Blue Plate Special: Andy Taylor
Andrew James Taylor is an eminent English guitarist and singer most recognized for his association with the iconic band Duran Duran, with whom he had three tenures. Additionally, he was part of the band Power Station. Beyond these affiliations, Taylor also embarked on a solo career and played vital roles as a guitarist, songwriter, and record producer for various renowned artists including Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, and Belinda Carlisle. He joined Duran Duran in 1980, and after signing with EMI Records, he helped shape the band’s synth and guitar sound that catapulted them to global fame.
In 1985, during a Duran Duran hiatus, Taylor co-founded Power Station with Robert Palmer. The band had significant success, but it indirectly led to underlying tensions within Duran Duran. As the 80s progressed, Taylor explored solo projects, even collaborating with ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones for an album. By the late 80s, Taylor had shifted his focus to production, working with famous UK bands.
Taylor had multiple reunions with Duran Duran. Notably, in 2001, the original members reassembled, leading to the 2004 album “Astronaut”. However, by 2006, differences emerged again, and Taylor departed. After a 13-year music hiatus, he returned in 2019, releasing new music and even rejoining Duran Duran in 2023. When Duran Duran was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, the band commented on Taylor’s absence, revealing that Taylor had been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, highlighting his bravery and resilience in the face of adversity.
While I am not much of a fan of 80’s rock music (the hair metal days), I have been listening to Taylor’s newest album frequently, and even pulled out his debut album Thunder, which sounds a lot like early 80’s modern rock, such as Red Rockers. His newest stuff sounds a lot like 90/00’s David Bowie, in my opinion, and is well worth a listen. Here are some of my favorites from his solo catalog:
Don’t Let Me Die Young – from the album Thunder (1987)
Man’s A Wolf To A Man – from the album Man’s A Wolf To A Man (2023)
Take It Easy – from the American Anthem soundtrack (1987)
Tremblin’ – from the album Thunder (1987)
