Editing John Taylor (bass guitarist)

{{short description|British bassist and member of Duran Duran}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2010}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = John Taylor
| image             = John Taylor - DuranO2 1 010523 (22 of 74) (52873187940) (cropped).jpg
| caption           = Taylor performing at [[the O2 Arena]] in 2023
| image_size        = 
| birth_name        = Nigel John Taylor
| alias             = J.T., Tigger (1980s nickname)
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=y|1960|6|20}}
| birth_place       = [[Solihull]], [[Warwickshire]], England
| origin            = [[Birmingham]], England
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[New wave music|New wave]]
* [[new romantic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://duranduran.com/2022/john-taylor-reveals-duran-durans-ace-card-that-keeps-their-sound-fresh-for-inverness/|title=John Taylor reveals Duran Duran's 'ace card' that keeps their sound fresh for Inverness|date=2 July 2022|website=Duran Duran |access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>
* [[pop rock]]
* [[hard rock]] 
* [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] 
}}
| occupation        = Bassist
| years_active      = 1978–present
| current_member_of = [[Duran Duran]]
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[The Power Station (band)|The Power Station]]|[[Neurotic Outsiders]]}}
| spouse            = {{ubl|{{marriage|[[Amanda de Cadenet]]|24 December 1991|May 1995|end={{abbr|sep.|separated}}}}|{{marriage|[[Gela Nash]]|27 March 1999}}}}
| partner           = [[Renée Simonsen]] (1985–1989)
| website           = {{URL|duranduran.com}}
}}

'''Nigel John Taylor''' (born 20 June 1960) is a British musician who is best known as the bass guitarist for [[new wave music|new wave]] band [[Duran Duran]], of which he was a founding member. Duran Duran was one of the most popular bands in the world during the 1980s due in part to their music videos which played in heavy rotation in the early days of [[MTV]]. Taylor played with Duran Duran from its founding in 1978 until 1997, when he left to pursue a solo recording and film career. He recorded a dozen solo releases (albums, EPs, and video projects) through his private record label B5 Records over the next four years, had a lead role in the movie ''[[Sugar Town (film)|Sugar Town]]'', and made appearances in a half dozen other film projects. He rejoined Duran Duran for a reunion of the original five members in 2001 and has remained with the group since.

Taylor was also a member of two [[Supergroup (music)|supergroups]]: [[The Power Station (band)|the Power Station]] and [[Neurotic Outsiders]].

==Early life==
Born in [[Solihull]], which was then in [[Warwickshire]], John Taylor grew up in nearby [[Hollywood, Worcestershire|Hollywood]], [[Worcestershire]], England. As a child, he attended Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic School and the [[Abbey High School]], in [[Redditch]], wore glasses (due to severe [[myopia]], over -10 [[dioptre]]s), enjoyed [[James Bond]] movies and was interested in the hobby of [[wargaming]] with hand-painted model soldiers. In his early teen years, he discovered music, choosing [[Roxy Music]] as his favourite band, and before long was collecting records and teaching himself to play the piano. His first band was called Shock Treatment.

==Career==
===1978–1997: Duran Duran and the Power Station===

In 1978, Taylor and school friend [[Nick Rhodes]] formed [[Duran Duran]] with [[Stephen Duffy]] while attending the School of Foundation Studies & Experimental Workshop at Birmingham Polytechnic (now [[Birmingham City University]]). Soon after, Taylor underwent an "[[ugly duckling]]" transformation—ditching the glasses for [[contact lens]]es, adopting the ruffles and sashes of the fashion that would become known as the [[New Romantic]] style, and learning to wear eyeliner and lipstick. He stopped using the name "Nigel", and has been known throughout his professional career as John Taylor.

Taylor played guitar when Duran Duran was founded, but switched to bass guitar after discovering the funky rhythms of [[Chic (band)|Chic]], and learned to enjoy playing in the [[rhythm section]] with Duran's newly recruited drummer [[Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer)|Roger Taylor]]. He has frequently cited [[Chic (band)|Chic]]'s [[Bernard Edwards]] and [[the Clash]]'s [[Paul Simonon]] as his strongest influences, in addition to [[Paul McCartney]], [[James Jamerson]], and Roxy Music players [[Graham Simpson (musician)|Graham Simpson]] and [[John Porter (musician, born 1947)|John Porter]]. Duran Duran released their first album in 1981, and went on to worldwide success in the early 1980s.

In 1985, after recording the [[A View to a Kill (song)|theme song]] to the Bond movie ''[[A View to a Kill]]'', Duran Duran split into two side projects. John Taylor and guitarist [[Andy Taylor (guitarist)|Andy Taylor]] joined forces with former Chic drummer [[Tony Thompson (drummer)|Tony Thompson]] and [[Robert Palmer]], who earlier met at [[Duran Duran's charity concert at Villa Park 1983]], to form the band [[The Power Station (band)|the Power Station]]. With the guidance of producer Bernard Edwards, they released one album, ''The Power Station'', which produced the hit singles "[[Some Like It Hot (song)|Some Like It Hot]]" and the [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]] cover song "[[Get It On (T. Rex song)|Bang a Gong (Get It On)]]".
That year, Taylor also launched his first solo effort, recording the single "[[I Do What I Do (Theme for 9½ Weeks)|I Do What I Do...]]" for the soundtrack to the movie ''[[9½ Weeks]]'' starring [[Kim Basinger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/9-1-2-weeks-mw0000191234|title=Original Soundtrack 9 1/2 Weeks|publisher=allmusic.com|access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=9 1/2 WEEKS|url=https://moviepie.com/9-1-2-weeks/|access-date=7 December 2021|website=Moviepie.com|date=23 September 2012 }}</ref> He also wrote some instrumental music for the movie's score with collaborator [[Jonathan Elias]].

When Andy and Roger Taylor left the band, the three remaining members reformed Duran Duran for the 1986 ''[[Notorious (Duran Duran album)|Notorious]]'' album, and continued to record and tour throughout the 1990s with new guitarist [[Warren Cuccurullo]].

On 24 December 1991, Taylor married [[Amanda de Cadenet]], who was already pregnant with his daughter Atlanta (born 31 March 1992). He moved from England to Los Angeles to help further his wife's acting career, as well as to escape constant attention from the British tabloids. Taylor's marriage declined even as Duran Duran's star rose with the success of 1993's ''[[Duran Duran (1993 album)|Duran Duran]]'', also known as ''The Wedding Album''. He and de Cadenet separated in May 1995.

Duran Duran's success rapidly waned with the widely derided 1995 covers album ''[[Thank You (Duran Duran album)|Thank You]]''. Following that album's supporting tour, Duran Duran spent part of the summer of 1995 in London working on the album ''[[Medazzaland]]''. Concurrently, Taylor devoted time to the side project [[Neurotic Outsiders]], recording and touring with that band from the end of 1995 through the start of 1996.

===1997–2001: Solo music career===
In January 1997, Taylor announced at a Duran Duran fan convention that he was leaving the band.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070320075523/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/johntaylor2/articles/story/5924427/duran_duran_comes_undone  Duran Duran Comes Undone]", ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', 23 January 1997.</ref>

During 1997 and 1998, Taylor built and toured with a band called "John Taylor Terroristen" ([[Gerry Laffy]] on guitar, Michael Railton/Tio Banks on keyboard, Larry Aberman on drums, [[Crooks and Liars|John Amato]] on sax and flute) which played numerous shows in Southern California before touring the East and West Coasts of the United States. Terroristen released a live EP ''5.30.98'' and the accompanying video ''Better Off Alive'' through the Trust The Process website. After [[9/11]], Taylor said he would never use the band name "Terroristen" again.

Taylor also began making forays into acting. His long friendship with [[Allison Anders]] led to a starring role in her independent film, ''Sugar Town'', in 1998. He also appeared in small roles in several other movies and TV programmes over the next couple of years.

In 1999, Taylor released two albums of earlier material. The first, ''Résumé'', was made up of unreleased music that he and [[Jonathan Elias]] had worked on together during the 1985 sessions for the ''9½ Weeks'' movie soundtrack. The second, ''Meltdown'', was a collection of tracks Taylor had laid down in 1992, during the extensive delays in Duran Duran's recording of ''The Wedding Album''.

Later in 1999 Taylor signed a recording contract with the Japanese record label [[Avex Trax]], and released an album labelled simply ''John Taylor'' on the cover, but listed in his official discography as ''The Japan Album''. He continued recording for Avex in 2000, and early in 2001 released ''Techno for Two'' (featuring the international hit "6,000 Miles" co-written by [[Matthew Hager]]), a decidedly non-[[techno]] album filled with very personal songs. Shortly after, as talks began for a potential Duran Duran reunion, Taylor decided to create a retrospective package called ''Retreat into Art'' demonstrating his development over the previous five years.

Taylor's final solo release, completed after the Duran Duran reunion was under way, was the collection ''MetaFour'' released in 2002. It features a 17-minute Q&A interview with fellow bass player [[Christopher Maloney]] at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. 

In October 2012, Taylor released an autobiography called ''In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death and Duran Duran''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525958000,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517182934/http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0%2C%2C9780525958000%2C00.html |archive-date=17 May 2013 |title=In the Pleasure Groove |url-status = dead}}</ref> In 2013, the Writers in Treatment organisation awarded Taylor with the "Experience, Strength and Hope" award for his work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.duranduran.com/wordpress/2013/duran-durans-john-taylor-to-receive-experience-strength-and-hope-award-on-february-15th-2013/ |title=Duran Duran's John Taylor to receive Experience, Strength and Hope Award on February 15th, 2013 |publisher=Duran Duran |access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref>

===2001–present: Duran Duran reunion===
[[File:John Taylor(2015).JPG|thumb|Taylor performing in 2015]]
In 2000, Taylor was approached at his home in Los Angeles by singer [[Simon Le Bon]] about a possible reunion with the original Duran Duran lineup, and he was enthusiastic about the idea as long as the other Taylors (Roger and Andy, who had left the band in 1986) were willing to rejoin as well. An agreement was soon reached, and Taylor demonstrated his renewed commitment to the band by getting an enormous linked-D's tattoo on the upper side of his right arm.

After a highly successful tour of Japan in 2003, the reunited band was signed with [[Epic Records]], and released the album ''[[Astronaut (Duran Duran album)|Astronaut]]'' in October 2004. They toured throughout the first half of 2005 before returning to the studio to work on their next new album. Guitarist Andy Taylor left the band again in October 2006, and recordings from this session (with the working title ''[[Reportage (album)|Reportage]]'') were set aside when the band got a chance to work with famed producer Timbaland. The resulting album, ''[[Red Carpet Massacre]]'', was released in November 2007. To celebrate its release the band took the unprecedented step of performing the album in its entirety for 10 special performances on Broadway in New York City, with a world tour in 2008.

In December 2010, the band released its 13th studio album, ''[[All You Need Is Now]]'', on its own record label, Tapemodern. Initially, an abbreviated version was offered to [[iTunes]], but the physical album arrived in shops in March 2011.

In February 2013, he placed 29th in MusicRadar's greatest bassist poll.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/bass/the-60-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-279007/60 |title=The 60 greatest bassists of all time |publisher=musicradar.com |access-date=1 March 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304114018/http://www.musicradar.com/news/bass/the-60-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-279007/60 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In December 2021, ''[[Bass Player (magazine)|Bass Player]]'' magazine awarded Taylor a Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CWeYXFFLYZC/ | title=Duran Duran on Instagram: "It's a real honor to get this from my bass playing brothers and sisters. From the moment I started playing a friend's borrowed instrument, I knew it was my jam. And I'm grateful to all the dudes along the way who have helped me keep time, particularly my brother -in- rhythm Roger Taylor" - JT on his Bass Player magazine Lifetime Achievement Award. Congrats John!! 🎉🎉🎉 }}</ref>

==Guest appearances==
Taylor's side project [[Neurotic Outsiders]] has re-convened for an occasional live show or two since a surprise four-show stint at the [[Viper Room]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.durandurantimeline.com |title=band and personal history |publisher=The Duran Duran Timeline |access-date=19 August 2011}}</ref>

Taylor made his first film appearance outside of Duran Duran as "The Hacker" (alongside then-girlfriend [[Virginia Hey]]) in the pilot episode of ''Timeslip'', a 1985 TV programme that was not further developed. He later made a guest appearance in the 1985 ''[[Miami Vice]]'' episode titled "Whatever Works". In the episode, he, along with Tony Thompson, [[Andy Taylor (guitarist)|Andy Taylor]], and [[Michael Des Barres]] played the Power Station's 1985 hit "Bang a Gong (Get It On)". John was the only band member who had spoken lines, introducing character Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) to new lead singer [[Michael Des Barres]]. Taylor also made [[cameo appearance]]s in ''[[The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas]]'', and ''[[Politically Incorrect]]'' with Bill Maher in 2000, and ''[[A Diva's Christmas Carol]]'' in 2000 starring [[Vanessa L. Williams|Vanessa Williams]] as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and ''[[That '80s Show]]'' in 2002. He also appeared on [[BBC Two]] comedy panel game ''[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]'' as a panelist in April 2001.

In 2010, he contributed bass to the debut album by [[Swahili Blonde]] with ex-Weave! drummer Nicole Turley on the track "Tigress Ritual".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myspace.com/swahiliblonde |title=Swahili Blonde &#124; Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's |publisher=Myspace.com |access-date=19 August 2011}}</ref>

In 2020, he was interviewed in the Michael Cumming/Stewart Lee documentary [[King Rocker]] – a film about [[Robert Lloyd (Nightingales)|Robert Lloyd]] and [[the Nightingales]], in regards to the early punk music scene in Birmingham and his band Shock Treatment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sky.com/watch/channel/sky-arts/king-rocker|title=King Rocker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://kingrockerfilm.com/ |title=King Rocker – A film about Robert Lloyd & The Nightingales |publisher=Kingrockerfilm.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-04}}</ref>

==Personal life==

From 1985 to 1989, Taylor dated Danish model [[Renée Simonsen|Renée Toft Simonsen]], to whom he was engaged. He married [[Amanda De Cadenet]] at Chelsea Old Town Hall's register office on 24 December 1991, and they had one daughter, Atlanta Noo, on 31 March 1992. They officially separated in May 1995.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

In late 1994, Taylor sought treatment for his alcohol and substance abuse, and has remained sober since.

Taylor met his second wife, [[Gela Nash-Taylor|Gela Nash]], co-founder of [[Juicy Couture]], in 1996, and they married in Las Vegas on 27 March 1999.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

Taylor and Nash-Taylor reside primarily in Los Angeles, but spend several weeks a year at [[South Wraxall Manor]], which they purchased in 2005. In 2013 Taylor became an American citizen, maintaining dual citizenship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/50980044#50980044 |title=Duran Duran's Taylor on US citizenship: 'I want to vote' – Video on |publisher=Nbcnews.com |date=27 February 2013}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
* ''[[Feelings Are Good and Other Lies]]'' (1997)
* ''Résumé'' <small>with Jonathan Elias</small> (1999)
* ''Meltdown'' (1999)
* ''The Japan Album'' (1999)
* ''Techno for Two'' (2001)
* ''MetaFour'' (2002)

===with Duran Duran===
* ''[[Duran Duran (1981 album)|Duran Duran]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Rio (Duran Duran album)|Rio]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Seven and the Ragged Tiger]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Notorious (Duran Duran album)|Notorious]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Big Thing (Duran Duran album)|Big Thing]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Liberty (Duran Duran album)|Liberty]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Duran Duran (1993 album)|The Wedding Album]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Thank You (Duran Duran album)|Thank You]]'' (1995)
* ''[[Medazzaland]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Astronaut (Duran Duran album)|Astronaut]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Reportage (album)|Reportage]]'' (2006; unreleased)
* ''[[Red Carpet Massacre]]'' (2007)
* ''[[All You Need Is Now]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Paper Gods]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Future Past (Duran Duran album)|Future Past]]'' (2021)
* ''[[Danse Macabre (Duran Duran album)|Danse Macabre]]'' (2023)

===with the Power Station===
* ''[[The Power Station (album)|The Power Station]]'' (1985)

===with Neurotic Outsiders===
* ''[[Neurotic Outsiders (album)|Neurotic Outsiders]]'' (1996)

===Live albums===
* ''(:live cuts)'' (2000)

===Compilation albums===
* ''[[Only After Dark (album)|Only After Dark]]'' <small>with Nick Rhodes</small> (2006)

===Box sets===
* ''Retreat into Art'' (2001)

===Extended plays===
* ''Autodidact'' (1997)
* ''The Japan EP'' (2000)
* ''Terroristen: Live at the Roxy'' (2001)

===Soundtrack appearances===
* "I Do What I Do" (from ''[[9½ Weeks#Music|9½ Weeks]]'') (1985)

==Film credits==
* 1999 – ''[[Sugar Town (film)|Sugar Town]]:'' Clive
* 2000 – ''[[Four Dogs Playing Poker]]:'' Dick
* 2000 – ''[[The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas]]:'' Keith Richrock
* 2000 – ''[[A Diva's Christmas Carol]]:'' Ghost of Christmas Present (VH1)
* 2001 – ''Strange Frequency:'' Jimmy Blitz (VH1)
* 2001 - ''Vegas: City of Dreams:'' Byron Lord

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=Duran Duran: Notorious|first=Steve|last=Malins|publisher=André Deutsch|location=London|year=2005|isbn=9780233001371|oclc=59138001}}
*{{cite magazine|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/staying-in/news/a6662/in-conversation-with-duran-durans-john-taylor/|title=In conversation with Duran Duran's John Taylor|magazine=Harper's Bazaar|date=24 September 2012}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|John Taylor (musician born 1960)|John Taylor}}
*[http://www.duranduran.com Duran Duran official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061016114928/http://www.ipodgarage.com/article.php?id=2073 Interview with John Taylor], ''iProng Radio'', 2006-10-11
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090203191739/http://www.duranplanet.com/ duranplanet.com] Unofficial Italian Duran Duran site (Italian and English)

{{Duran Duran}}
{{The Power Station}}
{{2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|state=collapsed}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, John}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:English rock bass guitarists]]
[[Category:British male bass guitarists]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English new wave musicians]]
[[Category:English record producers]]
[[Category:British synth-pop new wave musicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Duran Duran members]]
[[Category:The Power Station (band) members]]
[[Category:Ivor Novello Award winners]]
[[Category:Alumni of Birmingham City University]]
[[Category:Musicians from Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Neurotic Outsiders members]]