In the Pleasure Groove
Love, Death, and Duran Duran
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
With a new introduction by Nick Rhodes
The talent. The charisma. The videos. From their 1981 hit "Planet Earth" to their latest number-one album, All You Need Is Now, John Taylor and Duran Duran have enchanted audiences around the world. It's been a wild ride, and—for John in particular—dangerous. John recounts the story of the band's formation, their massive success, and his journey to the brink of self-destruction. Told with humor, honesty—and packed with exclusive pictures—In the Pleasure Groove is an irresistible rock-and-roll portrait of a band whose popularity has never been stronger.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
John Taylor, the lanky, auburn-haired bassist of the British new wave band Duran Duran, penned this highly entertaining and readable memoir. Taylor explains how he and Nick (Bates) Rhodes founded Duran Duran, auditioned Simon LeBon, and have remained a working band to this day. It’s a front-row ticket to his quintessential rock-n-roll journey—from a humble Catholic upbringing to the upper echelons of pop society, complete with vivid details about the songs and the fashions that defined his heyday. Made with iBooks Author, In the Pleasure Groove includes more than 100 photos, 10 video clips, and five audio excerpts.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Duran Duran was one of the most successful pop groups of the early 1980s and is still performing today outliving such contemporaries as Spandau Ballet and Culture Club. Founding member and bass player Taylor delivers a straightforward look at the band's career that will be of interest primarily to its still sizable fan base and anyone who once was a Duran fan. Like Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran, guitarist Andy Taylor's 2008 biography, Taylor covers most of the band's high points: its groundbreaking music videos that put MTV on the map, its success in America and its starring appearance at Live Aid in 1985. But unlike Andy Taylor in Wild Boy, John Taylor doesn't back away from describing the heavy drug use that later led to his entering rehab. Taylor offers some fascinating insights into the way London's pop music scene shifted from punk rock's "three-chord angry noise" to "New Romanticism," a revival of 1970s glam rock with a heavy disco beat: "Multimedia, fashion, dance, art. We wanted it all in the mix." Taylor also insightfully notes that the Live Aid concert perhaps the band's peak performance created "an immense sea change" in pop culture. "Things that you could get away with in 1984, you could not get away with twelve months later" as the stripped-down "indie rock" of bands like the Smiths swept away the excesses of the New Romantics.
Customer Reviews
Johnnie T
Loved this book. Being a teen in the 80's I was a huge Duran Duran fan. John Taylor being my favourite, of course. I had no idea of his struggles with addiction. Great stories from beginning to end. Love him even more now.
Well written
An honest and well written account and journey of the 80's rise of the co founder of Duran Duran. I never read a bio so quick, just could not put this book down however I think you may have to be a fan of the 80's to truly appreciate
In the Pleasure Groove indeed!
First of all I was a bit worried to read this book. Why you may ask? Well I will tell you why. I am a big Duranie and I was worried the book would somehow ruin how I felt about this band!
I am happy to say it made me love them even more. John Taylor has taken his heart and put it on paper for the world to read. He takes you back in time to the his childhood days, the 70's, 80's on up to the present and shows you what life was truly like for him. Not only being a member of Duran Duran, but as a son,father,husband and a friend.
He is honest, charing, and at times heartbreaking. This is a well written book and should be read not only by the fans but by anyone who loves great biographies.