tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post1357351682012117668..comments2024-02-01T08:17:44.994+00:00Comments on planet mondo: Guest Blogger: Q Tukka boots, Barbarella and Bond with Matt RuddMondohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199468951602465556noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-2735793265059832011-02-26T13:50:37.389+00:002011-02-26T13:50:37.389+00:00I nearly managed a diplomatic silence, but just CO...I nearly managed a diplomatic silence, but just COULDN'T...of course it's a hugely personal thing, but Duran Duran brought me out in boils from the word go, because they took themselves so dreadfully seriously. Spandau had moments when they hit the very heights/plumbed the very depths of pretension, of course, but they always seemed to be having a bit of a laugh at the same time ( I used to see the Kemp Brothers out and about at clubs and bars a lot, and they were nice enough blokes; Tony Hadley could be a bit of a twerp and Steve Norman was always off his head, for the record.). <br /><br />Nobody (among my admittedly small and self-important gang of London-based clubbers) was at all surprised when Duran Duran morphed so quickly into Robert Palmeresque playboys, and started poncing around unimaginatively on yachts with models. It all seemed a substitute for having any interesting musical ideas, and seemed to really herald the beginning of the end of what had been a genuinely creative, if art-schoolish, time in pop music (79 - 83). And of course it also coincided with the advent of cocaine as a popular drug, a substance which in my view has done more to kill creativity than most narcotics.<br /><br /> And I'm 100% with Mondo on Le Bon's honking. 'The Reflex' is one song I will cross the room to turn the radio off for, and I've done so ever since the first time I heard it. 'Why-y-y-y-y-y..." *click.silence.*<br /><br />But you're clearly passionate about 'em, and gawd bless ya for that. Don't take my ranting personally! I was a New Romantic, now I'm just an old one.Kolley Kibberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07055145770836351738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-9781437664399278502011-02-26T09:58:19.241+00:002011-02-26T09:58:19.241+00:00I've always found Simon's wailing on Wild ...I've always found Simon's wailing on Wild Boys unlistenable. Don't want to sound like I'm Duranie bashing too much because I've enjoyed a lot of their records and videos. <br /><br />Incidentally, my kids think Duran Duran are miles better than Spandau Ballet. Not sure what that proves but I <i>think</i> it's because they are poppier and the videos are still on rotation and still look great.Mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13086396915055033307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-9816153076017233882011-02-26T09:18:41.025+00:002011-02-26T09:18:41.025+00:00I've got to confess I always thought Le Bon wa...I've got to confess I always thought Le Bon was a shocker of honker - probably at his worst on The Reflex - that whiny 'I-I-I-I' bit..<br /><br />And Nick Rhodes could pout like a champ - but not sure how much of keys man he actually was. Plenty of synthy washes but I don't remember any Rhodes solos...<br /><br />Celebs in unlikely places - didn't we do this in a previous podast Ron Wood buying milk in Benfleet?Mondohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11199468951602465556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-36414547432655814802011-02-26T08:59:57.010+00:002011-02-26T08:59:57.010+00:00Mick - I concur: Le Bon may have been a great fron...Mick - I concur: Le Bon may have been a great frontman but he couldn't carry a tune in a bag. Saw The Ballet at The Empire Pool and Hadley could have reached the back of the room without a mic. How Kemp (and the judge) could say that his vocals didn't in anyway contribute to their songs remains a complete mystery to me.John Meddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10547777949324509522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-49139385543268363782011-02-25T23:43:37.904+00:002011-02-25T23:43:37.904+00:00I'm going to have remain diplomatically silent...I'm going to have remain diplomatically silent on this piece.Valentine Suicidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14158284655510301196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-59789062437081689582011-02-25T23:19:46.265+00:002011-02-25T23:19:46.265+00:00I spotted Neil Tennant in Harrods once. How does t...I spotted Neil Tennant in Harrods once. How does that compare?<br /><br />Looking forward to the Spandau 12-inchers, Mondo. Might even post a response if I can. I always thought Spandau beat Duran hands down on the singing front. 'Charismatic' as Simon Le Bon may have been he was a crap singer compared to Tony Hadley. Check his Live Aid performance.<br /><br />One other point: Mrs Mick says as a teenager she prefered Spandau because DD were all such ugly bastards but obviously she does have strange taste in men.Mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13086396915055033307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-83237982844598911632011-02-25T22:52:13.946+00:002011-02-25T22:52:13.946+00:00What a great piece, well done all.
Huge fan at th...What a great piece, well done all.<br /><br />Huge fan at the time, dipped a bit in the late 80's and most of the 90's, but well buzzed up again in the 2000's. Saw them when all 5 reformed, and have to say it was just an incredible show - one I think back on a lot.<br /><br />Oddly, I bumped into Simon Le Bon at LegoLand back in the late 90's!!! Yes really! Photos to prove it somewhere... Do I win a prize for oddest place to spot a music sleb?!Pileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15540380685492699957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-65691419636938518102011-02-25T19:14:12.368+00:002011-02-25T19:14:12.368+00:00Fair point Matt, they did go on the soppy side aro...Fair point Matt, they did go on the soppy side around The Diamond album..<br /><br />Bit cheeky isn't Lil - I think <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgjh0_duran-duran-the-chauffer-uncensored_music" rel="nofollow">The Chauffer</a> is sort of fruity too..<br /><br />I'll be posting a couple of rare Spandau 12"ers later in the week Mick...check back to see if they're in the Vinyl Archive collection..Mondohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11199468951602465556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-22366267482758014272011-02-25T17:25:12.512+00:002011-02-25T17:25:12.512+00:00Great article but Duran Duran better than Spandau ...Great article but Duran Duran better than Spandau Ballet?Mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13086396915055033307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-55657639149371936652011-02-25T15:07:30.279+00:002011-02-25T15:07:30.279+00:00Can’t quite believe it was 30 years ago?
I don’t r...Can’t quite believe it was 30 years ago?<br />I don’t remember that “Girls on Film” video being so raunchy either?<br />(Blimey no wonder it was banned back then!)<br />I didn’t realise there was so much to know about Duran Duran...lilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14994234088700364494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-78211378462442339352011-02-25T11:52:47.309+00:002011-02-25T11:52:47.309+00:00Spandau lost it for me when, after Chant No.1, the...Spandau lost it for me when, after Chant No.1, they stopped using synthesisers and started using saxophones.Matthew Ruddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05842392964784000029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-75372895854430726442011-02-25T10:57:27.841+00:002011-02-25T10:57:27.841+00:00I was more of a Spand's fan (but did own some ...I was more of a Spand's fan (but did own some Duran style Tukka boots). And like Soft Cell, the 12"ers were always worth having. The Freeze, Glow, that bass riff on Paint Me Down - and Gold was a Bond theme waiting to happen. Although they totally blew it with True and the soft-rock plod that followed. <br /><br />As you say a perfect time for pop...Mondohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11199468951602465556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1831669069193091334.post-23757081507862642172011-02-25T10:29:56.226+00:002011-02-25T10:29:56.226+00:00I was a big Pop kid at the time so I loved Duran D...I was a big Pop kid at the time so I loved Duran Duran; fantastic pop singles. But then it was at the peak of what I consider to be the best period for singles (77-83.<br /><br />I also loved Spandau, but they were local lads (two went to my school), and the soulboy influences were much stronger, and now I'm older with more of my life to look back on I realise that particular thing has been my thing more than any other.Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05163017415448622471noreply@blogger.com