Roger Taylor (Duran Duran Drummer) - Duran Duran: 1980-1985

Duran Duran: 1980-1985

Taylor became an international star with the other members of Duran Duran as they rose to fame in the early-mid 1980s. Taylor played drums on the band's first three studio albums (Duran Duran, Rio, and Seven and the Ragged Tiger) and the live album Arena. In 1985, the band recorded the theme to the James Bond film A View To A Kill which became their second US no.1 hit and only Bond theme in history to hit the coveted transatlantic No. 1 spot. However, the intense schedule of recording and touring coupled with the pressures of fame left Taylor unhappy with being in the band. His final performance with the original line-up of Duran Duran was in July 1985 at the Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia which reached a global audience of 2 billion people.

Prior to formally leaving the band, Taylor worked with Duran Duran bandmates Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes on the album So Red The Rose for their side project Arcadia in 1985. The album featured Sting, David Gilmour, Herbie Hancock, and Grace Jones. Taylor also contributed percussion to the other Duran Duran splinter-group Power Station's version of Some Like It Hot from their self titled album. He then purchased a remote farm estate in the hills of Gloucestershire to live a quiet life away from the music world. Initially his hiatus was expected to be for a year, but in 1986 the remaining members of the band issued a statement saying that he would not be returning.