What I Think: Andy Taylor

Andy Taylor

Short Bio: British guitarist Andy Taylor rose to staggering heights of fame with Duran Duran in the mid-'80s. The son of a small-village fisherman, Taylor taught himself guitar, bass, and drums and began playing professionally at age 13. He'd already gigged with several bands (even releasing an A&M single, "Teenage Girls," with the group Motorway) when he answered a Melody Maker ad for a "live-wire guitarist" and hopped a train to Birmingham to audition for Duran Duran (Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, and ultimately Simon Le Bon). The band's phenomenal video-fueled success shot Taylor and the other members into the teen heartthrob stratosphere.

Reference Site: http://music.aol.com/artist/andy-taylor/biography

My Opinion (on Andy): He is like me; down to earth and laid-back. Except for one thing: I don't own or play the guitar. Also, his accent is adorable (yes I can use that word, I'm not queer). His red jacket on "The Reflex" video is neat; I wouldn't mind owning that!

"Why-y-y-y-y don't you use it,
Try-y-y-y-y not to bruise it,
Buy-y-y-y-y time; don't lose it"

--a quote from the lyrics The Reflex

1984 Press Conference

Female Reporter: I wonder if I could ask you to tell me...
                           coming down the line; Andy, John,
                           Simon, Nick, Roger
                        ...when did you learn an instrument?
Andy: I learned to use my instrument... when I was...
John: *interrupted* Almost successful there?
Andy: ...five actually, but it was plastic at the time.
          But uh...but I...I got...I got a real one when I was eleven.
John: I was what you call, "a late developer".
      --I didn't pick up mine until I was about sixteen.
Simon: I was born with my instrument; and it just got
           used, sort of, again and again and again!
Nick: I started playing with mine when I was...
         *everyone laughs* ...seventeen.
Roger: Um! *Roger's thinking*
Andy: *interrupted* Roger still...
Simon: *interrupted Andy* Roger needs two hands for his!
           *everyone laughs hard*

What I Think: Roger Taylor

Roger Andrew Taylor

Short Bio: He was born in Birmingham, England and joined Duran Duran in 1979, and climbed with them to fame and fortune in the early 1980s. After their massive round-the-world tour in 1984, he was burned out and exhausted. He worked that year with Duran band mates Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes on the album So Red The Rose for their side project Arcadia, but that band never toured, and he did not participate in its promotion. He played a one-offshow with Duran at the Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia, but at the end of 1985, temporarily retired to the English countryside with his wife and children.

In 1994, he joined Duran Duran in France to play drums on a couple of tracks for the covers album Thank You.

In 1997, after his children were grown, Taylor began flirting with the music industry again. He briefly formed the band Freebass, which produced a single but never got a record deal.

In 2001, Taylor rejoined Duran Duran, as all five of the original members reunited to record new material.

Reference Site: http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Taylor_Roger.html

My Opinion (on Roger): He is a great drummer. I prefer his drumming in the "My Own Way (night remix)"--damn... that bass, and drum beat! But his drum moves in the "Planet Earth" video are to die for! :)

What I Think: John Taylor

Nigel Taylor (aka John Taylor)

Short Bio: Nigel John Taylor is most well known for his bass work in the popular band Duran Duran, which he also co-founded. As schoolboys, he and Nick would sit around and daydream about the band they would one day front. It was then that they finalized a timeline for the band: they were to play Hammersmith Odeon by 1982, Wembley Arena by 1983, and Madison Square Garden by 1984. They managed to accomplish their goal, and also became one of England's biggest acts worldwide.

Reference Site: www.imdb.com/name/nm0852616/bio

My Opinions (on John): His bass skills are out of this world. And his look: Suave and sophisticated; he could have been the next James Bond... if Simon hadn't stepped in (no offense).

Simon was forced to push 3 buttons--"Beep! Beep! Beep!"
Hot French Women: "Excuse me, aren't you..."
Simon: "Bon, Simon Le Bon!" lol

Did I forget to mention, John looks great in a hat!? :)