UAWIL #289: Duran Duran - 1981 & 1983

UAWIL #289: Duran Duran - 1981 & 1983

From The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast by Mac B.

June 11, 2026 · 1h 22m · Season 1 · Episode 288

About this episode

The episode discusses Duran Duran's rise to fame in the early 1980s, their music, and impact on MTV culture.

Duran Duran's eponymous debut not only established their sound with funky bass and new wave synths but coincided with the launch of new US cable station, MTV. With their danceable beats, the boys stylish brand of new wave was perfect fot the 80s and perfect for MTV. It introduced a whole new generation of American music fans into Anglophiles including your hosts The Wolf & Action Jackson. We, like all of the MTV Generation, were not only grooving to John Taylor's funky bass but were fascinated by their fashion, haircuts and models that always seemed to find them. In the UK, they got on the charts and even went Top 10 in Australia with Planet Earth in the spring of 1981. But it was MTV that launched them to superstardom in the US. Simon LeBon's vocals complemented the textures coming from Nick Rhodes synths and Andy Taylor's guitar but his presence in the videos gave them a wider audience. The videos shot in Antigua for the Rio album are MTV greats but the macabre Night Boat was also filmed there and is creepier than Anyone Out There or Careless Memories. The Girls On Film video was censored in parts of the US and a racier edition could be found on Showtime, much to the delight of…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mac B., The Wolf, Action Jackson

Topics covered

  • Duran Duran
  • MTV
  • 1980s music
  • new wave
  • music videos

Keywords

  • Duran Duran
  • MTV
  • 1980s
  • new wave
  • music videos
  • Planet Earth
  • Rio
  • Girls On Film

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Duran Duran, MTV

Books & works: Planet Earth, Rio, Night Boat, Anyone Out There, Careless Memories, Girls On Film, Seven and the Ragged Tiger, Is There Something I Should Know?

More episodes of The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast podcast page.