Duran Duran

Taking their name from a character in the sci-fi movie Barbarella, Duran Duran embraced the new video age with a vengeance, marrying glam fashion with new wave power and a sharp pop sensibility that produced a string of synth-pop hits that came to embody the culture of the 1980s. Originally formed by John and Roger Taylor, they went through various line-ups before building a devoted fan base with a residency at Birmingham's Rum Runner Club when the two Taylors were joined by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and a third unrelated Taylor, Andy. In 1980 they toured with Hazel O'Connor, were signed to EMI and broke into the charts with debut single Planet Earth. Helped by innovative promotional videos, their multi-media approach made them both teen pop heroes and art-rock innovators with a string of hits like Girls On Film, Save A Prayer and Rio. They diversified through the '90s, but remain in big demand when they do tour.