Happy Birthday, Roger Andrew Taylor

On this the 26th of April, I thought I would honor Roger Taylor's birthday on Set List by taking a look back on his early life and career with Duran Duran.

Happy Birthday, Roger Andrew Taylor.

(Source - Wikipedia)

Roger Taylor was born on April 26, 1960 to a "modest family" in the suburbs of Birmingham, England.  

Roger's interest in drums began around the age of 12 and he self-taught himself by playing along to favorite records.

Point of intrigue -

Roger's first career hope was to be the goalkeeper for the English football club, Aston Villa.  (Football in England is soccer in the U.S.)  He did once play at Villa Park...but with Duran Duran for their 1983 charity concert.

Roger's early influences as a drummer include Paul Thompson (Roxy Music), Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones), and Tony Thompson (Chic).

Roger's early years as a drummer include school and club bands.  In 1978, he formed a very short-lived new wave/punk band called the Scent Organs.  In 1979, Roger moved on to join Duran Duran.

(Humorous note - Nick Rhodes once said that when Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor joined the band, along with John Taylor, no one would take them seriously because of so many Taylor last names.)

Roger Taylor - "the quiet one" ... Prefers to speak through his drums

Roger Taylor & ; Duran Duran : 1980 - 1985

- Drummer for the band's first three studio albums - Duran Duran, Rio, and Seven and the Ragged Tiger

- Drummer for the live album, Arena

- In 1985, Duran Duran recorded the James Bond theme for A View to a Kill

- "A View to a Kill" became Duran Duran's second No. 1 hit in the U.S. 

- Roger Taylor's final performance with the original band members was at the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia

- Tight recording and touring schedule and pressures of fame left Roger disillusioned with the band

Brief notes -

- In the first five years with Duran Duran, each original member earned two Grammy Awards

- Prior to leaving, Roger worked with Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes on the album, So Red The Rose (1985 Arcadia project)

- Roger played the drums for Power Station's "Some Like It Hot"

Roger Taylor - "the hermit of pop" ... Purchased a remote farm estate 

In 1986, Duran Duran announced Roger's formal leave from the band

Roger Taylor & Duran Duran : 1994 & 2001-Present

1994 - Temporary drummer for Duran Duran on three tracks for Thank You album 

2001 - Rejoined the original Duran Duran lineup 

5 sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium 
Played at Madison Square Garden

"Reach Up for The Sunrise" hit single ... Astronaut hit album

Achievement awards from Q Magazine, MTV, and a Brit Award

As of 2003, Roger Taylor has become an established DJ in the house and hip hop genres.

Red Carpet Massacre (2007) ... All You Need Is Now (2010) ... Paper Gods (2015)

At the end of this day, with history aside, Happy Birthday to Roger Andrew Taylor.