Andy Taylor (guitarist)

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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 Cullercoats, Tyne and Wear, North East England, 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 working men's clubs and air force bases.

[edit] Duran Duran and Power Station

Taylor joined Duran Duran in 1980 (easily the most experienced musician in the band), and enjoyed their rise to fame over the next five years. He married Tracey Wilson, one of Duran Duran's hairstylists, in 1982. The couple have four children. Taylor invested his royalties in real estate, and once owned a wine bar in Whitley Bay named "Rio" after one of Duran Duran's biggest hit singles.

In the mid eighties Taylor 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 since the band's formation. 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 Duran sued Taylor 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.

[edit] Solo career

In the meantime, Andy Taylor hooked up with ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones and recorded the hit single "Take It Easy" (US #24), 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. Two other songs by Taylor/Jones also appeared on the album: "Wings of Love" and the instrumental "Angel Eyes". Andy Taylor also contributed to the Miami Vice II soundtrack with the song "When The Rain Comes Down" (US #73). This was followed by his first solo album, Thunder (1987). O'Hearn again played bass for him on the album and during the following tour.

Taylor also contributed a cover of "Dead on the Money" to the Tequila Sunrise soundtrack in 1988. 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 backing 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.

His most recent venture is the album "Burger Kingdom" which was recorded at his Ibiza studio in April 2008.

His new band consists of the following members:

Andy Taylor - Guitar & Vocal

Liam Keenan - Vocals & Piano

Joe Breban - Drums

Miky Dunn - Bass

[edit] Reunions

Taylor participated in the 1996 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, Taylor again parted ways with Duran Duran, leaving the band a second time, in the middle of the recording of Red Carpet Massacre. More recently, Taylor strongly hinted in his blogs that Duran Duran's management company, Magus Entertainment, were partly responsible for his departure.

This was confirmed on the 4th of May 2008 when (following legal action) The Sunday Times(UK) printed the following retraction -

"Andy Taylor

An article about Duran Duran (Wild boys always shine, Culture, November 4, 2007), referring to Andy Taylor's departure, said he had failed to turn up for a recording session in New York and had sent a "blunt message . . . that he was leaving the band, with immediate effect". It was suggested that his departure was "still unexplained". Andy Taylor's departure from the band is the subject of continuing legal proceedings, but we wish to make clear that he was unable to get a US working visa to attend the New York recording session because of administrative failures by the band's management. His departure was not unexplained and he did not leave the band — the Duran Duran partnership was dissolved by the other members. We apologise and are happy to correct the record." (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3868524.ece)

[edit] Andy Taylor Studios Ibiza

Work on Andy Taylor Studios Ibiza (ATSI) was completed in 2006, a state of the art recording facility in Ibiza. In 2007 Taylor created three MySpace profiles and an official website to showcase the new music he has recorded with singer Liam Keenan. Tracks from artists which Taylor has produced are also featured, including Hungover Stuntmen, Sonny J Mason, Juke and Veil Cassini

[edit] RockAffairs

Founded in November 2007 and launched in April 2008, Taylor provided the seed money and helped co-found RockAffairs.com, a website developed to allow unsigned artists to sell MP3s, sell merchandise, promote their band and keep 100% of the profit. It also pioneers a new Profit Share Scheme where 100% of income from listener signups is distributed amongst bands who sign up for the profit share scheme.

In June 2008, Taylor handed control of the company over to Sarah Eaglesfield, former webmistress at duranduran.com.

[edit] Personal life

Andy Taylor is married to Tracey Wilson. They have four children, Andrew James, born August 20, 1984, Georgina, born August 12, 1987, Bethany, born in September 1991, and Isabel, born in April 1996.

Taylor is currently working on a biography, entitled "Wild Boy", due for publication in August 2008

[edit] Discography

With Duran Duran

• Duran Duran (1981)
• Rio (1982)
• Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983)
• Arena (live) (1984)
• Astronaut (2004)
• Reportage (2006) (Unreleased Album)

With Power Station

• The Power Station (1985)
• Living In Fear (1997)

Solo

• Thunder (1987)
• Dangerous (1990)
• The Spanish Sessions EP (1999)

Solo Singles

• "Take It Easy"
• "When The Rain Comes Down"
• "I Might Lie"
• "Don't Let Me Die Young"
• "Life Goes On" (Promo)
• "Dead On The Money" (Promo)
• "Lola"
• "Stone Cold Sober"

[edit] See also

• Bands and musicians from Yorkshire and North East England

[edit] External links

• Andy Taylor Studios Ibiza - official site
• Rock Affairs - RockAffairs