After taking a well earned break, Duran Duran returns to the Studio in London with Engineer Michael Patterson to continue working on their forthcoming CD.

February 2nd, 2006 marks the 25th Anniversary of the release of Duran Duran’s “Planet Earth” single. Roger comments on duranduran.com, “My strongest memory of the release of ‘Planet Earth’ is one of US gathering around the radio in Chipping Norton studios (where we were recording tracks for the forthcoming FIRST album) and hearing one of our songs being played on the radio for the first time, being absolutely ecstatic and feeling that we had really ‘arrived,’ when in fact it was just the start of a very long journey.”

Duran Duran performs at the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. The performance takes place on February 15th at the Medals Plaza, Piazza Castello, Torino. Footage of the show is broadcast around the world.

To celebrate the end of the Astronaut World Tour, Duran Duran releases their first set of exclusive master ringtones, which include the Jason Nevins remix of “(Reach Up for the) Sunrise.”

Duran Duran launches their official Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/duranduran.

Duran Duran adds Mobile Graphics to their Mobile Webshop.

The deluxe version of Live From London (10 tracks + 2 bonus) is added to iTunes.

EMI UK releases Nick Rhodes and John Taylor Present: Only After Dark. Only After Dark is the first compilation to recreate one of the UK’s most dynamic and exciting moments in music – the late ’70s and dawning ’80s period, which resonated soundly with the two future members of Duran Duran. The critically acclaimed CD features tracks by Brian Eno, David Bowie, Simple Minds, Grace Jones and more.

Nick’s essay on the early ’80s in Birmingham and the songs that inspired Only After Dark is chosen as the cover piece for the London Daily Telegraph’s Saturday pull out section.

In another first, John Taylor and Nick Rhodes step in to the history books to launch the UK Guardian newspaper’s Film & Music Podcast series, with a 2-part interview discussing their Only After Dark compilation. This mini-podcast-within-a-podcast makes UK media history, becoming the first time music from the major record labels and music publishers has been officially approved for use in a podcast.

Duran Duran performs at the Annual Red Cross Ball in Monaco on August 4th. It is their last performance with Andy Taylor.

Dom Brown took up duties as full time guitarist for the band.

Duran Duran’s “Nice” remixes, including mixes by Eric Prydz, JD aka Dready, Johnson Somerset, Mike Greig and Pablo La Rosa, are added to iTunes.

Duran Duran announces plans to create a virtual universe in Second Life, as well as perform a concert in-world. This news creates 1.8 million media and online mentions for the band, setting a record in terms of coverage.

EMI releases Duran Duran’s video catalogue for electronic download. Videos include “What Happens Tomorrow,” “Girls on Film,” “Rio” and “Save a Prayer.”

Duran Duran reconvenes in a New York City studio and begin work with famed Producer Timbaland on three tracks for their upcoming album.

Justin Timberlake, whom the band first met when they received their Lifetime Achievement Award from MTV and who later presented them with a second Lifetime Achievement Award at the UK BRIT Awards in 2004, collaborates with them on one of the songs from the forthcoming release.

Individuals: Portraits from the Gap Collection is published and showcases the GAP print ad Simon and Nick did. The book benefits Project Red, a business model developed by Bono and Bobby Shriver to create a sustainable stream of revenue for AIDS initiatives.

The longest running Duran Duran fanzine, The Dutch Go Duran ceases publication after 18 years.

Nick Rhodes is a presenter at the first annual British Academy Video Games Awards In London. He is joined by his newly created Second Life Avatar.

John Taylor designs a Signature Peavey Guitar and Bass line, called the Liberator, in association with Juicy Couture.

The band announces the departure of guitarist Andy Taylor and confirm that they will continue as a foursome as they finish up their new CD for Epic/Sony Records.

The band performs for the first time in Poland, in front of 120,000 People. The show is televised nationally.

The band warms up for a short U.S run with five European shows in Bratislava, Bucharest, Sofia, Athens and Belgrade.

The band opens the new Sears Center Arena in Chicago on October 26th.

Duran Duran joins the Red Hot Chili Peppers as Headliners for the Voodoo Music Experience, Halloween weekend in New Orleans.

The band visits Warren Easton High School while in New Orleans. This school was devastated by hurricane Katrina and began rebuilding after being closed for 7 months. After taking a tour of the school, and participating in a press conference/autograph session with the Journalism Department, the band donates an audio sound system for the school to the students.

Duran Duran headline the BANG! Music Festival on November 11, at Bicentennial Park in Miami. Other artists include Gnarls Barkley and Daft Punk.

The band perform a stand alone gig in New York City as part of the Cipriani Concert Series to benefit amfAR. Over a million dollars is raised.

Princes William and Harry announce Duran Duran as one of the main artists to appear at this summer’s Princes Diana Memorial Concert, taking place at London’s newly re-built Wembley Stadium on July 1, 2007. The show sells out in just 20 minutes.

John Taylor under takes four in-store appearances to launch his signature series Guitar and Bass lines.