Origins & Early Life

Duran Duran () are an English pop rock band. Formed in Birmingham in 1978 by keyboardist Nick Rhodes, guitarist (later bassist) John Taylor and singer/bassist Stephen Duffy. The band went through several early changes before the band's line-up settled in May 1980 as Rhodes, Taylor, singer Simon Le Bon, guitarist Andy Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor. Emerging as one of the most successful bands of the New Romantic scene in the early 1980s, they were innovators of the music video and a leading band in the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

By 1984, the band had achieved a level of popularity likened to Beatlemania. The band's first hit was "Planet Earth", which peaked at no. 12 in early 1981. That summer, they achieved a Top 5 hit with "Girls on Film", the popularity of which was enhanced by a controversial music video. Both tracks were taken from their 1981 self-titled debut album, which reached no.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

3 and went Platinum in the UK. The band's second album, Rio (1982), went on to greater success and became a worldwide hit. The songs "Hungry Like the Wolf", "Save a Prayer" and "Rio" featured cinematic music videos directed by Australian filmmaker Russell Mulcahy and became three...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolf Dassler — Historical peer (Died in 1978) (1978): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• Ayumi Hamasaki — Historical peer (Born in 1978) (1978): Japanese Pop Icon, 'Empress of Pop,' best-selling solo artist in Japan.
• Abby Wambach — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): Iconic American soccer forward, celebrated for her goal-scoring prowess and longevity.
• Adande Thorne — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): Trinidadian-American YouTuber, animator, comedian, and actor known as Swoozie.
• AB de Villiers — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): Iconic South African cricketer, celebrated for his all-around batting genius.
• Alfred Kastler — Historical peer (Died in 1984) (1984): Pioneering physicist known for developing the technique of optical pumping.
• Abigail Spencer — Historical peer (Born in 1981) (1981): American actress, producer, and writer known for roles in soap operas and dramas.
• Albert Cohen (novelist) — Historical peer (Died in 1981) (1981): Greek-born Swiss novelist who wrote in French, known for his memoirs and international work.
• 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament — Historical peer (Born in 1982) (1982): The 44th annual NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
• Alan Ritchson — Historical peer (Born in 1982) (1982): American actor known for roles in Reacher, Titans, and superhero franchises.