Duran Duran: A timeline of their most memorable career moments
They've been together for more than 40 years
Last updated 27th Oct 2023
Duran Duran are the 80s legends who gave us hits like 'Girls On Film', 'Hungry Like The Wolf', 'Is There Something I Should Know?' and 'The Reflex', and they're still going strong more than 40 years after they first started out!
From playing at local pubs in the early 80s to headlining the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, and releasing their latest album 'Danse Macabre', the New Romantic group has come a long way, with chart-topping music and many iconic performances along the way.
Keep reading to see how Duran Duran, with the current line-up of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor, got started and some the biggest moments from their time together as a group.
Check out some of Duran Duran's biggest career moments:
1978 - Duran Duran career beginnings
Duran Duran formed in Birmingham in 1978, and underwent a few line-up changes before settling on the group made up of Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor, and Nick Rhodes.
They became the resident band at their local nightclub Rum Runner in 1980, as well as performing in other clubs in Birmingham and London.
1981 - Duran Duran release their first single
After joining Hazel O'Connor on her tour in 1980, Duran Duran gained more popularity which led to them signing a recording contract with EMI. They released their debut self-titled album in 1981. It included tracks 'Girls On Film', 'Planet Earth', 'Anyone Out There' and 'Careless Memories'.
Music videos released for the songs helped boost the album's popularity and commerical success, and it made it to Number 3 in the UK Album Chart. While 'Girls On Film' is known for its music video, it was highly controversial when it came out.
1982 - Duran Duran bring out 'Rio'
A year after their debut record, Duran Duran brought out their album 'Rio' which was a global smash hit for the group.
As well as the popular title track and song 'Save A Prayer', it features their song 'Hungry Like The Wolf' which received a joint Grammy Award for Best Short Form Video along with 'Girls On Film'.
1983 - Duran Duran top UK Chart
Things really picked up for the band in 1983, and Duran Duran got their first UK Number 1 single with 'Is There Something I Should Know?'. From the same album, 'Seven and the Ragged Tiger', their song 'The Reflex' also topped the chart the following year.
At the time, Princess Diana even revealed that they were her favourite band.
1984 - Band Aid
In 1984, the charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' was sung by a huge celebrity group including Duran Duran members John Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor and Nick Rhodes. The song went straight to Number 1 and became the fastest-selling single in the UK.
1985 - Duran Duran write theme song for A View To Kill
Duran Duran wrote the theme song for James Bond film A View To Kill which stars Roger Moore and Grace Jones. Their track, which is named after the film, became hugely popular in the UK when it was released in May 1985, and is the only Bond theme to top the charts in the US.
Following the song's release, the band took some time off from writing music to work on other projects, but they found time to get together for Live Aid that summer.
1985 - Duran Duran perform at Live Aid
Duran Duran were one of the talented acts to take to the stage as part of Live Aid in July 1985. They performed at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia to a crowd of 90,000 people.
They played their new track 'A View to a Kill' as well as 'Union of the Snake', 'Save a Prayer', and 'The Reflex'.
1986 - Duran Duran release 'Notorious'
After a break, Duran Duran reconnected in 1986 to create their fourth studio album 'Notorious' which was produced by Nile Rodgers.
However, Andy Taylor and Roger Taylor left the band before they recorded 'Notorious', with Roger performing for the last time at Live Aid.
1993 - Duran Duran release second self-titled album
In the early 90s, guitarist Warren Cuccurullo and drummer Sterling Campbell officially joined Duran Duran in place of Andy and Roger.
The group's second self-titled album which is often called 'The Wedding Album' was released in 1993 and made it into the Top 10 in the UK album chart. The single 'Ordinary World' went on to win an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting.
1993 - Duran Duran receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In August 1993, Duran Duran was awarded a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2001 - Duran Duran reunite
Much to fan's delight, in 2001 the best-known line-up of Duran Duran - Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor, John Taylor and Nick Rhodes - got back together again.
As well as working on new music together, the group also bagged the MTV Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 for their success and innovation in video.
2004 - Duran Duran win BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music
Fans couldn't get enough of seeing the band back together which helped their success for years to come. They got an amazing response to their following concert tours as well as their 2004 album 'Astronaut' which got to Number 3 in the UK Album Chart.
In 2004, Duran Duran also won a BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. This was their second BRIT Award, having won Best British Video for 'Wild Boys' in 1985.
2006 - Andy Taylor leaves Duran Duran for the second time
Although he rejoined the group in 2001, Andy Taylor left Duran Duran again in 2006. He has since pursued a solo career as well as working with numerous other musicians, while musician Dominic Brown became a full-time guitarist for Duran Duran.
During this time, Duran Duran had been working on the album 'Reportage' however they eventually decided to scrap it and instead go in a different direction for their next release. They recorded 'Red Carpet Massacre' which came out in 2007. 'Reportage' remains unreleased and none of the songs have ever been performed or shared.
2007 - Duran Duran perform at Concert For Diana
Organised a decade after her sad passing, Concert For Diana was a charity concert that took place at Wembley Stadium in 2007 on what would have been the Princess Of Wales' 46th birthday.
The line-up included Elton John, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Take That as well as Duran Duran, who played '(Reach Up for the) Sunrise', 'Wild Boys' and 'Rio'.
2011 - Duran Duran win Lifetime Achievement prize
In 2011, at the GQ Men of the Year Awards, Duran Duran was awarded the Lifetime Achievement prize.
2012 - Duran Duran perform at Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
The 2012 Summer Olympics Games was hosted in London and Duran Duran was part of the Opening Ceremony where they represented England, with Paolo Nutini representing Scotland, Stereophonics representing Wales and Snow Patrol representing Northern Ireland in the show.
2015 - Duran Duran's 'Paper Gods' album and world tour
2015 saw the release of Duran Duran's 'Paper Gods' album which they had been working on since 2013. The album got to Number 5 in the UK Album Chart and included songs 'Pressure Off' (ft Janelle Monáe and Nile Rodgers), 'Only In Dreams' and 'Paper Gods' (ft Mr Hudson).
The group headed on a tour of the same name which lasted from 2015-2018 with shows across Europe, the UK, North America and Asia.
2021 - Duran Duran release 'Future Past'
Duran Duran released their 15th and most recent studio album in October 2021 called 'Future Past'.
They promoted the album on a tour which began in 2022, with Nile Rodgers and Chic performing as the opening act on the North American leg of the tour.
2022 - Duran Duran join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2022, Duran Duran was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. When it was announced that they had been chosen to be inducted, the band said that they were "honoured, and thrilled, and happy" about the news.
They were inducted in a special ceremony on 5th November by Robert Downey Jr and they performed 'Girls on Film', 'Hungry Like the Wolf' and 'Ordinary World'. John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon were in attendence and sadly Andy Taylor could not be there.
Sad news was revealed on the night as part of Duran Duran's speech, as they shared that Andy had been battling cancer for the past four years. They read a letter written by Andy which said: "Just over four years ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. Although my current condition is not immediately life-threatening there is no cure. However, none of this needs to or should detract from what this band (with or without me) has achieved and sustained for 44 years. I often doubted the day would come. I'm sure as hell glad I'm around to see the day."
2022 - Duran Duran perform at Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Concert
Duran Duran were one of the many performers at Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Concert in June 2022. They were joined on stage by Nile Rodgers and singer Ms. Banks and sang their hit songs 'Notorious' and 'Girls On Film'.
2022 - Duran Duran headline the 2022 Commonwealth Games
When the Commonwealth Games were hosted by Birmingham in 2022, Brummie locals Duran Duran headlined the Opening Ceremony.
Their fantastic set incuded their tracks 'Save a Prayer', 'Planet Earth', 'Tonight United' and 'Ordinary World'.
2022 - Duran Duran release A Hollywood High
To celebrate more than 40 years together, Duran Duran took a look back at some of the most memorable moments from their career and created concert documentary film A Hollywood High, Duran Duran Live in Concert.
The film includes: 'Exclusive new interviews, behind-the-scenes video and unseen archival footage' and follows: 'Their rise to become one of the most influential and successful groups of all time.' The film came out in cinemas in November 2022.
2022/23 - Duran Duran's 'Future Past' tour
In promotion of their 'Future Past' album, Duran Duran played shows across the UK in June and July 2022 and in 2023.
2023 - Duran Duran release their 'Danse Macabre' album
In August 2023, Duran Duran announced their 16th studio album called 'Danse Macabre', as well as releasing the title track. The album was released on 27th October, just in time for Halloween.
2024 - Duran Duran premiere cover of ELO classic 'Evil Woman'
In October 2024, Duran Duran premiered their cover of Electric Light Orchestra's seminal 1975 anthem 'Evil Woman.' The reinterpretation of Jeff Lynne's timeless ELO tune sees Duran Duran add disco vibes complete with exuberant strings, synths, guitar from axeman Dom Brown and Simon Le Bon's unmistakable vocals.
'Evil Woman' is lifted from the new 'De Luxe' version of Duran Duran's Halloween-themed 2023 album 'Danse Macabre.' Alongside the ELO track, the extended version is also bolstered with a remake of the band's 1984 single 'New Moon on Monday,' retitled 'New Moon (Dark Phase).'
You can hear Duran Duran's biggest hits here on Greatest Hits Radio.
Now read:
Duran Duran: Facts you never knew about the Wild Boys
Duran Duran inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Duran Duran reveal the secret to staying together after 40 years