On Duran Duran Appreciation Day, a ‘Distraction’ well worth Duranies' time

Happy Duran Duran Appreciation Day! 

I must admit that I was a little stumped as to what to write about this year. It has been nearly five years since Duran Duran released a studio album, the band (and most others) has stopped touring amid the coronavirus pandemic, and even John Taylor’s excellent “Stone Love Bass Odyssey” tutorials have been on hiatus (though John and Nick Rhodes did plan an Instagram Live for DDAD).

It was during my search for this year’s DDAD topic that Duran superfan and archivist Andrew “Durandy” Golub reached out to me. During quarantine, Andy has been entertaining fans with his “Duranie Distractions” on social media. For DDAD, he’s sharing fans’ Duran Duran stories: what the band means to us, why we love them, and how Duran has affected our lives.

Putting together my submission was surprising easy. A few minutes and well more than the requested 75 to 100 words later, I had mine:

Duran Duran is more than my favorite band, it’s a way of life. My love of the band has left its stamp on my music collection, so much of which is filled with artists that Duran influenced or was influenced by. Duran has also led me to embrace movies, fashion, and even a more inclusive mindset. 

The band’s mood-lifting music made me a fan. It didn’t hurt to see the beautiful faces behind it. 

Hearing Roger’s four-on-the-floor drumming, John’s syncopated bass lines, Andy’s wicked riffs, Nick’s innovative synths, and Simon’s voice, instantly recognizable as Duran Duran, had me hooked. And here I am, near a quarter of a century later.

Duran has inspired me to travel to countless shows, where I even got the chance to meet John and Nick. I will never forget witnessing my first concert, when the band was a slimmed-down three piece with a “new” guitarist; the thrill of the reunion shows; or bringing my now-husband to his first Duran concert, at Red Rocks, of all places. I became a journalist so I could write about Duran for the school newspaper, then Examiner.com, and now at Duran Duran and Beyond.

I edited that bad boy down and sent it off, and Andy added his flourish to the ending of it.

Check out my story and many more on the DDAD edition of “Duranie Distraction.”

Me with John in 1997, and Nick in 2001, at top.