Duran Duran, the iconic British pop/rock band that rose to fame in the 1980s.
🎸 Duran Duran – Overview
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Formed: 1978, Birmingham, England
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Founding Members:
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Simon Le Bon – vocals
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Nick Rhodes – keyboards
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John Taylor – bass
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Roger Taylor – drums
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Andy Taylor – guitar (no relation to John or Roger)
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Known for their sharp fashion, cinematic music videos, and a sound that blended new wave, synthpop, and rock.
🔊 Major Hits
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“Hungry Like the Wolf”
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“Rio”
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“Girls on Film”
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“Ordinary World”
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“The Reflex”
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“A View to a Kill” – Only James Bond theme song to reach #1 on U.S. charts
📀 Notable Albums
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Duran Duran (1981) – Debut album
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Rio (1982) – Breakthrough with colorful, tropical aesthetics
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Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983) – Continued global success
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Notorious (1986) – Funkier, more mature sound
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The Wedding Album (1993) – Comeback with “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone”
📹 Pioneers of the Music Video Era
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Heavily promoted on MTV during the 1980s
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Their stylish, cinematic videos (shot in Sri Lanka, Antigua, etc.) helped define the early MTV era
🏆 Legacy & Influence
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Over 100 million records sold worldwide
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Influenced artists from The Killers to Franz Ferdinand
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Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022
🔄 Band Activity
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Still active as of 2025, with recent albums like:
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Future Past (2021)
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Tours and live performances with original and new members
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