Customer Reviews

Duran Duran: Notorious

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Duran Duran Notorious (Andre Deutsch, 2005) is the first new millennium Duran Duran hardcover unauthorized autobiography. The book was written by Steve Malin's who has penned works about Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, and Radiohead.

It will be very easy for die hard "Duranies" (the nickname given to Duran Duran fans) to pick apart this book into a million pieces. However, for the person who is only a casual Duran Duran fan who desires to know more about the group they may not be so hard on the book. The book details the musical history of the group known as Duran Duran providing small glimpses into the groups personal lives. Malins spoke with former girlfriends, former band members and former managers among many others in his research for the book.

In intricate detail Malin's describes the groups early days, their pop music domination of the early 80's and the groups side projects--Arcadia, Power Station, Neurotic Boy Outsiders, The Devil's and solo projects.

Most of the comments from the group incorporated in the book were taken from various interviews and magazine articles conducted over the years. Malins does state in his acknowledgements that he conducted an interview in Nick Rhode's back garden several years ago and that he spoke with over 30 people including former group member Warren Cuccurullo for the book.

When most people think about Duran Duran, they think about the Fab Five-Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Andy Taylor, and Roger Taylor. Warren was a member of Duran Duran from the late 80's until shortly after the year 2000. Obviously, he spoke with Malin's at great lengths because he provides somewhat "new" information. Thus meaning whereas a good portion of the information in the book is derived from past interviews which have been published or broadcast, Warren's thoughts printed in the book ring with freshness and make for interesting reading. The downside to all of this is the reader doesn't get this really exciting refreshing detail from other group members. So Warren receives a lot more shine in this book than he might have under different circumstances, like say all of the group sat down and talked to Malin's for the book. Warren details how he felt slighted that Duran Duran sent him a letter telling him about how he was out of the group. For some reason information about Warren meeting Larry Flynt and launching his line of adult toys made it in the book along with Warren bashing Duran Duran's first single off of their reunion album "Astronaut." Warren also laments a story about how he was slighted by the group when they came to L.A. in 2003 and how none of his former band members have come to visit his Santa Monica website.

The book does include some facts that were not as publicized in the media as one may have expected. Malin's discusses Simon Le Bon's close friendship with deceased INXS singer Michael Hutchence, the high cost of producing the Arcadia album "So Red The Rose," John Taylor's various battles with drugs, and a failed Power Station Reunion.

What's missing is more detail about the recent reunion. How did the Fab Five pull it together again in the studio and in their personal relationship to make a new album after twenty years? What were Roger and Andy Taylor doing during the 90s and what were their feelings about the other members going on with out them? There could be a million suggestions about "What's missing," but the truth is there is a lot here.

Reading wise "Duran Duran-Notorious" has the flow of a magazine article more so than a book. It's very detailed and at times the detail supersedes the narrative regarding the situation described. Important topics are given 2-3 sentences and then it's on to the next thing in certain instances.

Duran Duran "Notorious" features exclusive pictures from the band's official. The book is very interesting and something that a music lover or Duran Duran fan may enjoy.

I was anxious to get this book, so much so that I bought it off of amazon.uk to get it sooner. The book goes into extreme detail at the beginning of Duran. A lot of it has been written about. The stuff I really wanted to know about was from 1990 and up, which I felt was glossed over. I agree with the first reviewer,Dorrie, that important things were mentioned in 2 sentences. It was interesting to hear about the separation of Warren from Duran. The media made it sound amicable, which according to the book was not. There were other things that weren't mentioned such as John Taylor's stint in rehab. Malin's goes into great detail about drug use and then causually mentions that Taylor went into rehab along the way. I was a bit disappointed with the book. I really wanted more info. There has not been a lot written about them since the 80's and I was looking forward to catching up. I am still wanting to know more.

This bio is typical of Malins' work. The Depeche Mode book he wrote a few years ago followed much the same formula : Many early ( read : unknown and/or long forgotten ) associates and collaborators are quoted, each members' background is thoroughly examined and the road to glory is meticulously detailed. The first five years of Duran Duran takes up about half the book. Then the closer we get to the present, the faster the facts fly by, and the slimmer the details become. Approximately twenty years is covered in the last half of the book. Events are glossed over, many which are definately worth more than the little mention they get. And most all the quotes from band members are taken from other, previously published sources. Don't get me wrong. I've been a big fan of this band since 1982 and I enjoyed this book. But, as others have noted, it very simply left me wanting more. I suppose an authorized bio will clear all that up. In the meantime, Notorious very nearly satisfies.

There has never been five star rock & roll biography. There have been some fantastic ones, some good ones even. None has ever been perfect.

Authors can only be faulted so much. Even the truly great rock bios - Marcus Gray's "Last Gang in Town", Peter Guralnick's "Dream Boogie", Bob Spitz' new Beatles book - can seem deflating. It's because, as fans, we already have an idea of how a book about our heroes should read, even if we'd never be able to write it ourselves. We feel we know better, know more facts and the tone a book should take to best illustrate what an artist means to us. And that's the problem: What a band means to us is not what a band might mean to anyone else.

As evidenced by some of the other reviews here on Amazon, Steve Malins is no stranger to the hurdle of blind fandom. Ignore the criticism of folks who feel they know better than he does what Duran Duran are really all about. Even if they do, big deal. Write your own book, smartypants.

Let's put this all into perspective, shall we? Until Malins took on the Herculean task, there had never been a serious rock biography written about Duran Duran. Not one. There have been countless books of photography through the years, some arty and interesting, most the kind of blurred paparazzi shots that would be rejected by even the cheesiest weekly tabloid. Some of those books even had words in them. The lack of legitimate published books about Duran Duran can only mean that people really didn't ever take them seriously, an oversight fans of the band have never been able to fully comprehend.

Notorious is an excellent read. Predictably, the band's heady early days and their rise to fame through 1985 is more fun, because it they were obviously enjoying themselves. The subsequent highs and lows of the band's are shared by the reader thanks to Malins' natural flow.

The book is wonderful, especially when weighed against the considerable obstacles faced by Malins. Perhaps the worst thing that could have happened to the author is the band's reunion in 2001. Though this certainly lends a `phoenix rising from the ashes' happy ending to the proceedings, it also meant the band members, who were far less guarded during the recent wilderness years, have closed ranks and are far more careful about maintaining their image. Likewise, it is not unreasonable to assume that the band, like Aerosmith before them, is plotting their own `official' book. Either way, Malins had to rely mostly on archival interviews with the Fab Five (an interview with Nick Rhodes was the only actual contact Malins was allowed professionally with the band), as well as entertaining, if sometimes less-informative, talks with people on the periphery of the band and former members who are as bitter as they are bald.

Yes, I'm talking about Warren Cuccurullo, the guitarist who, for better and worse (often both at the same time), helped shape the band's career through the end of the 80's and all through the 90's. Cuccurullo's musical contribution and ability to keep the machine energized has never been in question. But to many, he never really fit the image of Duran Duran. And fans and detractors alike agree that the band's image has always been an important piece of the puzzle. Duran Duran's original guitarist, rocker Andy Taylor, might have been a bit of a square peg himself, but he looked good in an Anthony Price suit. And he looks even better with the band today.

Cuccurullo's recounting of his ugly dismissal from the band by singer Simon LeBon sounds harsh, but LeBon himself wouldn't answer the charges. Duran Duran themselves were the toughest challenge faced by the author.

As I said earlier, there has never been a five star rock & roll biography. I have no qualms about giving the book itself four stars, plus another to counter some of the overly harsh critiques here. Hopefully it will help bring some balance back into the discussion.

My complaints about Notorious are few, and are largely no fault of Malins, who is a well-respected rock journalist for good reason. I'm something of a music nerd, and I have no problem putting Notorious alongside many of the other rock & roll books in my collection, including those I mentioned at the beginning of my review.

Fans should embrace this book. It's worth their time, and it's likely to be the only one they'll ever get.

I recently read this Duran book and was very happy that at last someone has told the band's story with some real detail. Even though I have been a fan for nearly 10 years I still discovered lot's of new things in this book and it was great to read someone who seems genuinely enthusiastic about the band. That makes a change from most of the stuff I've read about them over the last few years from journalists who have no idea what they're talking about. I would recommend anyone who is fed up with hearing rubbish written about Duran to pick up this book and enjoy their amazing story.

As a Duran Duran fan from my early teens, I was interested in this book. I wasn't sure if it was going to give me any new information, but I thought I would be fun.

Instead, I was very surprised. I read the book in two days. I found it an excellant read. Not just for Duran Duran fans, but anyone who enjoyed new wave music back in the 80's. I love the format and found it more interesting that most biographies. It explored more that the band. It went into the social climate of the time.
I would recommend this book for any music fan.

Having been an 'armchair' Duranny for many years (yes, including the scaled down 'Poptrash' era), when I received this gaudily packaged affair, I wasn't compelled to read it until a few weeks later. By the time I'd finished I'd bought two tickets for the upcoming Manchester MEN show. I'd like to applaud the author for re-igniting feelings that had begun to sink into tepid at best. I'm familiar with Malins' name as a journalist, and Numan historian, so the fact his name is attached to this was like seeing the first film by your favourite video director. Malins at least researches his subjects with a genuine passion and there is a feeling that this book has lay dormant for years while Malins' wrestles with the fact that he's not sure if anyone cares. We do and the timing of this book shows that others do too. The band seems genuinely happy to go into detail that hasn't really been covered elsewhere. Remember how long it's been since the five were a unit shifting global commodity? The author does and he builds on the golden era spectacularly well. Crow all you like, after the faux - funk of Notorious there was a steady decline. Malins' is aware of this but never really states that the 'Warren' years were anything less than important.
The book has been received well by the band apparently, and while we wait for a glossily expensive 'official' version that will tell us no more than this, Malins has bridged the gap affectionately well. This book is as important and credible as you believe the band to be. This is an excellent take on a once important phenomenon.

This book is as in depth as it gets into the wild life & good times of
the 1980's. There is so much more into the making of Duran Duran than
one could have imagined.

I was so excited to get this book, I pre-ordered it months ago. It arrived and i sat down to absorb it. I have finished it and here's what I think: The wretched thing reads like a text book and an extra boring one at that! Mr. Malins has recycled 20+ years of print and T.V. about the band into one agonizing manual. There was no new information...my god there was no gossip even! Finishing this white elephant was an exercise in patience. Any Duranie will think it a snore!

This book is full of facts that I didn't know I didn't even know about Duran Duran. I was a little too young the first time round to be able to go to any gigs, or really be bothered to read that much on them, I just thought they looked cool and sounded great. All I could afford at the age of 8 was the Duran Duran fountain pen.
Duran Duran taught me a lot, at 10 my Dad sold video-disc players (remember them, massive album sized CDs, really heavy) and he gave me the Duran Duran Greatest hits disc - totally unaware about the girls on film video. I was a popular guy at school for a while and my parents wondered why I didn't mind going to bed early that month - but was somehow still exhausted in the mornings.

But now I'm older and wiser I thought I'd spend some of my piggy bank money on this new book. It's got all the information in that you wish you knew about when you were a kid. Obviously I wouldn't have understood most of it back then, although it would have made me seem cool and impress the girls with my phrases about how the big boy rock & roll stars live and extra special insider Duran Duran facts and stories.
It chronicles the start, the parties, the fun, the bust ups, the split, the reunion - everything..... I would highly recommend this book for any new or old fan alike. There are so many things that I wasn't aware of and I'm not going to tell you a single one of them, you'll have to get the book - I'd spoil it for you. There are some hilarious moments and some `sobering' experiences spoken about - it adds a further depth to the Duran Saga that until now I hadn't quite realised.
A good book, a great read.