Happy Birthday Nicholas James Rhodes

On this the 8th of June, I thought I would honor Nick Rhodes's birthday on Set List by taking a look back on his early life and career with Duran Duran.

Happy Birthday Nicholas James Rhodes.

(Source - Wikipedia)

Nick Rhodes (birth name Bates) was born on June 8, 1962 to "well-off parents" who owned a toy store in Birmingham.  

Point of interest -

Nick chose "Rhodes" as his stage name after a brand of electric piano.

Nick left school in 1978 at the age of 16 to create Duran Duran with school friends Stephen Duffy, John Taylor, and Simon Colley.  

Interesting note -

Before MTV came into existence, Nick noted "the potential of the music video."  "Rio," then, is an excellent example of Nick's recognition.

Nick Rhodes launched many side projects in his career, including Arcadia, So Red the Rose, and TV Mania.

Point of intrigue -

So Red the Rose was certified Platinum in the United States but received lesser reception in the UK.

In 2011, Nick Rhodes received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Bedfordshire.  

At the end of this day, with history aside, Happy Birthday to Nicholas James Rhodes.