Duran Duran and Roxy Music

There is perhaps no band on planet Earth that has influenced Duran Duran as much as Roxy Music.

Nick Rhodes and John Taylor were Roxy fan boys before they formed a band themselves. Taylor wrote about those heady days of glam-rock fandom in his autobiography, "In the Pleasure Groove," telling readers how he once kept hold of a Champagne cork that Roxy's driver fetched for him from the band's limo.

Therefore, it's quite fitting that Taylor and Simon Le Bon will induct Roxy Music into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 29. Though the news hasn't been confirmed by the hall, Taylor spilled the beans on a recent episode of "Jonesy's Jukebox."

Taylor's love for the band is longstanding: In 1999, he spearheaded a Roxy tribute album, "Dream Home Heartaches: Remaking/Remodeling Roxy Music." The album featured Taylor performing "Just Another High" (a song he was born to sing), David Gahan of Depeche Mode covering "A Song for Europe," and Melissa Etheridge singing backing vocals.

Roxy's original members, including Brians Ferry and Eno, were true glam-rock innovators. It's high time that the band was inducted into the rock hall.

Roxy was a band before its time, sounding a lot like Duran would sound a decade or more later. The influence on Duran can be heard on tracks like "Both Ends Burning." It's all there: the affected vocals, the galloping bass, the keyboards, the sax.

It's hard to believe that Duran only covered Roxy once, playing "Virginia Plain" live to segue into "Rio." Maybe Roxy is just that untouchable.

At month's end, Taylor and Le Bon will be there as their influencers are finally recognized. Though Duran has also been overlooked by the rock hall, it makes sense that the musicians that had the biggest impact on the band get their due before Duran itself.

Duran's biggest champion, Nile Rodgers, no doubt played a role in the decision to induct Roxy Music, and Duran could follow soon.

In the meantime, Duranies can enjoy seeing Taylor and Le Bon share in the joy of honoring their musical heroes with the rest of the rock community.

At top: Duran Duran takes a Roxy Music stance in an "Astronaut"-era photo. (Epic)