Roger Andrew Taylor
b. April 26, 1960
English musician
Drummer for Duran Duran
1979 - 1986 & 2001 - Present
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 as a member of Duran Duran
Duran Duran, Rio, & Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Arena (live album)
Recipient of 2 Grammy Awards during this time
Final performance with the original lineup was in July 1985 at the Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia (global audience of 2 billion people)
Prior to departure, Roger played the drums for So Red the Rose (Arcadia project by Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes, 1985).
Prior to departure, Roger played the drums on "Some Like it Hot" for the Power Station.
1994 - Appeared in the music video for "Perfect Day" and on Duran Duran's Top of the Pops performance of the song.
1997 - Formed the electro/dance band Freebass, produced "Love Is Like Oxygen" (Top 10 UK Dance Chart), produced the electro house tracks "Lost This Feeling" and "Shine" with fellow Freebass member Jake Roberts
2001 - Full Duran Duran reunion
5 sold-out shows at Wembley Arena
Madison Square Garden
Signed with Epic Records
Astronaut & "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise"
Achievement awards from Q and MTV
Brit Award
Renowned DJ
2010 - All You Need Is Now
2015 - Paper Gods
Roger Taylor
Nick Rhodes
Simon Le Bon
Andy Taylor
John Taylor
(final lineup in May 1980)
Formed in Birmingham in 1978
Original founders - Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Stephen Duffy (singer)
Genres considered - New Wave, Synth-Pop, Pop Rock, Dance Rock
Leading band in MTV-driven Second British Invasion
Fame akin to Beatlemania
Early hits -
"Girls on Film," "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Rio," "The Reflex," "A View to a Kill"
1990s hits (Le Bon, Rhodes, John Taylor)
"Ordinary World" & "Come Undone"
2004 reunion for Astronaut
Andy Taylor permanently departed in 2006. The remaining four have since released five albums (most recently in 2023).
Over 100 million records sold
30 Top 40 singles on UK Singles
21 Top 40 singles on Billboard Hot 100
Top 5 albums in five consecutive decades (UK)
Awards -
2 Brit Awards
- Outstanding Contribution to Music (2004)
2 Grammy Awards
1 MTV Video Music Awards
- Lifetime Achievement
Video Visionary Award
- MTV Europe Music Awards
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2022)
Duran Duran influences -
David Bowie, Roxy Music, the Beatles, the Doors, Ultravox, Kraftwerk, T. Rex, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, the Clash, Sex Pistols, Chic, the Human League, and more
Influenced by Duran Duran -
the Bangles, Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Barenaked Ladies, Beck, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Justin Timberlake, and more
Current ... Former
Touring and Session musicians
Astronaut
11th album
Released in September 2004
Genres considered - Dance Pop, Synth Pop, Synth Funk
First (and last) album since Seven and the Ragged Tiger to be recorded by the original lineup
Mixed reviews ... Commercial success
No. 3 UK Albums
(Highest charting since Seven and the Ragged Tiger)
No. 17 Billboard 200
CD/DVD No. 1 Billboard Top Music Video
Top 10 in six other c0untries
No. 29 Japan
"(Reach Up For the) Sunrise"
- First single
- Released in the U.S. in August 2004
No. 1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
- Released in the UK in October 2004
No. 5 UK Singles
As of 2008, sales roughly 260,000 in the U.S.
Review Scores -
AllMusic - 3/5 Stars
The Austin Chronicle - 2/5 Stars
E! - A-
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music - 3/5 Stars
Entertainment Weekly - B
The Guardian - 2/10
Los Angeles Times - 2.5/4 Stars
NME - 5/10
Rolling Stone - 3/5 Stars
Uncut - 3/5 Stars
Track List -
1. (Reach Up For the) Sunrise
2. Want You More!
3. What Happens Tomorrow
4. Astronaut
5. Bedroom Toys
6. Nice
7. Taste the Summer
8. Finest Hour
9. Chains
10. One of Those Days
11. Point of No Return
12. Still Breathing
Charts -
No. 17 Billboard 200
No. 3 UK Albums
No. 21 Switzerland
No. 41 Sweden
No. 5 Scotland
No. 29 New Zealand
No. 2 Italy
No. 38 Ireland
No. 6 Greece
No. 23 Germany
No. 87 France
No. 17 Dutch Albums
No. 8 Danish Albums
No. 53 Czech Albums
No. 9 Canada
No. 35 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)
No. 40 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)
No. 27 Austria
No. 22 Australia
Certified Gold in Italy & the UK
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