Editing Duran Duran (section)

===1978–1980: Formation and early years===
{{multiple image
| footer = John Taylor ''(left, in 2015)'' and Nick Rhodes ''(in 2012)'' founded Duran Duran in 1978.
| image1 = John Taylor (2015).JPG
| width1 = 158
| alt1   = A smiling John Taylor on stage
| image2 = Duran Duran (6874519948).jpg
| width2 = 140
| alt2   = Nick Rhodes, looking serious on stage
}}
[[John Taylor (bass guitarist)|John Taylor]] and [[Nick Rhodes]] formed Duran Duran in 1978 in [[Birmingham]], England, with Taylor's art school friend [[Stephen Duffy]], naming their band after "Dr. Durand Durand", [[Milo O'Shea]]'s character from the science fiction film ''[[Barbarella (film)|Barbarella]]'' (1968), the day after the film was broadcast on BBC on 20 October 1978.<ref name="early1" />  The three of them (Taylor on guitar and vocals, Rhodes on synthesizer and tapes, Duffy on vocals and bass) played their first gig on 5 April 1979 at the [[Birmingham Polytechnic]]. Soon after, they were joined by Simon Colley on clarinet and bass. John (then going by his first name Nigel) was the guitarist at this point. After a few gigs, including a performance at [[Barbarella's]] in Birmingham opening for the band [[Fashion (band)|Fashion]], Duffy and Colley left the band in June 1979.<ref name="early1">{{cite web |url=https://durancompilations.com/early1.html |title=Duran Duran – The Early Days Chapter 1 |publisher=durancompilations.com |access-date=26 May 2022 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526050020/https://durancompilations.com/early1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Taylor and Rhodes then recruited lead vocalist Andy Wickett (formerly frontman of ''TV Eye'') and decided that they needed a live drummer. They hired [[Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer)|Roger Taylor]], a former member of various local bands (most recently ''The Scent Organs'' who also played at Barbarella's), while John Taylor switched to bass guitar. In September 1979, this incarnation of the band recorded a four-track demo including an early version of "[[Girls on Film]]" co-written by Andy Wickett. Soon afterwards Alan Curtis was recruited as lead guitarist. After a few gigs with this line-up Wickett left the band in late 1979.{{sfn|Malins|2013|loc=chaps. 1–2}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://durancompilations.com/early2.html |title=Duran Duran – The Early Days Chapter 2|publisher=durancompilations.com |access-date=26 May 2022 }}</ref>

Wickett was replaced by Roger Taylor's friend and former singer of ''The Scent Organs'' Jeff Thomas. In early 1980, they became the resident band at the city's [[Rum Runner (nightclub)|Rum Runner]] nightclub. They were doing jobs at the club and began rehearsing and regularly playing at the venue. Curtis was unhappy with the Rum Runner club scene and left the band to form [[Dif Juz]] with his brother. Thomas was fired shortly after following disagreements and repeated arguments. The three remaining members started to look for a new lead vocalist and guitarist.<ref name="Chapter 3">{{cite web |url=https://durancompilations.com/early3.html |title=Duran Duran – The Early Days Chapter 3 |publisher=durancompilations.com |access-date=26 May 2022 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526045907/https://durancompilations.com/early3.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The owners of the club, brothers Paul and Michael Berrow, became the band's management, paying them to work as doormen, disc jockeys (DJs) and barmen when they were not rehearsing, and also formed the Tritec Music company.<ref name="Chapter 4" />

In April 1980, guitarist [[Andy Taylor (guitarist)|Andy Taylor]] came from [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] to audition after responding to an advertisement in ''[[Melody Maker]]''. Andy already had a lot of experience from playing with [[cover band]]s for years and although he came from a totally different [[rock music]] background his versatile playing style was seen as a perfect complement to the band.{{sfn|Malins|2013|loc=chap. 2}}<ref name="Chapter 3" /> In May 1980, London vocalist and drama student [[Simon Le Bon]] was recommended to the band by an ex-girlfriend who worked at the Rum Runner.<ref name="Green">{{Cite journal|last = Green|first = Jo-Anne|title = Your Mission, Barbarella: Find Duran Duran|journal=[[Goldmine (magazine)|Goldmine]]|volume = 24|issue = 456 |publisher=F+W Publications Inc.|date = 16 January 1998|url = http://www.lizardkingduran.com/gold.html | access-date =1 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070304091132/http://www.lizardkingduran.com/gold.html |archive-date = 4 March 2007}}</ref> The band were immediately impressed by Le Bon and soon completed their first composition with the new line-up, "Sound of Thunder", featuring lyrics by Le Bon.{{sfn|Malins|2013|loc=chap. 2}}<ref name="Chapter 4">{{cite web |url=https://durancompilations.com/early4.html |title=Duran Duran – The Early Days Chapter 4 |publisher=durancompilations.com |access-date=26 May 2022 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526045913/https://durancompilations.com/early4.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Duran Duran's first performance with the lineup of Le Bon, Rhodes and the three Taylors was on 16&nbsp;July 1980 at the Rum Runner.<ref name="UCR">{{cite web |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Zaleski |title=40 Years Ago: Duran Duran Take First Steps to Fame on Debut LP |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/duran-duran-debut-album/ |website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]] |date=15 June 2021a |access-date=22 April 2022 |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422224332/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/duran-duran-debut-album/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Duran Duran spent the next months writing, developing and [[Demo (music)|demoing]] their songs and performed in clubs around Birmingham and London. In September 1980 they had written all of what would become their debut album.{{sfn|Malins|2013|loc=chap. 2}} Touring as an opening act for [[Hazel O'Connor]], the band attracted critical attention, resulting in a bidding war between the record companies [[EMI Records|EMI]] and [[Phonogram Inc.|Phonogram]].{{sfn|Malins|2005|p=60}} "A certain patriotism" toward the label of [[the Beatles]] led them to sign with EMI in December. A week later, the first article about Duran Duran in a national magazine appeared in ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]''. The members of Duran Duran had noticed that Betty Page (pen name for Beverley Glick) was writing about a new movement called [[New Romantic]] that would fit the band perfectly and invited her to meet them at the Rum Runner.<ref name="Chapter 4" />

Shortly after signing the [[recording contract]] with EMI, Duran Duran went to London to record their debut album with producer [[Colin Thurston]], and initial plans for an independent release of the songs "[[Planet Earth (Duran Duran song)|Planet Earth]]" and "Is There Anyone Out There?" on the Tritec Music label were scrapped.<ref name="Chapter 4" />