In the Pleasure Groove
Love, Death, and Duran Duran
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
With a new introduction by Nick Rhodes
The talent. The charisma. The videos. From their 1981 hit "Planet Earth" to their latest number-one album, All You Need Is Now, John Taylor and Duran Duran have enchanted audiences around the world. It's been a wild ride, and—for John in particular—dangerous. John recounts the story of the band's formation, their massive success, and his journey to the brink of self-destruction. Told with humor, honesty—and packed with exclusive pictures—In the Pleasure Groove is an irresistible rock-and-roll portrait of a band whose popularity has never been stronger.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Duran Duran was one of the most successful pop groups of the early 1980s and is still performing today outliving such contemporaries as Spandau Ballet and Culture Club. Founding member and bass player Taylor delivers a straightforward look at the band's career that will be of interest primarily to its still sizable fan base and anyone who once was a Duran fan. Like Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran, guitarist Andy Taylor's 2008 biography, Taylor covers most of the band's high points: its groundbreaking music videos that put MTV on the map, its success in America and its starring appearance at Live Aid in 1985. But unlike Andy Taylor in Wild Boy, John Taylor doesn't back away from describing the heavy drug use that later led to his entering rehab. Taylor offers some fascinating insights into the way London's pop music scene shifted from punk rock's "three-chord angry noise" to "New Romanticism," a revival of 1970s glam rock with a heavy disco beat: "Multimedia, fashion, dance, art. We wanted it all in the mix." Taylor also insightfully notes that the Live Aid concert perhaps the band's peak performance created "an immense sea change" in pop culture. "Things that you could get away with in 1984, you could not get away with twelve months later" as the stripped-down "indie rock" of bands like the Smiths swept away the excesses of the New Romantics.
Customer Reviews
a must read for any Duranie!
Wonderful read. As i was reading it, i would go trough my Duran catalog and listen to the album being discussed. Glad to read that John came on top regarding his addictions! I looked forward to reading the book!
A genuine and gracious glimpse
This was such an enjoyable read. It was honest, funny, sad, uplifting....genuine. It is not often you get an autobiography that has such a truly interwoven story. This was a really well done, holistic story that started with earliest memories and took you through 2011. Personally, I think this is a story of faith and finding unconditional love from your God. I think the story of Duran is included to sell the book, thus sharing the message. Life. Love.
Like many, I do wish there was more about handling addiction and the reunion; however, I don't think this personal edit marginalized the story. We (as fans) have always just wanted everything, haven't we?
The digital deluxe version is a MUST for any true Duran fan. It is well designed, interactive, and beautiful to view.
Thank you John for doing such a fantastic job. It is sooo nice to discover more about you through the book and the book events and see a glimpse that indicates you really are the person we all have thought for years, decades, you are--a genuine guy.
In The Pleasure Groove-John taylor
This book was fanstastic! Great reading! I am glad that John Shared his story, and that he survived all of the stuff he went through. This is a must read for
any Duran Duran fan!