by John Taylor
Oh how time flies! Remember when MTV
had music videos all day long and quite of few of those videos
through the 80's were of the infamous Duran Duran? Growing up in the
80's plastered all over my bedroom walls were posters of the Duran
guys and my favorite was John Taylor. So of course when his book “In
the Pleasure Groove” came across my desk I had to read it...Please
please tell me now..Is there something I should know?
Most of us assume the life of a
successful musician is all glitz and glam. On the contrary, Mr.
Taylor opens our eyes to the stress, demands, sacrifices and scars
that go along with being a pop idol.
This is the story of a nerdy,
bespectacled only-child and poor student, who had a single-minded
focus on music. So much so that he dedicates all of his energies to
making it in the music business. His ambitious goals are to make it
to Madison Square Garden in 4 short years. In order to accomplish
this he feeds D2 to the teen fan machine,and music video world. This
propels the band to “Supergroup” status which in turn undermines
their credibility as legitimate artists. (They were and are legit)
What I liked most about John's book was
he not only focused on his life's experience with Duran Duran but his
early life as well. He was very candid and honest about his ups and
downs, his short comings and his struggles with self acceptance. He
also did a very rare thing-he told his story and he did it without
dragging anyone through the mud(Which in the music industry is
rarity) The only sadness I experienced is when I finished his book.
I just wish people would stop saying
"it's been over 32 years since you formed Duran..." ugh –
I feel so old!
If you were and are a Duran fan...READ IT!
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