VH1 will be running a five part series on 'The 100 Greatest Songs From The Past 25 Years', including DD's "Hungry Like The Wolf" at #80. John will show up throughout the series as he was interviewed by VH1 in April commenting on various songs on the list. It is due to air June 16th through the 20th at 10PM/9 Central every night.
And from the LA Calendar section:
In a move dubbed by British music bible, the NME, as one of 2003's most exciting musical developments, the entire original, five member line-up of Duran Duran has reunited to play together for the first time in 18 years and to make a new album, slated for a 2004 release. The band members are: Simon LeBon (vocalist), Andy Taylor (guitars), John Taylor (bass), Roger Taylor (drums) and Nick Rhodes (keyboards).
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the formation of Duran Duran, in Birmingham, England, in 1978, by founding members Nick Rhodes and John Taylor. In celebration of this, the band will be playing a series of special shows, and releasing several commemorative items before their new album hits stores early next year.
With all of this on the way, highlighting the reemergence of one of the most influential bands of the last two decades, a rekindling of the ³Second British Invasion² spearheaded by Duran Duran in the 1980s may well be in the offing.
Plans for the year ahead include:
US and Japanese tour dates
Release of the Duran Duran Encore Series
13-CD boxed set to be released June 10th in the U.S. by Capitol Records
A Greatest Hits DVD
Re-issues of early Duran Duran albums
The launch of a new fan community that will provide members with special privileges and serve as a link for Duran Duran fans around the world
Writing and recording:Since deciding to get back together, the band have spent time writing in both the South of France and London, where they have recently built a small demo space from which to work. By the fall, time will have been scheduled for recording in either the UK or US with one of a short-list of producers that they are currently meeting with.
Talking about the new album in a recent interview for Blender magazine, Rhodes said "It's us five in a studio. The magic's there, and we're eager to do it all again. Like lemmings who've jumped off the cliff and climbed back up for another go."
Duran Duran's sound was inspired by the soul music of their youth, the vibrant New York underground music scene of the 70's (the New York Dolls and Lou Reed), the iconic David Bowie and avant garde bands like Roxy Music. The band?s third album, 1984's Seven and the Ragged Tiger earned Duran Duran their first Stateside #1, withThe Reflex.That same year, Rolling Stone magazine christened the band "The Fab Five," as their singleUnion of the Snake exploded around the world. They shot to fame as leaders of the "Second British Invasion" of the 1980s that included groups like Spandau Ballet, Human League, Ultravox and Culture Club, yet they always stood apart delivering an electric live show and pushing the boundaries of the music video.
Over the course of its rich and colorful career, the band has won two Grammys, three Ivor Novello awards, released 11 top ten singles, made 11 multi-platinum albums and sold a staggering 70 million records to date.
