Duran Duran bassist John Taylor recently opened up about the band’s longevity and their new music. He shared insights about their creative process in an interview with People.
Taylor discussed the band’s collaboration with producer Nile Rodgers and how they developed their new song “Free to Love.”
“We wanted a new song or two, and Nile came into London and we put some sketches down and a couple of the songs made the cut,” Taylor said. “And there was one idea that we hadn’t… It was just sitting on a hard drive somewhere and Nick said, ‘I think we should get that out and try and make something of it.'”
The bassist emphasized how working with Rodgers helped maintain the band’s focus and creative harmony.
“I think this one, we somehow managed to maintain a focus, and I think maybe because we had Nile. He’s really fantastic. You have to be really open-minded, and I think that’s one of the things that has kept the band together all this time, is everybody feels seen, everybody gets to express themselves,” he continued.
Taylor reflected on the band’s unique chemistry and his role within the group.
“Chemistry is finding harmony out of a clash of styles. We all learn to play with each other. I’m always at my best in this band. I almost need them to complete me,” Taylor explained. “You put me in a room with Bono and The Edge and I’m just going to sound like an idiot.”
Looking back on their nearly five-decade career, Taylor expressed gratitude for their continued success.
“This is all f*cking cake at this point, we’ve had such an extraordinary career, really, and I just feel so incredibly fortunate that I’ve just been around so much great music,” he said. “The fact that there’s anything still coming out is remarkable to me.”
Taylor’s comments highlight the enduring appeal of a band that has managed to stay relevant across multiple generations of music fans.
