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Andy Taylor
B0000320 edited
Background information
Birth name

Andrew Arthur Taylor

Born 16 February 1961 Cullercoats, Tyne and Wear, England. (age 59)
Genres New Wave, Rock, Alternative Rock
Instruments Lead guitar
Associated acts

Duran Duran
The Power Station
Thunder

Andrew Arthur "Andy" Taylor (born 16 February 1961) is an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a member of Duran Duran and The Power Station. He has also performed as a solo artist, and served as a record producer for several other artists.

Born and raised in Cullercoats, Tyne and Wear, Taylor attended Marden High School. He began playing guitar at the age of eleven and was soon playing with local bands, even producing one at the age of sixteen. Taylor dropped out of school early to tour England and Europe with several different bands, playing men's clubs and air force bases.

Duran Duran and The Power Station:[]

Taylor joined Duran Duran in 1980 (easily the most experienced musician in the band), and enjoyed their crazy rise to fame over the next five years.

He grew dissatisfied with the band's keyboard-heavy synth pop, however, and longed to stretch out his rock muscles. During a hiatus in Duran Duran's schedule, he joined forces with bassist John Taylor, Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and singer Robert Palmer to create The Power Station. The band had three hit singles and played the Live Aid concert in 1985.

Taylor would later rejoin The Power Station band mates Palmer and Thompson for Palmer's first solo album since the band's formation. The resulting album, Riptide proved to be a massive success for Palmer with the single "Addicted To Love" featuring the guitar sound of Andy Taylor.

After The Power Station, Taylor allowed Duran Duran to believe he would be returning to record a new album, even as he was signing contracts for a solo career in Los Angeles. Another Capitol Records group, Missing Persons was disbanding at the same time, and Andy hired Terry Bozzio and Patrick O'Hearn to work with him.

This caused ex-Missing Persons guitarist Warren Cuccurullo to approach Duran Duran to fill Andy's position -- a vacancy no one in Duran Duran knew existed. Eventually Duran Duran sued Taylor to force him in to the studio to complete the album Notorious, but he ended up playing on only a few tracks before departing the band completely. He later countersued to claim some of the royalties from that album.

In July 1986, Arcadia (Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran) released "The Flame", the final single from So Red The Rose. The accompanying music video featured a cameo by John Taylor coming out of a closet with a contract to sign. Fans have debated whether this was a thinly veiled dig at the situation with Andy at the time.

Solo and production[]

After six years with Duran Duran in the 1980s, Taylor collaborated with ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones on his debut solo album Thunder.

In the mean time he recorded the hit single "Take It Easy" (US #24 Billboard - US #1 MTV), which was recorded as the theme song to the movie American Anthem. Ex-Missing Persons members Terry Bozzio and Patrick O'Hearn lent drums and bass, respectively, to the song and video. Two other songs by Taylor/Jones also appeared on the album: "Wings of Love" and the instrumental "Angel Eyes". Taylor also contributed to the Miami Vice 2 soundtrack with the song "When The Rain Comes Down" (US #43). This was followed by his first solo album, Thunder (1987). O'Hearn again played bass for him on the album and during the following tour. Also on the Thunder world tour were guitarist Paul Hanson (guitarist)] and drummer John Valen joined Andy and Patrick. Paul, John & Patrick also appear with Andy in the music video for the second single "Don't Let Me Die Young" from the Thunder album.

In 1986, Taylor worked with Belinda Carlisle on her single "Mad About You". This was followed by co/writing & co/producing Rod Stewart's Platinum album Out of Order along with Chic members Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson, spawning the Billboard hits, "Lost In You, "Forever Young" & "My Heart Can't Tell Me No"

Taylor also contributed a cover of "Dead On The Money" to the Tequila Sunrise soundtrack in 1988. Taylor's former band Duran Duran would also allow one of their own songs, "Do You Believe In Shame?" to be included on the album. A second solo album, this one consisting of entirely cover versions, entitled Dangerous was released in 1990.

He then moved on to producing full time, working with several successful UK bands throughout the 1990s - Producing the highly successful debut album Backstreet Symphony by London Rockers Thunder and their follow up Laughing On Judgement Day. This was followed by The Almighty Soul Destruction, and then Mark Shaw's (of Then Jerico) Almost, basing himself all the while in his now refurbished Trident II Studios in London with then manager and Partner Rob Hallett until 1994, when he then returned to Los Angeles in order to write and produce tracks for a second album by The Power Station and the 1995 Rod Stewart album A Spanner in the Works.

His most recent venture is the album The Underdog Has Landed, recorded at his Ibiza studio in April 2008.

Reunions[]

Andy participated in the 1997 reunion of The Power Station, and in 2001 reunited with the other original members of Duran Duran to record their first new music together since 1985. Their ensuing album, Astronaut, featured a blend of Taylor's heavy guitar with the synth hooks of the classic Duran Duran sound.

In 2006, Andy again parted ways with Duran Duran, leaving the band a second time. Rumours have circulated that the reason for Taylor's departure lie in the rest of the band's decision to use American record producer Timbaland and to allow Timbaland and Justin Timberlake to write a song for the band, but in his autobiography Andy stated that he fully intended to show up for the sessions with Timbaland but management failed to get him a work visa. Duran Duran simply cited an "unworkable gulf" as the reason.

Andy has since opened three MySpace pages to explain his point of view and showcase new music from his own recording studio in Ibiza.

Discography[]

With Duran Duran:

With The Power Station:

Solo:

Solo Singles:

Discography 1980–2012:

Books:

Trivia[]

Taylor invested in real estate, and owned a wine bar in Whitley Bay named "Rio" after one of Duran Duran's biggest hit singles.

He married Tracey Wilson, one of Duran Duran's hairstylists, in 1982. The couple have four children, Andrew, Georgina, Bethany and Isabella.

Taylor's son, Andrew Junior (or A2) has his own band called Electric City (http://www.myspace.com/electriccitymusic).

Andy's family in Cullercoats has for generations been involved in the Cullercoats Lifeboat (http://www.cullercoatslifeboat.co.uk/).

External links[]

DURAN DURAN
Simon Le BonNick RhodesJohn TaylorRoger Taylor
Andy TaylorWarren CuccurulloSterling Campbell
DISCOGRAPHY
ALBUMS

Duran DuranRioSeven and the Ragged TigerArenaNotoriousBig ThingLibertyDuran Duran (The Wedding Album)Thank YouMedazzalandPop TrashAstronautRed Carpet MassacreAll You Need Is NowPaper GodsFuture PastDanse Macabre

COMPILATIONS and EPs

CarnivalDecade: Greatest HitsGreatestNight Versions: The Essential Duran DuranStrange BehaviourSingles Box Set 1981-1985Singles Box Set 1986-1995From Mediterranea With Love

SINGLES

"Planet Earth" • "Careless Memories" • "Girls on Film" • "My Own Way" • "Hungry Like the Wolf" • "Save a Prayer" • "Rio"• "Is There Something I Should Know?" • "Union of the Snake" • "New Moon on Monday" • "The Reflex" • "The Wild Boys" • "A View to a Kill" • "Notorious" • "Skin Trade" • "Meet El Presidente" • "I Don't Want Your Love" • "All She Wants Is" • "Do You Believe in Shame?" • "Burning the Ground" • "Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)" • "Serious" • "Ordinary World" • "Come Undone" • "Too Much Information" • "Perfect Day" • "White Lines" • "Out of My Mind" • "Electric Barbarella" • "Someone Else Not Me" • "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise" • "What Happens Tomorrow" • "Nice" • "Falling Down • "All You Need Is Now • "Girl Panic! • "Leave A Light On • "Pressure Off" • "Five Years" • "Invisible" • "More Joy" • "Anniversary" • "Tonight United" • "Give It All Up " • "Danse Macabre" • "Black Moonlight"

RELATED MATERIAL
ArcadiaPower StationNeurotic OutsidersTerroristenSYNTV ManiaThe Devils
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