Caught this on VH-1 Classics last evening. So disappointed. First of all, it came off as a glorified promo for their upcoming album. Not too bad that - can't blame them or the management for taking advantage of the exposure.

I was disappointed in the band's attitude toward what I, as a longtime fan, feel is some of their best work. Big Thing was glossed over (never even mentioned by name in the documentary, btw) in a statement that "between 1986 and 1992 the band released four albums, none of which were big sellers" or something to that effect. Heck, I have been pumping Big Thing deluxe for weeks now, it sounds better than ever, and even more relevant than it was in 1988! Any longtime Duranies feeling me?

At another point, Simon says, (referring to the "failure" of Red Carpet Massacre), "we made a crack album ( that means "good", btw)- that the fans didn't want". Huh? I loved it in 2007 and love it still.

I just wish the band would stop trying to please everyone, stop trying to figure out what "works" and just be Duran Duran.

fms said:

Caught this on VH-1 Classics last evening. So disappointed. First of all, it came off as a glorified promo for their upcoming album. Not too bad that - can't blame them or the management for taking advantage of the exposure.

I was disappointed in the band's attitude toward what I, as a longtime fan, feel is some of their best work. Big Thing was glossed over (never even mentioned by name in the documentary, btw) in a statement that "between 1986 and 1992 the band released four albums, none of which were big sellers" or something to that effect. Heck, I have been pumping Big Thing deluxe for weeks now, it sounds better than ever, and even more relevant than it was in 1988! Any longtime Duranies feeling me?

At another point, Simon says, (referring to the "failure" of Red Carpet Massacre), "we made a crack album ( that means "good", btw)- that the fans didn't want". Huh? I loved it in 2007 and love it still.

I just wish the band would stop trying to please everyone, stop trying to figure out what "works" and just be Duran Duran.

I don't get your rant, really, I haven't seen it (VH-1 specials are usually random/bad) but what did you expect? Man, this was a TV special about a veteran band , it's obvious that they had to talk about their glory days (81-85), the 1993 comeback and the new album (I guess). Did you really expect detailed explanations about forgotten and/or just plain bad albums like Notorious, Liberty or Medazzland?? Hell I'm surprised that they talked about the ignored Red Carpet Massacre, which I loved in 2007 but now I think was produced by the wrong people, and which was a MAJOR-HUGE-EMBARRASSING commercial flop, in case you didn't know it (so no, 90% of fans didn't like it...). And, despite a couple of good dance singles and three strong ballads, I don't think Big Thing is that strong...

Don't get your rant, as I've said.

[Edited 11/21/10 12:06pm]

You have to remember that "Behind the Music" which I enjoy for the most part is not designed just for hard core fans. It's more aimed to a general audience who may not be interested in the same level of detail as hard core fans. It's more of a general introduction to band for people who may not be that familiar with a given artist or band.

I also loved Red Carpet Massacre. I really don't think it was such a big commercial flop as people say. I love Duran Duran but they're hardly one of the world's biggest artists anymore. They're not U2, Madonna, etc. Most people see them as an 80's act. I think RCM got to #20 or something which is a lot better than most other bands from that time period. I think a lot of their hard core fans did buy RCM, but they didn't like it. If you go to one of their fan forums, their hard core fans complain and complain about it. They didn't like that DD tried something different that didn't sound exactly like their 80's music. But for me as someone who isn't a hard core fan of DD, I didn't have the same expectations and just enjoyed RCM as an album.

I think it's a mistake for them to get caught up in what people on fan forums say. A lot of people on artist forums are just bored and love to bitch and moan. They need to follow their own muse, instead of being so caught up in what people think they should sound like.

But as I said DD isn't one of the world's biggest acts anymore and they are older, so I can't see their new album really doing that much better than RCM.

Glindathegood said:

You have to remember that "Behind the Music" which I enjoy for the most part is not designed just for hard core fans. It's more aimed to a general audience who may not be interested in the same level of detail as hard core fans. It's more of a general introduction to band for people who may not be that familiar with a given artist or band.

I also loved Red Carpet Massacre. I really don't think it was such a big commercial flop as people say. I love Duran Duran but they're hardly one of the world's biggest artists anymore. They're not U2, Madonna, etc. Most people see them as an 80's act. I think RCM got to #20 or something which is a lot better than most other bands from that time period. I think a lot of their hard core fans did buy RCM, but they didn't like it. If you go to one of their fan forums, their hard core fans complain and complain about it. They didn't like that DD tried something different that didn't sound exactly like their 80's music. But for me as someone who isn't a hard core fan of DD, I didn't have the same expectations and just enjoyed RCM as an album.

I think it's a mistake for them to get caught up in what people on fan forums say. A lot of people on artist forums are just bored and love to bitch and moan. They need to follow their own muse, instead of being so caught up in what people think they should sound like.

But as I said DD isn't one of the world's biggest acts anymore and they are older, so I can't see their new album really doing that much better than RCM.

Like Prince is seen as an 1980's act by the general public. He hasn't had a really popular album since Diamonds and Pearls. Then his last hit was The Most Beautiful Girl In The World. With Duran Duran, I don't think the album with Andy Taylor before RCM was big either. Duran Duran is not going to sell a lot these days. Most old acts don't sell much, when was the last time a lot of people bought a Rolling Stones new album? But they make a lot of money touring. The Police and Genesis didn't even bother to make new music, they just did a reunion tour. Not many people are interested in Sting's new albums of ancient folk tunes and Police songs with an orchestra. The only veteran act that had a really successful album was The Eagles. They had a demand as they hadn't released an album of all new material since around 1979, and the new album was sold only in Wal-Mart for a low price. But there were no big hit singles though.

MickyDolenz said:

Glindathegood said:

You have to remember that "Behind the Music" which I enjoy for the most part is not designed just for hard core fans. It's more aimed to a general audience who may not be interested in the same level of detail as hard core fans. It's more of a general introduction to band for people who may not be that familiar with a given artist or band.

I also loved Red Carpet Massacre. I really don't think it was such a big commercial flop as people say. I love Duran Duran but they're hardly one of the world's biggest artists anymore. They're not U2, Madonna, etc. Most people see them as an 80's act. I think RCM got to #20 or something which is a lot better than most other bands from that time period. I think a lot of their hard core fans did buy RCM, but they didn't like it. If you go to one of their fan forums, their hard core fans complain and complain about it. They didn't like that DD tried something different that didn't sound exactly like their 80's music. But for me as someone who isn't a hard core fan of DD, I didn't have the same expectations and just enjoyed RCM as an album.

I think it's a mistake for them to get caught up in what people on fan forums say. A lot of people on artist forums are just bored and love to bitch and moan. They need to follow their own muse, instead of being so caught up in what people think they should sound like.

But as I said DD isn't one of the world's biggest acts anymore and they are older, so I can't see their new album really doing that much better than RCM.

Like Prince is seen as an 1980's act by the general public. He hasn't had a really popular album since Diamonds and Pearls. Then his last hit was The Most Beautiful Girl In The World. With Duran Duran, I don't think the album with Andy Taylor before RCM was big either. Duran Duran is not going to sell a lot these days.

You're partially right

but Astronaut (the comeback album with Andy, 2004) sold nearly 2.000.000 copies worlwide; Red Carpet was the album that bombed big time, with less than 200.000 copies sold in the USA...that album was not even a top40 in the UK.

Medazzland (97) flopped because of the lack of great singles, and when Pop Trash appeared (2000) nobody truly cared anymore...

[Edited 11/22/10 4:16am]

MickyDolenz said:

Like Prince is seen as an 1980's act by the general public. He hasn't had a really popular album since Diamonds and Pearls. Then his last hit was The Most Beautiful Girl In The World. With Duran Duran, I don't think the album with Andy Taylor before RCM was big either. Duran Duran is not going to sell a lot these days. Most old acts don't sell much, when was the last time a lot of people bought a Rolling Stones new album? But they make a lot of money touring. The Police and Genesis didn't even bother to make new music, they just did a reunion tour. Not many people are interested in Sting's new albums of ancient folk tunes and Police songs with an orchestra. The only veteran act that had a really successful album was The Eagles. They had a demand as they hadn't released an album of all new material since around 1979, and the new album was sold only in Wal-Mart for a low price. But there were no big hit singles though.

I think that DD is seen as an 80's act more so than Prince just because of the type of music they are known for. When people think of DD they think of synth/new wave pop which is automatically associated with the 80's. When people think of Prince they think of R&B, funk, and guitar driven songs which they don't associate as much with any one decade, but are more timeless forms of music.

[Edited 11/22/10 13:10pm]

All i can tell you is that ALL artists think differently about their own stuff, what i dont like is when Artists shy away from what they have done, look you did it live with it, i dont have issues with an artist saying that wasnt our best work, again, that is OPINION and OPINIONS are like assholes, everyone has one. SO if Simon LeBon says he hated BIG THING or whatever, OK how does that change my mind about what i feel?

I recently read the a-ha "swing of things" book, and this is my favorite band ever, no one is gonna touch me for me or come close career wise, because i feel, more than ANY artists from the 80's they changed it up and grew the most from day one, there was always progression. But when i read this book, and all these interviews they did and heard the behind the scenes of things, and heard what they "didnt like" overall and what they did, what was mixed wrong, what was written bad, what was fought over, i had different views of songs, but im not gonna stop listening to say the "Lifelines" album in whole because Morten said that it only had 9 of 14 songs that should have been recorded at all for any album, the others werent even good b-sides, i mean that was harsh, but it doesnt rule me, that would be like listening to someones review of an album. shit Jim Farber gave the Rihanna 5 stars, shall i say more?

I got to talk to them about two years ago in Houston at a party thrown for them after a concert...Simon LeBon is the hard stickler and keep a difficult attitude. He wasn't accessible.

John and Nick however, are great! I have video, but I wonder if I would get in trouble for posting it? The video only covers when my partner in crime that might a local news/tv personality interviewed them with questions I prepped her for (she had no idea about them) before in the car.

What I wish I had recorded as our very brief conversation about Prince!