CAMERAS READY, PREPARE TO FLASH!
Another Duran Duran birthday is coming! Two in fact, with Nick on June 8th, and John on June 20th. This year, we’ll showcase some of Nick's most memorable magazine covers, so why not kick it off with this issue of NEW TIME from Hong Kong dated October 25-31, 1985 (and not so easy to find these days).
Outside of music, one of Nick’s greatest passions is Art. Meeting Andy Warhol, one of his biggest influences, lead to a wonderful friendship that lasted until Andy’s all-too-soon death in 1987. One of Warhol’s central tenets was for artists to never restrict themselves to one discipline. Not content with being merely a painter, Warhol made films, took photos, managed a rock band, and was the publisher of INTERVIEW magazine, launched in 1969. Here Nick graces the cover from November 1985.
Over the years, the musical education press has embraced the band, with all members represented in the world’s most respected specialty magazines. Here’s the August 1984 issue of KEYBOARD magazine from Japan.
Here’s an issue of KEYBOARD from the United States, dated February 1986.
And another issue of KEYBOARD from the USA, from August 2011.
When it comes to synthesizers, Nick has played all of the major brands. But if you ask a synth nerd what brand Nick plays, the first answer is bound to be Roland. Starting with a Jupiter-4, Nick has used many of their classics, including the TR-808 drum machine and the Jupiter-8, the synthesizer he is most associated with. This issue of the Roland Users Group magazine from 1987 was given out for free at instrument shops.
Here’s another in our ongoing series of ‘spot the difference’... These two magazines are both from Japan and look pretty similar, however, they are actually different shots. And what do you know, it’s a work by his friend Andy Warhol!
Both issues are from February 1986.
In the official calendars released in the eighties, each band member's birth month would feature their photo. Since Nick and JT share June a fair solution had to be devised. After feats of strength were ruled out, a decision was made to feature one member in May, and the other in July. In keeping with that spirit, next month we’ll visit yet another format time forgot, and in July we will give the bassman his tribute!
Let's end on a high note this early issue of NOISE magazine from the UK, October 1982.
Created by Derek Supryka // Edited by Katy Krassner // Pictures by Derek Supryka
