1983

JANUARY

Nick meets Limahl at the Embassy Club, London

Nick produces Kajagoogoo's debut album "White Feathers" at Chipping Norton 
and Utopia Studios.

The band take time out on the Cote d'Azur in France, speculation of Tax avoidance 
and stress are rife in the media. The guys take it easy and collect there thoughts 
until the feel the itch to get the Duran machine back into action.

MARCH 11

A video compilation is released featuring videos for the singles plus 
Lonely in your nightmare, Nightboat and the chauffeur.

this compliation is awarded a grammy for best video album

MARCH 15

Nick, John, Roger and Andy arrive at John F Kennedy International airport in 
Queens NY on Pan AM international flight #1 at 4:10pm, around 100 fans turn up to 
meet the band and made a lot of commotion, Simon flew in from Canada the same 
day although he missed the fans he heard the response his bandmates received.

MARCH 16

The first of many rehearsals for an appearance on Saturday Night Live, 
Andy Warhol filmed a sequence about Duran for his cable TV show while they 
were busy with their rehearsal. They were also interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine.

During this week they received Gold discs for American sales of RIO at a 
party hosted by Capitol Records President Jim Mazza.

MARCH 17

At around 1pm Duran were back at the NBC studios rehearsing for Saturday Night Live.

MARCH 19

Appeared on NBC's Saturday Night Live

Is there something I should know is released, their first UK number one single.


The song spends 9 weeks on the chart. The video is Directed by Russell Mulcahy.

APRIL

Rio goes Platinum in America.

Duran take a two month break in Cannes, France where the begin to write songs 
for next album.

JUNE

Duran fly to Monserat to begin recording their third album at Air Studios with 
Alex Sadkin, It was hurricane season, Nick suffered Paroxysmal Tachycardia 
causes his heart to race and was told to take it easy.

Titles for songs on the new album are: Union of the Snake, Reflex, Cut loose, 
Spidermouse, Madagaska and Seven and the Ragged Tiger

JUNE 21

Duran appear on channel 4's a midsummer nights tube

JULY 19

Return to UK at 7:30am on a pan-am flight from Miami for a week to take part in 
a charity concert in aid of MENCAP, They rehearse at The Dominion Theatre. 
The concert was attended by Prince Charles and The Princess of Wales.

The concerts were plagued with problems. there were sound problems at the 
Dominion where they performed an hour long set, while at Villa a box of 
chocolates from a fan detunes John's Bass, Simon stumbles around, the 
pitch was water logged after heavy rain and only 18,000 fans turn up for the 
gig, causing the event to make a loss. Duran have a special guest for the Aston Villa gig, 
Ellen Hanslow who lost her parents in a helicopter crash on the Scilly Islands.

JULY 23

John takes his Aston Martin for a spin and breaks down 400 yards down the road.

After the Villa gig the band hold a homecoming party at the Rum Runner where 
John meets Robert Palmer who performed at Villa park, they discuss the possibilities 
of recording together.

Simon announces his engagement to long term girlfriend Claire Stansfield

AUGUST

Fly to Australia to complete recording the album at 301 studios in Sydney and 
prepare for second world tour.

John is involved in a car accident on Sydney harbour bridge when his BMW 
goes out of control.

SEPTEMBER

Video for Union of the snake is filmed near Sydney on 35mm film.

OCTOBER

Union of the snake is released, it reaches number 3 in the UK charts and 
stays on the chart for 7 weeks.

Rehearsals begin for forthcoming tour at Sydney Showgrounds

NOVEMBER

World tour begins in Australia

Seven and the Ragged Tiger is released (after much delay and an abortive 
£65,000 photo session).It was the first album by Duran to reach number one 
in the UK album chart. The album spends 47 weeks on the chart.

WORLD TOUR 1983-4

Tour Program

Australia

England

DECEMBER 9

Andy opens his wine Bar in Whitley Bay, a seaside resort in the north east of 
England with partner Graham Jenkinson, It is called RIO's and is decorated in an art deco style.

DECEMBER 24

Christmas eve and Union of the snake re-enters the UK chart for a further 4 weeks 
and reaches number 66

1984

JAPAN

JANUARY

The video is filmed for New moon on monday in Noyers, Bercy and Paris, France

JANUARY 22

New moon on Monday is released it reaches number 9 and stays in the 
charts for 7 weeks.

USA & CANADA

APRIL

The Reflex is released with the benefit of a remix by Nile Rogers, the second number 
one single, spending 14 weeks on the UK chart.

Sing Blue Silver video is released

MAY

Performed at the Montreux festival in Switzerland

JUNE 13-14

Duran film footage for "Arena "and "As the lights go down" at the NEC Arena 
Birmingham with Russell Mulcahy and a 12-camera crew. 2000 tickets were 
given away on a first come basis.

JULY 20

Duran finish recording Wild boys at Maison Rouge studios, SW London with Nile Rodgers, 
Simon and Andy help Nile by doing backing vocals for Sister Sledge's Lost in music that 
is being recorded in adjoining studios.

JULY 27

Roger marries long term girlfriend Giovanna Cantone who he met while she was working 
at the Rum Runner, Giovanna was a dancer with Atmosphier. The couple tie the knot 
at the Capo Di Monti church in Naples overlooking the Neapolitan coastline, 
Giovanna wore a David Emanuel gown. The couple Honeymoon in Egypt.

AUGUST

Dancing on the Valentine Video is released featuring the videos from 
Seven and the Ragged Tiger

AUGUST 12 (18?)

Nick marries Julieanne Friedman in London, His "best man" was Elaine Griffiths. 
They hold a reception at the Savoy in London and depart on a three week 
honeymoon cruise in the Greek Islands.

AUGUST 20

Andy and Tracy's first son is born, Andrew James, 6lbs. 5oz..