Nick Rhodes - Keyboards (1978 - current)



Full Name: Nicholas James Bates

Born: 8th June 1962 (in his mother's house) Moseley, Birmingham weight: 7 lbs 8 oz

Height: 5' 9"

Education: Silvermead Junior school; Woodrush High School, Hollywood, Birmingham

Nick was born and bred in Birmingham, he was a very good baby and very quiet, as soon as Nick was old enough wanted to join the boy scouts, however, there was a waiting list. Eventually the scout leader came round and told Nick he could join, but Nick changed his mind and never mentioned it again.

Nicks Family home in Hollywood

As a young boy he was very much a chatterbox, very lively and extremely inquisitive, he always wanted 
to know what was going on around him, he asked questions constantly and wanted to know everything 
about everything.

Nick went to Silvermead Junior school, then to Woodrush High school, Nick quite liked school, particularly 
art and music, in fact kept in touch with Mr. Smart his English whenever possible .Mr Smart described Nick 
as a well motivated child who often used to stay on after school.

Nick first made the anouncement that he wanted to be a pop star to his parents when he was 10 years old 
whilst watching Gary Glitter.

Mr. Hart, Nick's Art teacher said Nick was a very co-operative boy, highly imaginative and talented, particularly 
in art, he was capable technically and very confident,

Mr. Hart said

"He knew what he wanted to do at an early age and was one of the very few schoolkids who've said to me 
'I want to be a pop star' and actually achieved his ambition."

Mr Hart - Art Teacher

He was a very bright lad at school and did what homework he had, if he had problems his father would 
often help him out.

They are very proud of him at Woodrush school and have a picture of the band in one of the classrooms. 
Nick left school with seven O levels and was going to stay on and take his A levels but decided halfway
 through summer holidays that he did not want to continue, he didn't want to go to university either wanting 
instead to get out into the world and find out what it was all about. He did help out in his mother's toy shop for 
a bit of extra money.

Sometimes Nick and his mother would have terrible rows, Nick would get mad if he didn't agree but a couple 
of days later, after thinking it over would go back and tell his mother she was right. Nick had a thing about 
dyeing his hair, the first time he went home late at night and shot up the stairs calling out "I'm home" and 
dived under the bed covers, the next morning his mother went to his room and saw a blond head peeping 
out from under the sheets, after the initial scare she became quite used to it, after that he went all colours, 
Blond twice, purple and orange!.

An early picture of Nick on holiday in Weymouth with cousin Collette (left) 
and her sister Annette in background

His main interest during his teens was his record collection, He had a huge Bowie collection. 
He also collected record sleeves, he used to go to the shops with John - it was like a race - who would 
get there first. Nick liked hoarding things he always kept his tickets from pop concerts and various gigs, 

The local job centre were not as enthusastic about Nicks ambitions, He was sent many job application forms, 
Finally his benefit payments were stopped after refusing a job as a petrol pump attendant at the local 
garage 300 yards from his house.

Nick decided to change his name to Rhodes soon after starting Duran Duran, there was no particular 
reason for the name, he just sat and thought about it and came and made a calm announcement to his parents.

Nick was a very home loving boy, very kind, very gentle and not at all selfish, he was always very truthful. 
His Parents Roger and Sylvia Bates, are very proud of their son but his superstar status means they don't see 
much of him and miss him. Nick is prone to working too hard , the doctor said he was a very fit person but stress 
and overwork made him ill, he is a workaholic and just doesn't know when to stop.

Nick married Julianne Freidman in London on August 12 1984, the couple divorced in December 1994.

They had one child, Tatjana Lee Orchid Rhodes who was born on August 23 1986.

Nick with his parents