Duran Duran Biography

The band name came from the evil Dr Durand Durand in Roger Vadim’s science fiction cult film ‘Barbarella’ (1968).

In 1982, Princess Diana declared Duran Duran her favourite band. A year after her tragic death, by special request of her family, the band played at The Princess Diana Tribute Concert on 27 June 1998.

Were part of a documentary of behind the scenes footage, shot entirely in Black and White, called ‘Three to Get Ready’ (1987). The film has often been screened at film festivals.

To this day, are often referred to as an ‘Eighties band’, despite their continued recording and chart successes.

Hailed as the first ‘metrosexuals’ by the cast of ‘Queer Eye for a Straight Guy’ (2003) television show.

The three Taylors in the original band line-up are not related.

Musical influences include: The Velvet Underground, The Sex Pistols, Kraftwerk, Roxy Music, Visage, The New York Dolls, Chic, Blondie, Japan and David Bowie.

Andy Warhol stopped in to visit Simon and Nick in 1983, when they were guest VJs on MTV.

Beavis and Butthead played the Duran Duran video for ‘Come Undone' on their MTV show in 1993.

‘Hungry Like the Wolf’ is one of the 15 most played videos ever.

One of the first bands to play in South Africa after the end of Apartheid.

Their song ‘Notorious’ (1986) was used in the cult classic film ‘Donnie Darko’ (2001) with Jake Gyllenhaal and sampled for a track by Notorious B.I.G. [aka Biggie Smalls] in 2000.

Have been cited by the following performers as being a strong musical influence: Garbage, Beck, Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, The Orb, Wyclef Jean, the Deftones, Outkast, Barenaked Ladies, Fred Durst (of Limp Bizkit), Bush, Johnathan Davis (of Korn), Pink and Marilyn Manson.