Hall’s well that ends well for Duran Duran
THE frontman of 80s Birmingham supertars Duran Duran said the band being inducted into the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was a “special and most valued kind of recognition” of their lifetime’s dedication to music.
The renowned British New Wave group were voted into this year’s cohort alongside a host of global stars including Dolly
Parton and Lionel Richie.
The Birmingham band, comprising of singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor, received the most fan votes out of all the nominated musicians.
Le Bon said: “Here in the wild, beautiful world of Duran Duran, I think we’re all in a little bit of a daze about this.
“It’s one thing to be nominated – but a totally different thing altogether to be actually voted up for induction into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which is to my mind the closest thing you’ll ever get to a rock ‘n’ roll knighthood.
“This truly is a special and most valued kind of recognition for our lifetime’s dedication to new music.”
Duran Duran formed in Birmingham in 1978 and were famously linked with the old Rum Runner nightclub in Broad Street.
They were one of the biggest acts of the 1980s with hits including Hungry Like The Wolf, Rio, Girls On Film, Wild Boys and Bond theme A View To A Kill.
Bassist Taylor said the induction is “quite an honour” and one the band had never expected.
He added: “We have never thought of ourselves as a rock ‘n’ roll band, more of an ‘ongoing art project’, however, I feel a profound sense of gratitude for the acknowledgement this award represents.
“We are thrilled to see some of our contemporaries joining us this year, Annie and Dave in particular, and would like to thank each and every one of you who took the time to register and vote for us.
“The overwhelming support that allowed us to win the people’s vote has been incredible.”
Alongside the public vote, the recipients were voted on by more than 1,000 artists, historians and music industry professionals.