In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran [Kindle Edition]

John Taylor (Author)

Book Description

John Taylor, Duran Duran’s co-founder, takes the reader on a wild ride through his life. From the eighties through today, from Rio to All You Need is Now, John writes about the music, the parties, and the MTV videos that made millions swoon.

With Duran Duran, John Taylor has created some of the greatest music of our time. From the disco dazzle of debut single ‘Planet Earth’ right up to their latest number one album, All You Need is Now, Duran Duran has always had the power to sweep the world onto its feet.

It’s been a ride – and for John in particular, the ride has been wild, thrilling... and dangerous. Now, for the first time, he tells his incredible story. A tale of dreams fulfilled, lessons learned and demons conquered.

A shy only child, Nigel John Taylor wasn’t an obvious candidate for pop stardom and frenzied girl panic. But when he ditched his first name and picked up a bass guitar, everything changed. John Formed Duran Duran with his friend Nick Rhodes in the summer of 1978, and they were soon joined by Roger Taylor, then Andy Taylor and finally Simon Le Bon. Together they were an immediate, massive global success story, their pictures on millions of walls, every single a worldwide hit.

In his frank, compelling autobiography, John recounts the highs –hanging out with icons like Bowie, Warhol and even James Bond; dating Vogue models and driving fast cars – all the while playing hard with the band he loved. But there were tough battles ahead – troubles that brought him to the brink of self-destruction – before turning his life around.

Told with humor, honesty and hard-won wisdom, and packed with exclusive pictures, In the Pleasure Groove is a fascinating, irresistible portrait of a man who danced into the fire... and came through the other side.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Wonderfully evocative ... an engaging read written with style, insight and, above all, charm ... he has quietly and inconspicuously become one of our greatest living Englishmen Sunday Express Amusing, self-deprecating ... Taylor is a likeable and droll narrator, generous to band mates, loyal to loved ones and unfailingly hard on himself Daily Mail The real pleasure of the memoir is Taylor's voice - a disarming blend of candour, warmth and self-deprecating humour New York Times A captivating read Q

About the Author

John Taylor is the bass player and a founding member of Duran Duran. To date the band has sold over eighty million records worldwide and been awarded six prestigious Lifetime Achievement awards, including ones from the BRITs and MTV. Their latest album, All You Need is Now, debuted at number one in fifteen countries. John has also recorded and toured with members of Chic, The Sex Pistols and Guns N' Roses. Born in Birmingham, John now lives between Wiltshire and Los Angeles. He is married with three children.

Product Details

• File Size: 8621 KB
• Print Length: 304 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (October 16, 2012)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007HU7NBK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,467 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #48 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Arts & Photography > Music > Musical Genres > Popular
  • #48 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Humor & Entertainment > Pop Culture > Music

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 84 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a ride! September 16, 2012

By Aino Shperber

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't feel compelled to write reviews very often. But I do tonight. Just turned my tablet off, having finished my kindle version of this book, got out of bed, it's close to midnight, but yes. That's how nice it was to read this book. OK, so you might say it's commercial. You might say he is just trying to milk the golden calf just a little longer. It might be true. Or not. I like to think not. I can hear a most authentic voice coming out of these pages - of a young man's rise to stardom and him getting totally lost. Oh so lost. The lovely part is this - there IS someone watching over us from above or perhaps it was Mom Jean's prayers that finally came through and helped him pull out of it all. This is a fantastic story how a lost soul finds peace. Despite of stardom. For those of us who has "followed" JT for many years, since he was plastered on our walls and up until now when we all have grey hairs and a few more wrinkles - well, it's been a blast to hear his voice coming through and getting to know him a little better in these pages. Well done John - that was a very good read.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars something's missing October 7, 2012

By Marjan

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

John was on my bedroomwalls in the eighties. I always favoured him. Waiting for this book to come out it I read Andy's first (assuming it was going to be bad) and of course once I read Johns book there was going to be a comparison. Loved the story but once the story got to the important personal bits it felt as though there was emotion, detail and personality missing, like he did not want to write it. In Andy's book this was much more present. Do not get me wrong it is an entertaining read and when you read both books it gives you are more complete picture but you do finish the book somewhat unfulfilled, needing more info and depth!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! October 5, 2012

By Deanna Hutchins

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wow! So much I didn't know about JT! As a teenage fan in the 80's, all I knew was the poster boy clean cut image that the music magazines put out. All the while he was struggling with demons and awful lifestyle choices.
I loved reading this book, although I feel some details were carefully written to perhaps protect some reputations.
Insight into the musical process of Duran Duran was also really interesting.