On this day, in 1981, Duran Duran released their eponymous debut album.
Imbued with a strong post-punk guitar flavor courtesy of the Yamaha SG-wielding Andy Taylor, Duran Duran spawned the breakthrough smash “Girls on Film” and eventually achieved Platinum-selling success, peaking at number 10 in the Billboard 200 charts.
The infamous “Girls on Film” music video, directed by Godley & Crème, appeared during the earliest days of MTV.
While the original version was restricted from broadcast by the BBC and heavily edited by MTV, the hype surrounding "Girls on Film" did little to quell public interest in the band as they shot to worldwide fame.
Having inspired countless young guitar players during their 1980s heyday and beyond, Duran Duran’s musical legacy is vast.
Far from retiring, Taylor remains firmly entrenched in music. Earlier this year, he was busy producing British hard rockers Reef’s latest album, Shoot Me Your Ace, whom he also performs with live on stage.
In this recent interview with Redbeard Effects filmed during the Shoot Me Your Ace sessions at Peter Gabriel’s stunning Real World Studios near Bath in the U.K., Taylor reflects upon a life spent in music, from the working men’s clubs of Northern England to the best studios on the planet.
“I was born in 1961, which was a great time to be a kid brought up on guitar music,” he points out. “There were so many great guitar players and then you could go and see them. That was the norm.
“I would go to every show I could. Not just from the point of view of being fan but being an observer.”
Order Duran Duran here.
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