Duran Duran

History  

1978 - The Beginning

 

Duran Duran were formed in Spring 1978 by Nick Rhodes and John Taylor.
They discussed the band over a lunchtime drink in 'The hole in the wall' a pub
in Dale end, Birmingham. 
(if you want to see this pub in Birmingham it is now called Saramoons)

They had discussed names for the band, scoured books,films and made up names one suggestion choice of a name was RAF , but after a the subject of Barbarella, a cult 1968 Science fiction movie starring Jane Fonda was introduced, the Name Duran Duran stood out, John thought it sounded like a good name, the choice was made.

 

The original Line up:

Nick Rhodes - Wasp synth, rhythm unit

John Taylor - Lead Guitar

Stephen "Tin-Tin" Duffy - Vocals and occasional Bass guitar

Simon Colley - Bass and Clarinet

 

As the band rehearses John passes time by going to Art college. He uses the college facilities to design posters for Duran Duran.They perform their first gigs here with the aid of Slide projectors and reel to reel tape recordings of abstract conversation and sound recorded from television.They support Fashion at Birmingham's trendy 'Barbarella's' nightclub. performing songs such as "So cold in El Dorado", they play to a mainly punk audience but are well received.

 

 

 

UK Tour Dates

 

Golden Eagle, Birmingham October 11
Birmingham University, Birmingham November 14
Birmingham University, Birmingham November 15
Red Star Club, Birmingham November 25
Bewdley Caravan park, Bewdley December 8
        

 

 

 

      

Duffy and Colley leave, because they wanted to be more 'Rock n' Roll', together with two members of 
TV Eye (including David Twist, former frontman of Shock Treatment), Birmingham's answer to the 
New York Dolls, they form a band called Subterranean Hawks, a short lived venture ending with Duffy 
pursuing a solo career.

Nick and John recruit Andy Wickett on vocals, formerly frontman of TV Eye.

A song called "Girls on Film" is written (everybody claims to have written this song, and changed with 
every line up until Simon's version stuck!)

Andy Wickett meets Roger Taylor at a party, Andy is impressed by Roger's James' Dean appearance 
and is recruited by the band after auditioning in a Birmingham squat for Nick and John with a song called, 
"see me, repeat me" which was later to become RIO

John switches to play Bass guitar, to become the driving force along with Roger.

 

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1979

 

A four track demo is recorded including the tracks Girls on film, Dreaming of your cars, Reincarnation and Working the steel. (one of which became Late Bar). The demo was produced by Bob Lamb, former drummer with The Steve Gibbons band in his 8 track home studio. Andy Wickett leaves he went on to form a band called "World Service" who gigged around Birmingham pubs, They also supported Duran in 1994 on the UK leg of their tour. Alan Curtis (ex-London's Pride) joins as lead guitarist, replying to an advertisement or a "Modern guitarist for a Roxy/Bowie influenced band"

Jeff Thomas Joins on vocals, former singer with Roger's previous band "The Scent Organs" This line up never perform live, they do however make another 4 track demo tape in Bob Lamb's studio this includes the tracks Enigmatic swimmers, See me, repeat me (MM a go go), Girls on Film and Breaking Away.
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1980

 

January

Become resident band at The Rum Runner, 273 Broad Street, Birmingham. 
After handing in their four track demo. Paul and Michael Berrow (co-owners of the club) see the potential in the band and thought they would fit well into the clubs diet of Bowie, Roxy and Chic. They earn £20 a night.

Curtis and Thomas Leave after a few months of rehearsing. The Berrows disliked 
Thomas' vocals and Curtis felt uneasy about the Berrows.

Nick continues to DJ at the Rum Runner

April 24

An advertisement is placed in Melody Maker for a Livewire guitarist.

May 2

Andy Taylor is recruited after replying to the advertisement's well as being the guitarist for Duran, he becomes a handyman, painting and cooking burgers at the Rum Runner to fund his ambition.

Oliver Guy Watts is recruited as a singer, he lasted a mere two weeks

May 11

Simon Le Bon a Drama student studying at Birmingham University is recruited after being recommended by barmaid Fiona Kemp. He thought it would be something to do to pass 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."

Paul and Michael Berrow become the band's Managers. Duran travel to the AIR Studios in London to record demo versions of Girls On Film and a very different version of Tel Aviv that eventually made it onto the album, They are surprised how hands off a 24 track studio can be for the band.

July 5

Duran play at the Edinburgh festival.

 

UK Dates

Rum Runner, Birmingham July 16
Cedar Ballroom, Birmingham July 19
Holy City Zoo, Birmingham July 22
Rum Runner, Birmingham August 6
Hosteria One, Birmingham September 16
Aston University, Birmingham October 3
Cedar Ballroom, Birmingham October 4
Lyceum Auditorium, London October 9
Holy City Zoo, Birmingham October 22
Cedar Ballroom, Birmingham October 24
Marquee Club, London November 9

 
November
Simon pledges that he will say with the band

 

Versions of Planet Earth and Anyone Out There are recorded to be released as a single, an acetate was produced along with 5,000 record labels designed by John Warwicker. The single was never pressed up.

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