Pop legends Duran Duran are pictured together with the original line-up of SIMON LE BON, NICK RHODES, JOHN TAYLOR, ROGER TAYLOR and ANDY TAYLOR for the first time in sixteen years. The band who have made 11 multi-platinum albums and sold a staggering 70 million records to date, are once again enjoying the limelight with an eagerly awaited new album and world tour.

The band, who were recently tipped by highly influential music bible the NME as one of the most exciting things to happen in 2003, decided to reform in late 2001. Since then they have been hard at work in the studio, writing and recording for the new album and preparing for the live show.

Alongside this, Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes have also been working with US rockers the DANDY WARHOLS on their new album “Welcome To The Monkey House” which will be released 19th May, where Le Bon has added vocals and Rhodes has taken the co-production chair.

But the Dandy Warhols are just one of the many leading new artists to cite Duran Duran as being hugely influential. Others include LADYTRON, THE STROKES and MOBY.

In celebration of their exciting reunion, EMI Records will release the first ever DURAN DURAN singles box, which features a 13 CD collection spanning the early years through Roger and Andy Taylors’ departures in 1985. Included on the CD box set are many of their timeless classics such as; “Planet Earth”, “Is There Something I Should Know”,“Wild Boys”,“Save A Prayer”, “Union Of The Snake”, “Hungry Like The Wolf”,“Girls On Film and “A View To A Kill”, which was scored with legendary film composer John Barry and which also became the only ever Bond theme song to make it to No1.

Renowned for their strong live performances, Duran Duran have consistently been one of the few British bands to really crack it in the US. This, alongside their award-winning videos, has made them an enduring influence on the international music scene, where they have long been recognized as one of the only groups to successfully fuse music, art and fashion.

A spokesman for the group commented; ”When the band first decided, almost two years ago, to put together a reunion, the original thought was to focus on touring. Once back in a room playing together, however, the chemistry and magic was apparent and new material started to flourish. The band are currently in the studio completing work on what they believe will be their most exciting album in many years: classic Duran Duran for the New Millennium!”

http://www.duranduran.com/newpic.html

PICTURE CREDIT – Richard Haughton /Duran Duran – London 2003Left To Right: John Taylor (Bass), Nick Rhodes (Keyboards) Simon Le Bon (Lead Singer) Andy Taylor (Guitar) Roger Taylor (Drums)