1978

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
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.

UK Dates

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.

fashion

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.

"Girls on Film" is written and Andy also brings along a song called "Stevie", which formed the framework
of the song that was to become "Rio"

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"

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

UK Dates

1979

UK Dates

A four track demo is recorded including the tracks Girls on film, See me Repeat me, 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 The Xpertz and World Service

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.

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

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.

The Band spend the tour living in a camping bus and earning £10 a week for the duration of the tour.

Hazel O'Conner Megahype tour

It was during this tour that the band were spotted by A&R man Dave Ambrose and Signed with 
EMI Records. Perry Haines takes charge of band's image. They each pick up a £50 per week retainer 
and a £42,000 advance to cover album, tour and video production.

Winter 1980
Spent recording material for singles and Album at Red Bus, Utopia and Chipping Norton Studios, 
working with Engineer and producer Colin Thurston and preparing for the release of their debut 
single "Planet Earth". The video was shot at St Johns Wood, London, and Directed by Russell Mulcahy.

UK Dates

1981

January 16
Played for a BBC Radio 1 - In Session with Peter Powell.

February 2
Planet Earth is released by EMI

Labeled "new Romantics" by press, Birmingham's answer to Spandau Ballet.

Nick Says:

"We were surprised to be tagged New Romantic or Futurist because we were not like that at all . . . 
it's pop and more like Blondie than Led Zeppelin"

February
First photo session in Nottingham and Milton Keynes with Photographer Andy Earl

First Headlining Tour 1981

March
Planet Earth enters the charts, peaking a number 12 and spending 11 weeks on UK chart.

April 20
Careless Memories released even after managing to hang around the chart for 7 weeks only 
manages to reach a disappointing 37. The video was directed by Perry Haines and Terry Jones.

May
My Own Way is written

Nite Romantics EP is released in Japan

June 15
First Album "Duran Duran" released, it spends 118 weeks on the UK chart.

June 19
Record session for Radio One's Peter Powell Show

Tour Programme 

Headlining UK Tour of main venues

July 13
Girls on Film released featuring the memorable intro of Paul Berrow's Nikon camera.
the single spent 11 weeks in the UK chart with the highest position of number 5

August 13
The even more memorable Girls on Film video is recorded at Shepperton Studio's, 
Directed by ex 10cc members Kevin Godley and Lol creme.

August 27
Last Chance on the Stairway is written

First European Tour
(*German dates required)

September 15 (*full list required)
Fly to US for 18 Dates, culminating in a gathering of friends (approx. 2,500) at the 
Underground Club, New York.

Met Andy Warhol at The factory

October 21-27
spent week at Town House Studios recording "My Own Way"

October 29
Flew to Germany to play 14 dates, Visited Barcelona

November 12
Received Gold and Silver Awards at EMI presentation for sales of "Duran Duran"

November 16
My Own Way is released, a new sound, a new image and another video directed by 
Russell Mulcahy, reaching number 14 with yet another 11 week run on the chart.

Tour Programme 

UK Tour December 1981

Nick Writes:

So this is Christmas 81- our 4th English tour, Then off to Rio!

Thank y'all for supporting us - without you we would fall over...

Love Nick Rhodes x

"Duran Duran are coming to town!"