Why are Duran Duran so popular with metalheads?

Hello men! This topic has been rattling in the 'ol coaches brain for awhile- Why are Duran Duran so popular with metalheads?

It's like this weird phenomenon almost like how the French love Jerry Lewis. Every one from Jonathon Davis of Korn to Joey Severance of Thrash metal band Tornado have all expressed their love for this supposed "boy band". Check out Jonathon Davis's cover of "The Chauffer" The Deftones have also covered this song. "The Chauffer "is one of the greatest songs ever made.

https://metalinjection.net/editorials/back-in-the-day/the-14-most-metal-duran-duran-covers-from-around-the-world



I'm still a fan of this band 'till this very day! Any closet Duran Duran fans out there?

I don't own any DD albums but I don't turn them off when they come on the radio, either.

"Ordinary World" is a banger...


...and of course I'm a huge James Bond nerd, so I love their theme for "A View To A Kill."

Lots of metal fans are also fans of 80’s pop. I don’t know why… I am too! Maybe it’s the strong catchy melodies. Good music is good music. I even like a few 80’s era rap tunes on occasion. I don’t care.

Troublezone wrote:

Lots of metal fans are also fans of 80’s pop. I don’t know why… I am too! Maybe it’s the strong catchy melodies. Good music is good music. I even like a few 80’s era rap tunes on occasion. I don’t care.

Working in the grocery store, I've been hearing a LOT of 80s pop/new wave etc. on the in-store Muzak -- not only Duran Duran, but stuff I haven't heard in years like Human League, Spandau Ballet, ABC, Animotion, The Motels, etc., etc.. Brings back memories of watching MTV for hours on end when I was a kid.

Of course back then I wouldn't give a lot of those songs the time of day (I was busy listening to "true metal" like... Def Leppard and Motley Crue, haha) but looking back, there was a lot of good stuff produced during that era that still holds up today.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

Lots of metal fans are also fans of 80’s pop. I don’t know why… I am too! Maybe it’s the strong catchy melodies. Good music is good music. I even like a few 80’s era rap tunes on occasion. I don’t care.

Working in the grocery store, I've been hearing a LOT of 80s pop/new wave etc. on the in-store Muzak -- not only Duran Duran, but stuff I haven't heard in years like Human League, Spandau Ballet, ABC, Animotion, The Motels, etc., etc.. Brings back memories of watching MTV for hours on end when I was a kid.

Of course back then I wouldn't give a lot of those songs the time of day (I was busy listening to "true metal" like... Def Leppard and Motley Crue, haha) but looking back, there was a lot of good stuff produced during that era that still holds up today.

I always liked that stuff. Before I was into metal, I was just another kid enjoying the pop songs and action movie soundtracks. Most 80’s movies have those catchy as hell tunes like Eye of the Tiger or Danger Zone etc…
It might be nostalgia, but it can stay with you forever.

Also John Hughes movies had those iconic soundtracks. Stuff like: Simple Minds, Psychedelic Furs, General Public, Killing Joke, Spandau Ballet etc…

There’s even a boxset. https://www.classicpopmag.com/2022/08/john-hughes-movie-soundtrack-collection-set-for-release/

Cause they slap.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Of course back then I wouldn't give a lot of those songs the time of day (I was busy listening to "true metal" like... Def Leppard and Motley Crue, haha) but looking back, there was a lot of good stuff produced during that era that still holds up today.

Same here. But all that stuff is really enjoyable music. At one point I had Duran Duran's greatest hits on a cassette, which makes me wonder now whatever happened to it.

I have six albums of Duran Duran. I have their first three, self-titled, RIO and Seven and the Ragged Tiger. I also have Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) and Paper Gods and All You Need Is Now. They've never been the same since Andy Taylor left the group. Unfortunately, he's dealing with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer. I'm fully expecting to hear sad news regarding his demise. He couldn't even make it to the bands Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. I think I would be invested in more of the bands discography if they had some deluxe issues with some live shows. Here's hoping...

Robert Parigi wrote:

Cause they slap.

Being an old fart, I had to look up what "slap" means in current slang adages and I still don't get it.

metalinmyveins wrote:

They've never been the same since Andy Taylor left the group. Unfortunately, he's dealing with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer. I'm fully expecting to hear sad news regarding his demise.

That's horrible news. I hope he gets better.

Can't really answer your question, because I can't fucking stand them.

James B. wrote:

Robert Parigi wrote:

Cause they slap.

Being an old fart, I had to look up what "slap" means in current slang adages and I still don't get it.

Perhaps it means to get funky on da bass.

John Taylor from Duran Duran is pretty darn good at it!

They wrote some great songs. A lot of those 80's nu-wave bands had really good, catchy songs.

Troublezone wrote:

James B. wrote:

Robert Parigi wrote:

Cause they slap.

Being an old fart, I had to look up what "slap" means in current slang adages and I still don't get it.

Perhaps it means to get funky on da bass.

John Taylor from Duran Duran is pretty darn good at it!

In slang terms it means "excellent or amazing" (I think )
The correlation between "slap" & "excellent or amazing" escapes me.

I just remember Duran Duran being background music when you were boning some New Wave/Preppie Chick at their place.

Wrecked Neck wrote:

Can't really answer your question, because I can't fucking stand them.

Then why bother replying ? Do you feel better now? We all know hurt people hurt people. What did Duran Duran ever do to you? Do we ALWAYS have to talk abbot Sodom?

James B. wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

James B. wrote:

Robert Parigi wrote:

Cause they slap.

Being an old fart, I had to look up what "slap" means in current slang adages and I still don't get it.

Perhaps it means to get funky on da bass.

John Taylor from Duran Duran is pretty darn good at it!

In slang terms it means "excellent or amazing" (I think )
The correlation between "slap" & "excellent or amazing" escapes me.  

Seriously? What the heck!

James B. wrote:

I just remember Duran Duran being background music when you were boning some New Wave/Preppie Chick at their place.

Blame it on Rio…  


I thought you’d be more likely to impersonate El Duce with some rape-rock on the stereo.

That’s what the Mentors called their music (for those that didn’t know)

Troublezone wrote:

I thought you’d be more likely to impersonate El Duce with some rape-rock on the stereo.

Except Mentors only had that one EP out during the time frame I was referring to. (81/82)
Personally, they were not on my radar till the live album in 1983. By then, I was done boning new wave/preppie chicks.

James B. wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

I thought you’d be more likely to impersonate El Duce with some rape-rock on the stereo.

Except Mentors only had that one EP out during the time frame I was referring to. (81/82)
Personally, they were not on my radar till the live album in 1983.  By then, I was done boning new wave/preppie chicks.

Did they talk like “Valley Girl”? Or Tracy Nelson on the show Square Pegs.  

Troublezone wrote:

Did they talk like “Valley Girl”? Or Tracy Nelson on the show Square Pegs.  

We didn't do much talking

BTW, i do not recall anyone talking like that till AFTER the Zappa tune came out.
Although my only treks to San Fernando Valley were just to The Country Club in Reseda to catch a show or play one.

Never watched Square Pegs, so can't call that one. I do know her as older sis of the Nelson Twins.


The Coach is gonna yell at us for hijacking hid Duran Duran thread

James B. wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

Did they talk like “Valley Girl”? Or Tracy Nelson on the show Square Pegs.  

We didn't do much talking  

BTW, i do not recall anyone talking like that till AFTER the Zappa tune came out.
Although my only treks to San Fernando Valley were just to The Country Club in Reseda to catch a show or play one.

Never watched Square Pegs, so can't call that one. I do know her as older sis of the Nelson Twins.


The Coach is gonna yell at us for hijacking hid Duran Duran thread

I’m pretty sure the valley girl way of talking existed before the song because the song was meant as a parody. But it did popularize the style nationwide.