Duran Duran Inducted Into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame

Duran Duran has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame as a part of the 2022 class.

The pioneering new wave group fashioned within the late ‘70s, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1981. For greater than a decade, they remained a dominant power in music, promoting greater than 100 million information and profitable followers throughout the globe. Their record of hits – together with “Women on Movie,” “Hungry Just like the Wolf,” “Rio” and “Strange World” – are nonetheless widespread on radio and with new generations of followers.

Duran Duran earned entry into the Corridor of Fame on their first nomination, although they’ve been eligible since 2007. They received the fan vote earlier than the announcement of this 12 months’s inductees. The present lineup – singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor – have been all available to just accept the respect, although a promised reunion with former members Andy Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo did not occur.

Robert Downey Jr., in his introductory speech, acknowledged Duran Duran’s longevity, their musicianship – and their headbands. “All of it comes down to 2 phrases – confidence and religion,” Downey added. “Duran Duran invitations us all to place our greatest days right here now, and nonetheless in entrance of us.”

Andy Taylor could not make it, Le Bon mentioned. He learn a letter from their authentic guitarist, revealing that Taylor is affected by metastasic prostate most cancers.

John Taylor talked about Duran Duran’s many influences, together with the Beatles, Mick Ronson, Nile Rodgers and Siouxsie and the Banshees, amongst others. “These artists and so many others have been mother and father mentors and spirit guides,” he mentioned. “With out their music we’d by no means have discovered one another.”

Nick Rhodes in contrast their deep bond to a form of polygamy, whereas additionally arguing for the induction of New York Dolls, one other key affect. “We share this award with you,” he instructed their adoring followers.

This wasn’t the primary time members of Duran Duran appeared on the Rock Corridor stage. In 2019, John Taylor and Le Bon have been available to induct Roxy Music, an expertise Taylor instructed Spin was “one of many best privileges of my life.” In the identical dialog, he laughed off solutions that Duran Duran’s new-wave sound didn’t belong amongst “rock” artists.

“After electronics began coming in, and we’re constructing on these very sq. bases of digital pulses, then that’s the place individuals went, ‘That’s not rock ‘n’ roll,’” Taylor mentioned, “and for the primary few years, that appeared essential. ‘What do you imply we’re not rock ‘n’ roll?’ After which I used to be like, ‘Advantageous, high-quality. We’re not rock ‘n’ roll. Who cares?’ And now, nicely, now you’re going into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame.”

Rodgers, who remixed their 1983 hit “The Reflex,” was a part of the induction video that performed previous to the band’s acceptance speech. He additionally labored with the Taylors on the Duran Duran offshoot band Energy Station.