Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer)
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| Roger Andrew Taylor | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 26 April 1960 Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, England |
| Instruments | drums |
| Associated acts | Duran Duran Arcadia Freebass Funk Face Scent Organs |
Roger Andrew Taylor (born 26 April 1960) is the drummer for the British pop/rock band Duran Duran.
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[edit] Early life
Taylor began drumming around the age of twelve, teaching himself by playing along with his favorite records. His first ambition was to become goalkeeper for the English football team Aston Villa, and as a child he was taken to every home match by his father Hugh, but at 5'9 never grew tall enough to realise his dream. He would eventually "play" at the club but as the drummer in Duran Duran's charity concert at Aston Villa football ground 1983. Taylor cited drummers Paul Thompson of Roxy Music, Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones and Tony Thompson of Chic as his key musical influences growing up.
Before joining Duran Duran, he played with several school and local club bands. After being inspired by the punk bands playing at Barbarellas club in Birmingham, he formed the New Wave/Punk outfit Scent Organs, who became regional finalists in the 'Melody Maker' young band of the year in 1978. After the band split in 1979 he joined Duran Duran.
[edit] Duran Duran: 1980-1985
Taylor became an international star with the other members of Duran Duran as they rose to fame in the early-mid 1980s. Taylor played drums on the band's first three studio albums (Duran Duran, Rio, and Seven and the Ragged Tiger) and the live album Arena. In 1985, the band recorded the theme to the James Bond film A View To A Kill which became their second US no.1 hit. However, the intense schedule of recording and touring coupled with the pressures of fame left Taylor exhausted. His final performance with Duran Duran was in July 1985 at the Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia which reached a global audience of 2 billion people.
Prior to formally leaving the band, Taylor worked with Duran Duran bandmates Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes on the album So Red The Rose for their side project Arcadia in 1985. The album featured Sting, David Gilmour, Herbie Hancock and Grace Jones.
[edit] Second tenure in Duran Duran, 1994 and 2001-2008
In 1994, while visiting a friend in Paris, he temporarily joined Duran Duran to play drums on two tracks for the covers album Thank You, later appearing in the video for Perfect Day and on the band's Top Of The Pops performance of the song.
In 1997, Taylor resumed an interest in the music industry again. He briefly formed the electro/dance band Freebass, which produced a single, "Love is Like Oxygen", (a cover of The Sweet) on underground dance label Cleveland City Records and was placed in the top ten of the Music Week UK Dance Chart. Taylor also released electro house vinyl with Freebass member Jake Roberts under the name 'Funkface' - 'Lost This Feeling' and 'Shine' on Taylors own label Rt Music.
In 2001, Taylor rejoined Duran Duran, as all five of the original members reunited to record new material and perform as a quintet again. This culminated in 5 sold out nights at Wembley Arena, playing Madison Square Garden again and signing with Epic Records in New York. The band delivered a worldwide hit single '(Reach Up For The) Sunrise' and multi million selling album Astronaut.
The 'Astronaut' tour lasted for more than 2 years with shows all around the world. The band also picked up several prestigious 'achievement' awards from Q magazine, MTV and a Brit award.
[edit] Personal life
Taylor married Giovanna Cantone in 1984. The couple have three children; James, Ellea and Elliott. The couple divorced in 2005.
In 2007, Taylor married Gisella Bernales.
[edit] Trivia
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Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (October 2009) |
- In 2002, Taylor appeared on the "Twelve Drummers Drumming" Christmas card in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" set sold at Woolworths to raise money for the NSPCC – alongside the "other" Roger Taylor, the drummer for Queen.
- In 2003, he began a long running DJ residency at Londons Met Bar playing a mix of house and hip hop.
- In 2004, Taylor was named Britain's fifth most eligible bachelor in UK high society magazine Tatler alongside Prince William and Hugh Grant.
- In 2005, he was named (along with John Taylor) as one of the greatest musicians of all time in the Ubersonik.com top 100.
- On 24 August 2008, Taylor performed a 4-hour deejay set at the legendary 'superclub' Pacha in Ibiza.
- 7 March 2009, Taylor performed a DJ set at the club Gryphon in the Seminole HardRock Hotel and Casino.
