Welcome to an occasional series counting down to the release of my first book, Duran Duran On Track! I’ll be sharing stories behind the music which are touched on in the book but that I will explore further here.
When I learned that Duran Duran weren’t represented in the On Track series, one that includes over 100 books about musical artists ranging from AC/DC to Frank Zappa, I decided to write this book. As part of the research, writing and fact-checking process for my 55,000-word book exploring “every album, every song” by the band, I took some deeper dives into areas that are only mentioned in passing in the final product.
One of those involved a stop at The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, during a trip to that state. Because the gorgeous gardens were the site of Duran Duran’s video for “Ordinary World,” my favorite track from my favorite album, a visit was planned to capture some photos for the book.
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Photos by Christopher Windle |
The Huntington is arguably the most famous site of a Duran Duran video in the United States. The filming of the clip, directed by Nick Egan, took place in The Huntington’s themed gardens, including the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden and the Desert Garden. As shared on the Duran Duran Message Board in 2024, Egan described the cacti-filled garden as a place that “looked like another planet. I thought it was a great play on the idea of an ordinary world, which is anything but ordinary, in fact extraordinary, and those gardens were certainly that.”
Even on a fall day, the majesty of The Huntington can’t be denied. Our visit took place in late November, which was apt because the video itself was filmed late in the year, in December of 1992.
The first of the featured gardens we visited was the Japanese Garden, where the four Wedding Album-era band members walked barefoot through the Zen Court at the end of the video. The garden, with its koi ponds, moon bridge and charming teahouse, was a tranquil place to start our visit.
Though not quite in full bloom, the Rose Garden was a beautiful spot reminiscent of the English countryside. It was a bit surreal to walk the same winding path as the bride did in the iconic video.
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| Chris with ‘Old Man of the Andes.’ Photo by Karen Windle |
But the Desert Garden was the highlight of our visit. Among the seemingly otherworldly succulents was a fascinating cactus called “Old Man of the Andes.” Another sight that caught our eye was the towering Queensland kauri, the oldest planted tree in the gardens.
In Duran Duran On Track (Sonicbond Publishing), I examine the band’s 16 studio albums and key standalone singles, offering my take on each. This project was a key focus for me for the better part of a year, and I hope it offers something for everyone.
The book is slated to be released on 31 July in the UK and September 26 in the US. Check out Linktree for preorder links. It can also be preordered from other major retailers, including Amazon, and I’ll have signed copies available for purchase closer to the release date!
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