Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran

I know no one will probably read this review because I’m giving 5 stars and it’s been years since this book was written. But if anyone does read this review…this book was a really good fun read…give it a go! I devoured this book.I was a huge fan in that I had their posters all over my walls and my friends and I read every teen magazine that carried anything about them. I went to their concert in Philly and screamed the entire time because my friends did…I’ve seen Power Station…But I can never claim absolute fandom as I know there are a much more fervent followers than me. (It was not but a short time later that my music taste meandered to The Smiths, New Order, etc…I’m sure there’s many out there like me.) So what really amused me is that I was so sheltered to what life was really like for them. In America, we were spoon fed information that was obviously tailored to that squeaky clean image. After 30 years, I finally find out all this stuff about them and it’s so amusing! How naïve we all were! I live overseas and work with a few 40 something Brits and they are also amused about how much was not in our American press.Really, I was more into their music than them and I owned every album, 12 inch and 45 because of that. The reason I read this book was pure entertainment that brought back the power Duran Duran’s music had over me. I found Seventh Stranger on YouTube and knew EVERY single word after not hearing it for 30 years! That says a lot about their music.Give this book a go if you were like me…naïve!

I wasn’t sure I wanted to dl this book but I was a big Duran fan back in the day so of course I had to read it. I’m so glad I did! It was a great read, very fun and I loved it! It really did give you a feel of what life was like in D2. I have read John Taylor’s book (In the Pleasure Groove), and I honestly prefer Andy’s! His book is more fun to read with many more personal incidents, some of which he probably should have left out – but I’m glad he put in.A big take away that I got from this book is how much he loves his wife. I remember seeing their wedding pics in my teen mags (and Rogers!) and I’m so happy to hear that they’re still together! I always knew that Andy came from a poorer beginning than the other blokes. BUT I honestly had no idea of the family hardships he had. I was pretty stunned to read it (I won’t give it away), but I was very sad for him. It must have been heart breaking! I’m glad he pulled himself up!I am sad to know that Andy has since left the band twice. I understand what he’s saying. I also read Keith Richards’ bio and Keith and Mick had the same type of relationship as Andy, John and Nick – a control problem. Andy and John were so blitzed in the 80s that Nick was free to have his reign and when they sobered up, he wasn’t looking for their input b/c he hadn’t been question on any of the decisions in earlier years. PROBLEM! wish that Andy was back in Duran and that they could make it work for the sake of the fans. I’ve never been a giant Nick fan and now I know and believe that he def. is a PITA. He seems very eccentric and that can never be easy! I also agree that after he joined the band again for the 2nd time, he should have had an equal share of money split with the band members ... After *5* years of rejoining they should have been equals!!!!Very sad to read he dealt with severe depression after his father passed, the 2nd go ‘round leaving him unable to physically get up. I can absolutely relate bc it can be awful when you realize that most of your family is passed on … mine has also.I’m glad he’s since cleaned up his act with the drugs and the binge drinking. He sounds like he was unable to control himself with the booze … and kind of blamed it on being in the band (or the lifestyle of it all.) I just feel like I need to say that I think the problem is more that he couldn’t control himself. He said that during the 2nd go ‘round in the band, Simon, John and Nick were all sober for their tour. So, although it’s hard, it can be done Andy! I wish him success always. He seems to have a very witty sense of humor. Thanks for letting us take a peek inside your life in D2.

Andy Taylor (and his ghostwriter, I assume) has written a pretty darn good book about what his life was really like at the center of the hurricane that was Duran Duran at the peak of their fame in the eighties--and what the rest of his life has been like as well.. I was a confirmed Durannie in my adolescence, when all the craziness was going on, and I've always wanted to know more about the band and their history. This book does a great job of chronicling the early days at the Rum Runner, the era that seems to be the least documented, so it's worth reading just for that; but the rest is also very interesting.What I liked best about this book was the way Andy chose to handle the dirt--every band has it, and it's one of the reasons we read rock memoirs, whether we want to admit it or not. Andy is upfront about his particular disagreements with other members of the band, and with their management, but he avoids name-calling and only talks about situations where he was either present or directly affected in some way, and he seems to genuinely want to portray his former bandmates with compassion. The result is a book that doesn't seem to pull any punches (unlike John Taylor's book, sad to say) but also doesn't read like a poison pen memoir.--which it easily could have been.The writing is what it is--this isn't supposed to be the great English novel. But I read a lot of rock memoirs, and the only complaint I have (and this is very, very minor) is that I think it could have captured Andy's unique voice and way of expressing himself a little better. Andy was always one of the wittiest and most entertaining members of a very witty and entertaining band, and I would have liked more of his earthy Geordie humor in there. But hopefully he'll decide to write another memoir later in his life, and maybe he'll call me when he does (I'm kidding)(sort of). But this is a small bone to pick with the book, and in no way interferes with how enjoyable I found it.So bravo to Andy. and many thanks for taking the time to do this. It was a great trip down Memory Lane for me, and if he ever publishes a sequel or an update, I'll buy and recommend it with enthusiasm.

I was a fan of duran duran as a very young girl (pre high school – so very young). John was my pin up, however I became slightly besotted with Andy after seeing the reflex video (he looked amazing in the video). I still listen to their early stuff, they made some good music in their heyday, and I read Andy's book after seeing some duran duran stuff on sky arts (I only very recently saw the sing blue silver documentary for the first time).I enjoyed the book, it was an interesting read, however be aware that it's an incredibly one sided/biased insight. After reading I didn't feel any depth of warmth for Andy, the impression I was left with was of a deluded man (prone to self obsession/indulgence). Sure, duran duran were a successful band, however they were never in the league of (nor achieved as did) the bands Andy talks about in his book (thus I found myself cringing at parts – at the comparisons and such like). There wasn't a Dave Grohl or a Sting amongst them (or even a Phil Collins!); none of them had the makings of a successful solo artist.There is no great reveal about why Andy didn't stick with duran duran, it all seemed a bit silly and insignificant (and I think the truth is that the others probably reached their limit with him). He would still have had an outlet, and something of a career, if he'd committed to staying. It's a shame that he threw that away, and didn't ever gain the acceptance, the realisation/insight (and ability to count his blessings) that duran duran was as good as it was ever going to get for him.

Bought for my wife who, when she was a teenager, had Duran Duran posters on her wall.This book is Andy Taylor’s first hand perspective of the highs & lows of Duran Durans rise to fame and his subsequent split from the rest of the group.Told with unflinching truth, it also covers his battles with depression & the bitter infighting which eventually led to him leaving the group.As with any autobiography, this does present only one side of the story. I’m sure that if you read any of the other members books then you would likely get a different take on the story.An insightful read for fans of Duran Duran, and for those who remember the era with fondness.Thank you for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful.

I’m going to make this short, I knew Andy from 16 yrs old. The first couple of chapters put me off reading anymore. Basically it’s a load of old tosh, this must have been ghost written, without the presence of Andy. There is nothing at the beginning I recognised, and some of the early “groups” I had never heard of. If Dave Black was still around (RIP), he could possibly give you the heads up on the beginning.

Duran were my band in the 80s. It's only now I can truly appreciate how lucky I was to have been around in the 80s to have grown up with such a fabulous musical soundtrack playing out the key moments of my life. Andy tells an incredible story of being in a band that was key to that exciting era. The highs, the lows, the lifestyle we all looked on with envy so to read the real story was fascinating. So glad you survived it all, Andy and that you now have peace and serenity. Thank you so much for telling the true story behind the roller coaster ride.

I loved andy in my teens and he was my favourite along with john taylor. Andy's life story was interesting and it was good to read about his early days in Newcastle and his family background. I love the fact that Andy married young when the band were at the peak of their fame and the marriage survived all that showbiz threw at them. This book is a must for any true duran duran fan. I have also read John Taylor's book and I would love it if Simon wrote one too.