NICK
Best Duran Duran Moment of 2011:
It is hard to choose in such a particularly exciting year.
-Launching ALL YOU NEED IS NOW on digital, CD and vinyl.
-Performing at SXSW.
-Filming "Unstaged" directed by David Lynch.
-Winning the GQ Lifetime Achievement Award and the 20th Century Style Award from the city of Milan.
-Having Jonas Akerlund direct "Girl Panic!"
Best Personal Moment(s):
- Receiving an Honorary Doctor of Arts Degree from the University of Bedforshire. My mum was quite proud.
-Mark Ronson's wedding - it isn't often the band all go to a social event together. It was great to see Mark & Josephine so happy.
World Events of 2011:
-Controversies such as the death of Osama Bin Ladin and the debt crisis in Greece & Italy, which affects all of Europe and beyond. The economic instability around the world has really been the main subject matter of the news whilst more focused in Britain was the Murdoch/cell phone hacking scandal. Watching that unravel has been quite interesting.
-Loss of great artists such as Steve Jobs. To me, this was really one of the most significant things. He affected the world so deeply and in such a positive way. Other very sad deaths of influential people include film director Ken Russell who directed TOMMY, the first significant rock opera ever composed. Also, Liz Taylor, Jane Russell, Cy Twombly (artist), Dobie Gray (songwriter) and Amy Winehouse.
-The birth of Julian Taylor - our family tree has gotten larger.
Album of 2011:
-PJ Harvey's LET ENGLAND SHAKE
-Kanye/Jay Z WATCH THE THRONE
Single of 2011:
"Bang Bang" from Mark Ronson's RECORD COLLECTION.
Favourite Movie of 2011:
Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Live In" starring Antonio Banderas. Incredibly unusual.
Best Gig of 2011 (non DD):
We've been on tour so I haven't seen too much. Saw some of Kanye at Coachella and a few great Mark Ronson performances.
Most looking forward to in 2012:
Our tour! We have Europe, far east and Australia. I'd love to get to China and India this year. Oh, and I am finally going to release "TV Mania" with Warren. Really.
