Nigel John Taylor, the bassist and co-founder of the renowned band Duran Duran, has had a remarkable career spanning multiple decades. As a schoolboy, he and Nick Rhodes would often daydream about the band they would one day front, envisioning a timeline that included playing at Hammersmith Odeon by 1982, Wembley Arena by 1983, and Madison Square Garden by 1984. This ambitious goal was eventually achieved, and the band went on to become one of England's biggest acts worldwide.
However, the band's success was short-lived due to internal tensions, which ultimately led to the band splitting into two groups. John, along with guitarist Andy Taylor, formed the splinter group Power Station, featuring singer Robert Palmer and drummer Tony Thompson, who was known for his work with Diana Ross, Chic, and David Bowie. Power Station's music took on a more rock-oriented sound compared to Duran Duran's earlier work.
Meanwhile, the remaining members of Duran Duran, consisting of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor, formed the avant-garde band Arcadia. This move further divided the fan base, known as Durannies, into two groups, with some fans torn between their loyalty to the original band and the new projects. This was a temporary issue, as Andy and Roger Taylor eventually left the group in the mid-1980s.
The recording of Duran Duran's fourth studio album, "Notorious", became a nightmare due to internal conflicts, with John threatening to leave the group and the band members eventually resorting to suing Andy to get him to record. The album's release was marked by a significant change in the band's sound, moving away from their pop roots and embracing a more mature, funky territory. As the band's popularity waned, John met and married actress Amanda De Cadenet, with whom he had a daughter, Atlanta Noo Taylor.
However, the marriage was short-lived, and the couple eventually filed for separation in 1995, with the divorce being finalized in 1997. Around the same time, John's tensions with the band reached a boiling point, and he announced his departure from the group in early 1997. He had already released some solo material and had been working on his own projects, so his departure from the band was not entirely unexpected.
In the years that followed, John struggled with personal issues, including drug addiction, but eventually found stability and married Gela Nash, co-founder of the successful fashion brand Juice Couture. In 2001, Duran Duran announced that they would be reuniting, marking a full-circle moment for John and the rest of the band.
