| ? |
Paul
& Michael Berrow open their new club, the
Rum Runner, with an eclectic power playlist
borrowed from Studio 54 in New York, walls full
of mirrors, and a ton of attitude |
|
| ? |
Simon
works on kibbutz in Israel; writes early lyrics
for 'Careless Memories', 'Sound of Thunder',
'Tel Aviv' |
|
| ? |
Warren
tours Europe and Asia with Frank Zappa for four
months |
|
| ? |
Stephen
Duffy (then known as Steven Dufait) and Simon
Colley leave Duran to form Subterranean Hawks
with TV Eye guitarist David Twist (former
singer with John's band Shock Treatment) |
|
| ? |
TV
Eye's singer Andy Wickett joins Duran; band
rehearses upstairs at Andy's squat in Cheapside |
|
| ? |
John
discovers disco and Bernard Edwards, begins
playing bass seriously |
|
| ? |
The
band writes 'See Me, Repeat Me', which will
eventually evolve into 'Rio' |
|
| ? |
The
Scent Organs play a disastrous set at
a street concert in Roger's neighborhood |
|
| ? |
John
and Andy Wickett see the Scent Organs
playing at Barbarella's |
|
| ? |
A
drunken Andy Wickett meets Scent Organs
drummer Roger Taylor at a party, and invites
him to a Duran rehearsal |
|
| ? |
Roger
has a formal audition in Birmingham with the
band; 'See Me, Repeat Me' is one of his audition
numbers; he is hired on the spot to replace
Nick's Kay Rhythm Unit drum machine |
|
| ? |
Duran
Duran: The Austeria, Birmingham, England
Roger's first gig with
the band
|
 |
| ? |
Simon
returns to England, works as a hospital porter
in Harrow, sings in dark pop group Rovostrov |
|
| ? |
Simon
writes lyrics to 'Waiting for the Nightboat'
while waiting for the night bus home from Harrow |
|
| Feb
1 |
Duran
Duran: Aston University, Birmingham, England
|
 |
| Feb
18 |
Duran
Duran: Nashville, London, England
|
|
| Mar
12 |
Duran
Duran: Rum Runner, Birmingham, England
|
|
| Apr
5 |
Duran
Duran: Birmingham Polytechnic, Birmingham,
England
|
|
| May
10 |
Duran
Duran: Birmingham University, Birmingham,
England
|
|
| May
29 |
Duran
Duran: Hexagon Theatre, Birmingham Arts
Centre, Birmingham, England
|
|
| Jun
1 |
Duran
Duran: Barbarella's, Birmingham, England
|
|
| ? |
Duran
makes first demo with producer Bob Lamb, consisting
of 'Girls on Film', 'Dreaming of Your Cars',
'Reincarnation', and a song perhaps called 'Working
The Steel'; John plays both guitar and bass |
|
| ? |
John
hands the Duran demo tape in as his end-of-year
project at school, passes, and promptly drops
out |
|
| ? |
Duran
places an ad in a music magazine: "Lead-Rhythm
guitarist wanted for Roxy-Bowie influenced MODERN
band" |
|
| ? |
London
guitarist Alan Curtis (of London's Pride)
answers the ad and joins the band |
|
| summer |
Warren
returns to Los Angeles with Zappa and plays
on the triple album 'Joe's Garage', along with
Terry Bozzio and his new wife Dale |
|
| ? |
Zappa's
fall tour is cancelled; Warren begins writing
songs with Dale Bozzio |
|
| Oct
11 |
Duran
Duran: Golden Eagle, Birmingham, England
|
|
| Nov
14 |
Duran
Duran: Birmingham University, Birmingham,
England
|
|
| Nov
15 |
Duran
Duran: Birmingham University, Birmingham,
England
|
|
| ? |
During a show at the University. the crowd
throws everything they can at Duran, covering
them in tomato ketchup
|
|
| Nov
25 |
Duran
Duran: Red Star Club, Birmingham, England
|
|
| Dec
8 |
Duran
Duran: Bewdley Caravan Park, Bewdley,
England
|
|
| ? |
Singer
Andy Wickett leaves the band to form World
Service |
|
| ? |
Roger
suggests replacement singer Jeff Thomas from
the Scent Organs |
|
| ? |
Jeff
Thomas joins the band and they continue to refine
the music, but this incarnation never performs
live |
|
| ? |
The
band travels in Jeff's van to Alan's flat in
London for practice |
|
| ? |
In
Jeff's hands 'See Me, Repeat Me' becomes 'Ami
a Go Go' (also referred to as 'Amy' or 'MM a
Go Go') |
|
| ? |
Duran
records another demo tape with Bob Lamb, consisting
of 'MM a Go Go', 'Enigmatic Swimmers', 'Girls
on Film', and 'Breaking Away' (which will later
become 'Late Bar') |
|
| ? |
John
designs a red, black and white cassette j-card
for the demo, listing the band as:
- curtis
- guitar
- thomas
- vox
- dior
- synthesizer
- taylor
- bass
- rogers
- drums
|
|
| ? |
John
and Nick shop their demo tapes around to A&R
departments in London; but no one is interested |
|
| ? |
Simon
enrolls in Birmingham University drama department;
dates Fiona Kemp |
|
| ? |
Roger
meets dance student Giovanna Cantone at the
Rum Runner, where she works in the cloakroom |
|
