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Roger taylor duran duran5/29/2023 ![]() ![]() With the birth of the internet since Duran Duran first came around, do you think it's become more difficult? It's a real balancing act to keep on the straight and narrow. People often use the 'millions of dollars' argument, as if wealth negates any other problems a person might have.Įxactly, then you look at Whitney Houston, and the Amy Winehouse movie, I just saw that, and that shows you the downside of the fame game. The success, which is amazing, also comes with that downside of the loss of freedom and growth as a person, it kind of stunts that a bit. He can't just get up and walk down the street and get a packet of cigarettes or whatever, and that's quite a pressure isn't it? You lose a lot of freedom. He has to get up every day and he has to be Justin Bieber the popstar. It's a very unusual existence, and people tend to say, 'Oh what's wrong with him, he's got a million dollars in the bank, he's got this', but it is a lot to deal with as a young guy, and I totally sympathise with anyone that's had these issues. Having lived through that, do you find yourself empathising with young popstars like Justin Bieber?ĭefinitely. We came through that hyperbole era of teenage fandom, and we've found longevity, which is great. But it's the way it was, and you have to kind of accept that, and we've come through it. But it was a pretty unusual set of circumstances, the early '80s, it was kind of like one in a million that the band was going to have such a high profile, and that everyone within the band was going to have such a high profile. When I came back to the band, I felt much more level and able to do what I was required to do. It just took me a few more years to mature I think. I wouldn't say boo to a goose, so when I was thrust onto the world stage I felt totally unprepared for it. It was like being taken on a ride, I guess, and I was such a shy kid. It was like somebody had bought a porsche but didn't have the driving license. I wanted it, but then when it happened, I felt very. I was totally unprepared for everything that happened. ![]() I was very unprepared I think, as a 20 year old. Do you deal better with the attention better now you're older? You said in an interview that you found it hard to deal with the attention. I guess it's kind of like the archetypal drummer isn't it really? The quiet one. They've always been really good talkers and I always have been the quiet one. I would say I probably speak, probably 90% less than the others in the band. On the subject of enjoying being at the back, you've always been dubbed "the quiet one" by the press. I wasn't thrust directly into the limelight at the front, so it was the perfect instrument for me. Because I was never a great talker when I was growing up, and I finally found something that was loud and could really speak for me. I kind of had a bit of a flirtation with playing bass, but I found my true destination when I sat behind a drum kit. I could never have been the lead singer I don't think. I think I am, I'm very comfortable with that. Are you also more comfortable not being front and centre? It's a very loud instrument, and it can talk for me to be honest with you. I think that's why I chose drums actually. ![]() I love going on stage and playing the music rather than talking about it. I'd rather be playing it to be honest with you. How do you find talking about your music? Then we'd turn up there on a sunny July afternoon, and it would be a happy song - so it kind of reflects the whole period that we went through, in making the record over the two years, so it certainly wasn't a conscious thing. Over the two years, you know what the seasons are like in the UK, we'd turn up one day on a Monday, on a very grey, dreary, English afternoon, and we'd write something that was very deep and thoughtful and dark. No I don't think it was conscious at all. Was that a conscious direction, or did it evolve naturally? It's very widescreen, you'll have something really fun and poppy like 'Danceophobia' and then you'll have something very dark and introspective like 'Universe Alone' or 'Paper Gods', so I think the breadth of feeling in the album is quite, I think will be quite a surprise to people. Duran Duran has always had a darker side to its music, but I think this really does go into the more experimental side of the band, so the diversity of the record is quite something. I think the depth of the album is gonna really surprise people. What will surprise fans the most about the new album? We sat down with him ahead of the band's forthcoming UK tour dates. He might be the quiet one, but when it comes to the band's legacy, their new music, and what being a global star has taught him, Taylor has plenty to say. Duran Duran announce new album with Nile Rodgers and John Frusciante ![]()
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