Duran Duran Believe Andy Taylor Was Key to U.S. Success
He left amicably in 2006, long after their ‘80s heyday, but in a new interview with
The Guardian, his former bandmates cited his interest in heavier music as the catalyst for achieving radio airplay across the States, which few other British new wave groups managed.
“His record collection disturbed me!” keyboardist Nick Rhodes said. “A lot of real heavy rock things, stuff that you would have avoided the kids at school for.” He added that “Andy’s edge and Andy’s rockiness” helped make Duran Duran distinctive. “It really worked, because it was going completely against the disco grooves and the electronic pulses.