Duran Duran

In December 1980, the U.K. periodical Sounds ran the first significant profile feature on Duran Duran, who were then honing their live show as the opening act for theatrical synth-rock futurist Hazel O’Connor. As with many young bands, their self-assurance occasionally teetered on the edge of hyperbole. The article’s splashy headline, “We want to be the band to dance to when the Bomb drops,” is a cheeky direct quote from vocalist Simon Le Bon, although bassist John Taylor was completely earnest when describing the vision for Duran Duran’s music. As Taylor said, “The whole point of the band was that we wanted the disco rhythm with the power of early punk, to try and create a lot of atmosphere as well, muddle it all into one and see what comes out.”