Duran Duran – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Duran Duran Biography

Duran Duran is a British new wave band founded by keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor in Birmingham in 1978. Following the arrival of drummer Roger Taylor the following year, the band went through many lineup changes until landing on the current lineup in May 1980, which included guitarist Andy Taylor and lead singer Simon Le Bon.

Duran Duran were often regarded as part of the New Romantic movement when they first appeared. Duran Duran, pioneers of the music video, were pushed into the public with the launch of MTV, a 24-hour music channel. In the 1980s, the band was a key figure in the MTV-fueled Second British Invasion of America.

“Girls on Film” (1981), from the band’s self-titled debut album, was their first huge hit, and its popularity was boosted by a controversial music video. MTV aired a substantially altered version on a regular basis. Rio (1982), the band’s breakout sophomore album, reached number six on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States, number two in the United Kingdom, and number one in Australia and Canada. Two of their biggest singles were “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Rio,” which featured epic music videos created by Australian filmmaker Russel Mulcahy. In 1984, “Hungry Like the Wolf” won the first Grammy Award for Best Music Video. Seven and the Ragged Tiger, their third album, scored their lone UK number one, and featured the US and UK number one hit “The Reflex.” The band topped the US charts in 1985 with the single “A View to a Kill,” which was taken from the soundtrack of the same-named film.

Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor had both quit the band before the recording of their fourth album, Notorious, in 1986. The album includes a top ten single, “Notorious,” which was also released as a single. The band continued to release albums and singles throughout the rest of the 1980s and early 1990s, with only limited success. Duran Duran’s comeback album, Duran Duran (also known as The Wedding Album), was released in 1993 and had two top ten worldwide songs, “Ordinary World” and “Come Undone.” Following John Taylor’s departure in 1997, the band released a string of albums and singles that failed to chart. In 2001, the original lineup of Le Bon, Rhodes, and all three Taylors reunited for a series of hugely successful concert tours, culminating in the release of the album Astronaut in 2004, which charted at number three in the UK and top 40 in a number of other countries. The album’s first song, “(Reach Up for The) Sunrise,” was a worldwide dance smash that peaked at number five in the United Kingdom. Andy Taylor quit the band again in 2006, and the band went on to release four more albums, the most recent of which being Future Past in October 2021.

Duran Duran is one of the best-selling music artists in the world, with over 100 million albums sold. They have 30 top 40 singles in the UK, 14 top ten singles in the UK Singles Chart, and 21 top ten singles in the US Billboard Hot 100. Throughout its career, the band has received various prizes, including two Brit Awards, including the Outstanding Contribution to Music award in 2004, two Grammy Awards, an MTV Video Music Award for Lifetime Achievement, and a Video Visionary Award from the MTV Europe Music Awards. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was also bestowed upon them. As part of the class of 2022, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Duran Duran Discography

Future PastSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
All You Need Is NowSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Pop TrashSpotifyAppleYouTube
Thank YouSpotifyAppleYouTube
LibertySpotifyAppleYouTube
Big ThingSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
NotoriousSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Seven and the Ragged TigerSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
RioSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Duran DuranSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Duran Duran Songs Are There?

There are a total of 21 Duran Duran songs. 12 of these were released on the band’s self-titled debut album, 3 on Seven and the Ragged Tiger, 1 on Rio, 4 on Notorious, and 1 on Astronaut. “The Chauffeur” was originally released as a B-side to the “Rio” single, but was later included on Duran Duran’s Greatest hits album. “Electric Barbarella” was released as a single in 1997, and is also included on the Greatest hits album. “Someone Else Not Me” was released as a single in 1999, but does not appear on any of the band’s studio albums.

What Is Duran Duran’S Biggest Selling Album?

The band’s best-selling album is “Rio” which was released in 1982 and has sold over 12 million copies worldwide. The album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and number nine on the US Billboard 200. “Rio” spawned the hit singles “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Save a Prayer”.

What Is Duran Duran’S Most Famous Song?

Duran Duran’s most famous song is “Rio.” The song was released in 1982 and reached the top five in several countries, including the United States.

What Was Duran Duran First Hit?

The first hit song for Duran Duran was “Planet Earth,” which was released in 1981. The song peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. “Planet Earth” was included on the band’s self-titled debut album, which was released in the same year. Duran Duran went on to have many other hits, including “Rio” and “The Wild Boys.” The band is still active today and continues to tour and release new music.

Who Was The Main Songwriter For Duran Duran?

The main songwriter for Duran Duran was John Taylor. He wrote most of the band’s hits, including “Rio,” “Hungry Like the Wolf,” and “Save a Prayer.” Taylor was also the bassist for Duran Duran, and he played a major role in shaping the band’s sound.

Most Searched For Duran Duran Songs

Hungry Like the WolfSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Ordinary WorldSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
The ReflexSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Girls on FilmSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Beyond This EarthSpotifyYouTube
NotoriousSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
RioSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Save a PrayerSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
The Wild BoysSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Come UndoneSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon