diana, Princess of Wales as her favourite band.
After a shaky start in America, the band gained popularity as MTV pushed their videos in rotation. The band re-released their first album with the added single “Is There Something I Should Know?” which reached number 1 in the UK. The 1983 album “Seven And The Ragged Tiger” left the band exhausted and nervous after pressure to release another storming album. The band toured worldwide and released the single “The Wild Boys”.
The band continued to release material over the years and face more line up changes. In 1985 they provided the theme for the Bond film “A View to A Kill” with a song of the same name. 1993 gave us the moving “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone”, which received high praise and excellent chart positions. My favourite description of “Come Undone” I’ve seen is “slinky”, which covers it very well.
The boy’s 13th studio album “All You Need Is Now” was produced by Mark Ronson and I was lucky enough to see the tour for as mentioned above. It’s a really brilliant album, stand out tracks are “Girl Panic” and “All You Need is Now”. In part of this tour, the band and Mark Ronson appeared at the record shop “Swordfish” in the heart of Birmingham. I took 3 trains and travelled for 4 hours to be there- met by my fanatical brother in a catatonic state. Me, David and my Mum all suffer from “restless leg syndrome” where we jiggle our legs up and down through nerves or just sometimes because. I’ve been told I also do this in my sleep. As we sat in a McDonalds sheltering from the rain we managed to vibrate the table, our legs doing their own bizarre dance. We went into the shop, around it, and stood near it, having arrived some 7 hours before they’d even be there. I snuck off to a shop with my boyfriends credit card, given to me for “emergencies.” Some £60 later I emerged and got ABC’s “The Lexicon of Love” on vinyl and Duran Duran’s “Rio”, the signed copy of which can be seen in the photo. I also bought Mark Ronson’s album “Record Collection”, which is a superb album and features Simon on the track of the same name. Mark kindly signed the album for me. He’s lovely in person and so good-looking he made my knees wobble. All of the band were charming and wonderful, and it was a privilege to meet them. David kept his nerves in check and impressed Nick by discussing obscure tracks and favourite bass guitars with John. Simon accidentally drew on my hand, and licked his finger to wipe it off. This earned me a slap around the face from a colleague who has been a fan since she was 10, and informed me to “never wash my hand again”.
From various discussions with various people, I have learnt this band are a bit like Marmite. You get your ardent fans like me and David, who own every album and know every song. You get your complete non-fans, some of whom I have met on twitter and one of whom I work with. She was screeching to the office that she couldn’t believe that Duran Duran were representing England at the Olympics in Summer 2012. I almost spat in her tea but instead threw a paper airplane at her on which I wrote something I am too polite to recount here. I’m delighted the boys will be there and can’t think of anyone better to do it.
I love the 80’s, am a child of the era (1987) and if time travel were invented, it’s the time I’d go back to. At the meeting at Swordfish, Nick told me my “Rio” was in “excellent condition”. Under normal circumstances I’d have smacked him for thinking I was old enough to have bought it in 1982 but he’s so lovely I simpered like a school girl and blushed the colour of beetroot.
I completely love this band and remember dancing in the front room in my shell suit when “Hungry Like The Wolf” was on the radio. They symbolise a lot for me- a mascara and feathers New Romantic state when men looked more beautiful in make up than women. They gave a glimpse to a world of yachts, perfect beaches and glowing sunsets, a stylish snapshot of the 80’s with a love for excess and a passion for money. They have cohesion on stage- which may sound a little obvious but I’ve seen bands who are merely five people playing but not together. Many an 80’s band have come and gone but Duran Duran’s staying power speaks volumes of their talent and commitment. Did you know Nick produced Kajagoogoo’s “Too Shy”? Is there anything he can’t do?
My favourite Duran Duran song is bizarrely “Serious”, a strange departure from their usual style but a beautiful song all the same. I think we all know what I’m going to do now. I’m going to get the record player out and dance until my hips ache to “Rio”.
Thank you for the music Duran Duran, you’ve given me a lot of good times. Thank you to David, for getting me so hammered I could barely see and busting some serious moves with me at the gig. We’ll do it again soon, big brother.
