Andy Taylor (guitarist)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other people by this name, see Andrew Taylor
Andy Taylor (born 16 February 1961) is an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter, best known as a member of Duran Duran and The Power Station. He has also performed as a solo artist, and served as a record producer for several other artists.
He was born and raised in Tynemouth, and attended Marden High School. He began playing guitar at the age of eleven, and was soon playing with local bands, even producing one at the age of sixteen. He dropped out of school early to tour England and Europe with several different bands, playing men's clubs and air force bases.
Contents |
[edit] Duran Duran and Power Station
Taylor joined Duran Duran in 1980 (easily the most experienced musician in the band), and enjoyed their crazy rise to fame over the next five years.
He grew dissatisfied with the band's keyboard-heavy synth pop, however, and longed to stretch out his rock muscles. During a hiatus in Duran's schedule, he joined forces with bassist John Taylor, Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and singer Robert Palmer to create the band The Power Station, which had three hit singles and played the Live Aid concert in 1985. The band was a distinct break from the New Romantic Duran Duran material as they pursued a hard-rock music style.
Taylor would later rejoin Power Station bandmates Palmer and Thompson for Palmer's first solo album outside the band. The resulting album, Riptide proved to be a massive success for Palmer.
After The Power Station, Taylor allowed Duran Duran to believe he would be returning to record a new album, even as he was signing contracts for a solo career in Los Angeles. Another Capitol Records group, Missing Persons was disbanding at the same time, and Andy hired Terry Bozzio and Patrick O'Hearn to work with him. This caused ex-Missing Persons guitarist Warren Cuccurullo to approach Duran Duran to fill Andy's position -- a vacancy no one in Duran Duran knew existed. Eventually Duran sued to force him in to the studio to complete the album Notorious, but he ended up playing on only a few tracks before departing the band completely. He later countersued to claim some of the royalties from that album.
In July 1986, Arcadia (Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran) released "The Flame", the final single from So Red The Rose. The accompanying music video featured a cameo by John Taylor coming out of a closet with a contract to sign. Fans have debated whether this was a thinly veiled dig at the situation with Andy at the time.
[edit] Solo career
In the meantime, Andy hooked up with ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones and recorded the hit single "Take It Easy", which was used as the theme song to the movie American Anthem. Ex-Missing Persons members Terry Bozzio and Patrick O'Hearn lent drums and bass, respectively, to the song and video. This was followed by his first solo album, Thunder (1987), on which Patrick O'Hearn played bass, as well as being his bassist during the following tour.
Taylor would also contribute an original song titled "Dead on the Money" to the Tequila Sunrise soundtrack in 1988. Ironically, Taylor's former band Duran Duran would also allow one of their own songs, "Do You Believe In Shame?" to be included on the album.
A second solo album, this one consisting of entirely cover versions, entitled Dangerous, was released in 1990.
Taylor played as a back-up musician for several other stars, including Belinda Carlisle (on her single "Mad About You"), Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart and Thunder. He then moved on to producing full time, working with several moderately successful bands throughout the 1990s.
[edit] Reunions
Andy participated in the 1997 reunion of The Power Station, and in 2001 reunited with the other original members of Duran Duran to record their first new music together since 1985. Their ensuing album, Astronaut, featured a blend of Taylor's heavy guitar with the synth hooks of the classic Duran Duran sound. In 2006, Andy again parted ways with Duran Duran, leaving the band a second time.
[edit] Trivia
Taylor invested in real estate, and owned a wine bar in Whitley Bay named "Rio" after one of Duran Duran's biggest hit singles.
He married Tracey Wilson, one of Duran Duran's hairstylists, in 1982. The couple have four children.
