How DURAN DURAN Got So POPULAR...AFTER FAILING!

The story of how the band Duran Duran became so popular with the release of their second record Rio.

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I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.

Rhodes telling the associated press “Sri Lanka has big temples, shrines and things. For Save a Prayer and Hungry like a wolf we wanted we wanted jungles and cafes and things. For lonely in your nightmare we needed a carnival atmosphere and a soft of fantasy There are a lot of things in sri lanka. It’s been described as the nearst place to paradise.

After that, the band headed to australia and japan to play the first shows of the rio tour. The album was a huge hit in their home country debuting at the number 4 spot, eventually peakin g nat number 2. But the band still couldn’t crack the states. Four months after the album came out, Hungry Like the Wolf failed to chart and US radio were reluctant to play Duran Duran favouring more rock oriented songs. Despite billboard magazine giving the record a favorable review calling it "catchy, melodic and accessible," with bright and sassy pop”. Rio album debuted at No. 164 on the billboard’s Top LPs & Tape chart for the first week of june It slowly made some progress. It eventually made it al the way to 122 a month later, but by August, the album was off the charts.

But things were about to change. tThe first one was that in the summer of 82 Duran Duran opened for Blondie.

Then, the group’s label brought in David Kershenbaum to remix several singles to make them more aligned with what rock radio in the states was playing with an emphasis on making the guitars louder and the drums punchier while toning down the keyboards. It also resulted in a four-track EP called Carnival coming out in september of 82 The EP included Kershenbaum’s remixes for“Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Rio,” “My Own Way,” and “Girls on Film.” These version of the songs were sometimes referred to as the night versions.

”LA station KROQ also became an early backer of the band and New York Station along with WLIR playing Hungry Like a Wolf helping the band get more attention in America. Couple this with the groundbreaking and memorable video for Hungry Like the Wolf, which took inspiration from raiders of the lost ark. Garland quickly changed his tune when reviewing new videos at the time, proclaiming it the best video he’d ever seen. Compared to what mtv was showing - duran druan were innovative. They were filming videos in tropical settings with mini storylines and using 35mm film further enhancing their videos. The video premiered on mtv with the band appearing on mtv themselves introducing the video. The inspiration for the video came from Raiders of the Lost Arc with the band members crediting le bon’s drama background for helping sell the video. By the end of the year the band appeared at mtv new years eve ball,

By January of 83 - Hungry Like the Wolf topped the top rock tracks chart and by march it peaked at number 3 on the hot 100 chart staying on the charts for 23 consecutive weeks. Riomeanwhile peaked at number 14 on the hot 100 chart, while Save a prayer peaked at 16 on the same chart.

By November of 82 the band’s label issued a remixed version of Rio and by 1983 Rio went on to spend an astounding 129 weeks on the billboard charts, peaking at number 6. It went double platinum in america. The band’s label reissued teh group’s first album, which ended up going platinum as well.

As for the legacy of Hungry like the wolf, MTV named it the 15th most played video on the network’s history and 11th on the 100 greatest videos ever made. It even won a grammy for best short form music video at teh grammys. It became teh first music video to win that award.

The media hyped the group as the new beatles and frequently referred to them as the fab 5 - the band couldn’t even travel in public without security. The band began to detest the media’s summation of them as being a teeny bopper group. Not to mention the hatred they received some more older and more serious rock fans. Rolling stone wrote about the band in their profile on teh group What the members of Duran Duran will try to tell you, however, is that they’ve done nothing to encourage this sort of image.

It is that what Duran Duran aspires to? Do they w

[HellcatCustoms]

Duran Duran sounded so futuristic in the early 80s. Their songs still hold up today.

[erskinepatton]

Recently I walked into our favorite breakfast place wearing my Duran Duran shirt. The girl said "we don't get many Duran Duran fans in here". I replied "That's a shame". She then walked over to the Spotify tablet and put on "Girls on Film". The staff and other customers started moving and singing along with the song. It was a great Saturday breakfast moment.

[RolandDeschain]

There's plenty of poseur bands in the world, but none of them ever had songs as good as Duran Duran.

[trevor-johnsen]

I'm in a cover band & we do "hungry like the wolf" (at my request) and i swear - the bar people universally ALWAYS love it. Most nights, some rando person asks me at a set break "can you guys do more Duran Duran" 😆 to which half of my bandmates roll their eyes. It's good shit. Always was, still is.

[Statsy]

I still list them as my number one music influence from the 80's. Their contribution to my life was immeasurable.

[AGoogleUser-hr]

I’m 57, DURAN DURAN
I have been a fan since 1981. There style was Newro or New-Romaric. New Wave clubs played Duran Duran. I have all the vinyl albums up to date and a collection of DD 12” records. Studio tracks recorded in London (rare).
Merchandise Duran Duran buttons, Duran Duran bandanas, blue moon on Monday flag, limited edition programs of Duran Duran tour in Japan. (Rare) stickers and in 1983 autographs signed on Duran Duran albums at Tower Records in L.A. by Duran Duran and Richard Blade from KROQ. Duran Duran sold out tickets in Arenas and Coliseums. DD was huge and extremely talented in music. BEST! Band ever just legendary. ❤️

[MatthewGill-nvtb]

The first album is a master class in bass and it's unbelievably good

[skunksmisery]

Creme and Godly? Not Godly and Creme? You make me want to Cry.

[juanramirez-wkty]

Always been a metalhead and still am but I always loved Duran Duran, great music and image also very good under rated musicians, classic in all respects.

[DJL]

So Red The Rose by Arcadia is easily one of the best Duran Duran albums that weren’t by the original line up. Revisit it today and it is a masterpiece of sound and fury.

[michaelpeacock]

About 2 years ago, I listened to "Arena " for the first time. (Admittedly to get a fix of "Wild Boys", one of my favorite tracks of Duran Duran. ) But that album made me respect the group so much more; they sounded AMAZING live!

[RichWards-Wins]

Andy Taylor had some serious kickin' Rock tunes during his solo career.

Some of his songs were on miami vice and 80s movies.

[sharoncurtis]

Love this band..been a Duranie since 83

[mdm]

I grew up in that time but didn't appreciate them till the 80's were over. Good stuff.

[PPDARTHMAUL]

I have been a fan of this group since 1982

[JojoJacquesTarot]

Everyone at my school were Wham fans, but I was a Duranie!!! I’m still a maverick lol save a prayer was always my favourite 👌

[RadioLaPrincess]

Back in the day they were dismissed as a boy band or bubblegum pop (and were neither) but now are looked at as a highly influential group. In fact they completely changed music and the 90s alternative explosion never would have happened without them.

[SuperPhilly]

My wife and I saw Duran Duran in concert when Warren C was playing with them. Outstanding. Still great today. Going to see them this fall.

[bigpoppa]

Come Undone, still holds up because it's a great song

[Sydroo]

Been a Duranie since 1983.
Love when I'm in the grocery store and they play their music over the sound system. 🤘👍❤