STACK #204 Oct 2021

MUSIC FEATURE

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Duran Duran L-R: Nick Rhodes, JohnTaylor, Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor

When we admit Duran Duran’s JohnTaylor into our Zoom meeting, he materialises wearing a (frankly disappointing) nondescript greyT-shirt. JT’s rockstar hairdo – which he absentmindedly tweaks throughout our chat – is the only true indicator that he plays bass for one of the biggest bands in the world. It’s 9am in the UK, andTaylor gestures toward a bowl in front of him. “I hope you don’t mind me eating,” he checks, ever-so-politely, before picking up a spoon. Words Bryget Chrisfield JOHN TAYLOR DURAN DURAN INTERVIEW

T his year marks the 40th anniversary of Duran Duran making sweet synth-pop music together (their self-titled debut dropped in 1981), which makes Anniversary – the band’s latest single, the third to be lifted from their upcoming 15th studio album Future Past – a particularly timely release. Anniversary features a “doo-doo-doo-da-doo- doo” chorus refrain (which calls to mind their 1982 hit Hungry Like The Wolf ), instantly catchy melodies, synth flourishes, textured

basslines, metronomic drumming and an overall celebratory vibe. Reflecting on Duran’s formative years – rehearsing, writing future hits and gigging around their native Birmingham before taking the world by storm – Taylor observes, “We kind of found our style with each other. I mean, typically with musicians like myself, who find their way with a group, it’s really only with that group that you feel super- comfortable. It’s like, when I’m playing with

Roger [Taylor, drummer], I can sound like a really impressive bass player. But put me in the studio with a bunch of musicians that I’ve never worked with before, and I promise you, I won’t sound so impressive.” Future Past sees the band exploring new sonic avenues and welcoming new collaborators into the fold, evolving while still retaining the essence of Duran. “Especially if you experience success quite early on, I think it’s really tricky to find that balance between

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