Wild Boy is the explosive first inside account of the rise and fall of Duran Duran. The band rose to conquer the globe with a string of unforgettab...
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Sep 08, 2008
Schmacko
rated it: 
Given the total lack of perspective or responsibility in this his own chance to set the record straight, it’s no surprise Andy Taylor and Duran Duran parted ways…twice.
For those of you not in the know (and I assume that is most of you) Andy Taylor is the original guitarist for Duran Duran, a band that has sold 80 million albums and created some of the most iconic music of the 80s and early 90s. Andy was there from near the beginning of the band through its heyday of the albums Rio ( More...
For those of you not in the know (and I assume that is most of you) Andy Taylor is the original guitarist for Duran Duran, a band that has sold 80 million albums and created some of the most iconic music of the 80s and early 90s. Andy was there from near the beginning of the band through its heyday of the albums Rio ( More...
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Nov 12, 2008
Chris
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When I was 16, it was all about Duran Duran. They were so glamorous! They drank champagne on yachts! They dated models that I could never hope to be like. The way they pronounced D'jeurahn D'jeurahn was like music to my Midwestern ears. As I grew older, and got to college my tastes grew more sophisticated and I became a fan of other pasty English boy bands, but when I saw this book, I just had to read it. I had to admit that I did not have very high expectations. Celebrity bios are not al
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Sep 25, 2010
Beth
rated it: 
This is so obviously ghostwritten, I wish he'd had the balls to just admit it. Everyone's least favorite member of Duran Duran (at least until Warren shows up...) bores us with his childhood and then dishes the dirt. You already know if this is up your alley.
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Dec 20, 2008
Kris
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OK, once a Duranie, always a Duranie. This book was GREAT fun and gave some insight to things we heard about but didn't always know about for sure. Fights, fallouts, etc - good dirt, in other words.
I always kind of considered Andy to be the "Ringo" of the group, as he was the one I was least interested in. I have a much greater appreciation for him now because of this.
I know this is a somewhat "fluff" read - but so what? I love biographies and this was More...
I always kind of considered Andy to be the "Ringo" of the group, as he was the one I was least interested in. I have a much greater appreciation for him now because of this.
I know this is a somewhat "fluff" read - but so what? I love biographies and this was More...
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Dec 16, 2011
Eric
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Was Andy Taylor the wildest of the Duran Duran wild boys? After reading this autobiography, I'd say that title actually belongs to pretty boy John Taylor. The lanky bass player was promoted aggressively as a teen idol, but he was a marvelously fucked up drug addict for nearly twenty years.
For his part, Andy was a serious boozer and cokehead during the band's glory years. He writes: "On one embarrassing occasion someone found me staggering about next to a Coca-Cola machine. I wa More...
For his part, Andy was a serious boozer and cokehead during the band's glory years. He writes: "On one embarrassing occasion someone found me staggering about next to a Coca-Cola machine. I wa More...
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Dec 08, 2008
Jessica
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Fascinating! I'd have to say, until I read this book, Andy Taylor was the member of Duran Duran that I knew the least about/cared the least about. That's all changed! What a hilarious, down-to-earth guy! I'm floored by the fact that he basically quit DD so that he could get off the drugs and spend more time with his cute family. Interesting, too, are the tensions within the group. They were always presented as a united front at first, and then later you got the impression that Nick and Sim
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Jan 20, 2011
Dave
rated it:
Andy Taylor was Duran Duran's original guitarist and the most (only) professionally experienced musician in the band, and he had a huge influence on their early success.
In this autobiographical look at his life with the band, we find out lots of details about the founding of the group and the wild and crazy times they experienced in the mayhem of the burgeoning MTV era.
Basically their managers, the Berrow brothers, kept them working non-stop on touring, making albums, the More...
In this autobiographical look at his life with the band, we find out lots of details about the founding of the group and the wild and crazy times they experienced in the mayhem of the burgeoning MTV era.
Basically their managers, the Berrow brothers, kept them working non-stop on touring, making albums, the More...
Jan 19, 2010
Tabitha
rated it: 
I have long loved Duran Duran. Period. I guess I never got as angry or as upset when Andy left the band, at any point. I always knew there had to be more to the tale...
This is a wonderful book--not only becasue it lets in some light on people I literally grew up adoring and loving...but becasue it is an articulate well-written well-thought-out attempt at conveying what Andy himself went through.
He maintains a solid dignity and poise throughout the entire book.
He nev More...
This is a wonderful book--not only becasue it lets in some light on people I literally grew up adoring and loving...but becasue it is an articulate well-written well-thought-out attempt at conveying what Andy himself went through.
He maintains a solid dignity and poise throughout the entire book.
He nev More...
Dec 20, 2008
Richard
rated it:
Duran Duran was my favorite band in my boyhood. They got famous around 1981-82, when I was about 10 years old. At that time in my school there were 3 pop bands you could choose from, and you generally chose just one of them: Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Culture Club. I always thought Spandau were naff, to use a good british term. Culture Club were naff with some catchy tunes. But Duran Duran were awesome, to my 10-11 year old mind. They kind of rocked - in a pop way - and they were a bit arty. T
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Apr 25, 2009
Tina
rated it:
Things I learned from Any Taylor:
He really hated making the "New Moon on Monday" video.
He single-handedly wrote every Duran Duran song ever done, minus lyrics.(love ya Andy, but not buying it)
He and JT were giant coke heads through much of the 80's.
Juliane was DD's "Yoko" and (my inner Duranie could not be happier!)
DD tours had loads of excitement including bloodshed and knife fights.
They had to cheat to More...
He really hated making the "New Moon on Monday" video.
He single-handedly wrote every Duran Duran song ever done, minus lyrics.(love ya Andy, but not buying it)
He and JT were giant coke heads through much of the 80's.
Juliane was DD's "Yoko" and (my inner Duranie could not be happier!)
DD tours had loads of excitement including bloodshed and knife fights.
They had to cheat to More...
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Apr 29, 2011
Catherine
rated it:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. Yes, I'm a fan of Duran Duran, but I'm far more critical now than when I was young and impressionable--obviously, or I doubt I'd have read the book. I guess I was looking for insights into the inner workings of the band, what caused the first break-up, what inspired the reunion in 2003, and what happened to break the fellowship again. I got it.
Taylor's known to be blunt and outspoken, probably the one in the band most likely to say More...
Taylor's known to be blunt and outspoken, probably the one in the band most likely to say More...
Sep 21, 2011
Margaret
rated it:
I'll admit I liked this, and stuck with this, more because I was a curious fan than for the actual style and content. But hey, I guess that's why he wrote the book and expected it to be popular. I felt like Taylor left out a lot of stuff and not because I know more than what he alludes to, but there are gaping holes in his timeline and in his "reasons" for doing this and that...so, I guess it's more of an editing gaffe than the writer's omission. This is especially apparent toward the
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Jul 24, 2011
Anna
rated it:
I was an obsessed Duranie in my teens in the 80's, and this autobiography by guitarist Andy Taylor reminded me of all the idolised good times, as well as telling me about the bad times that I was mostly unaware of.
Duran Duran had their share of problems behind the scenes, but their glossy exterior fuelled my teenage dreams, and this book is an interesting, nostalgic, eye-opening, must-read for all aging Duranies!
Duran Duran had their share of problems behind the scenes, but their glossy exterior fuelled my teenage dreams, and this book is an interesting, nostalgic, eye-opening, must-read for all aging Duranies!
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Mar 16, 2009
Mary
rated it:
After reading this I came to the realization that all 5 members will not get back together again. Nothing juicier than a band member scorned though - he had some pretty nasty things to say about John and Nick in particular which surprized me because I always assumed it was Simon's massive ego that might have pissed him off. If you are a fan, I highly recommend it. Besides the smut, there's some really funny stories about the band and other artists they came across in the 80's (Rod Stewart and
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Sep 08, 2011
Megan
rated it:
To be completely honest, I held no allusions that Andy would even begin to fully explain why he and Duran Duran parted ways on two occasions. Nor did I think for a moment that he would actually own up and take responsibility for some of the things that occurred - he seems to enjoy playing the blame game and taking things ridiculously out of context. For some reason, that didn't surprise me. Based on what I knew of the very public way that he and Simon Le Bon lashed out at each other in the press
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Jun 23, 2011
Nina
rated it:
Of course, with biographies you can't help the fact that you're only going to be seeing the author's POV, but I can't help wishing that this would've been Simon Le Bon's Bio or John Taylor's Bio. I wish there would've been more of an indepth closeup, but if Andy told the complete truth about a lot of his experience then that's all and good. I just can't help feel like a lot is missing. Besides, I'm a bit biased. Overall, this book has redeemed Andy, somewhat, in my eyes. I've been a Duranie sinc
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Mar 01, 2009
Kdjnet
rated it:
Well I learned alot about one of my favorite bands (ie. Duran Duran) the is the auto biography of guitarist (former that is) Andy Taylor. I have to say it is a very typical tell all of the music business. Very much an intense tail of (1980's and then him coming back to Duran Duran in 2001 and leaving again in 2006) Sex, Drugs & Rock and Roll. Especially the drugs cocaine to be exact. I would say even if you were not a Duran fan but are a fan of true life rock tails than you will like this book.
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Aug 14, 2011
Georgette
rated it:
Being a part of one of the most successful bands of the 80's must mean you have it made in the shade, eh? Not so in this case. Andy, guitarist of Duran Duran from 1980-1987 and then again from 2003-2005, tells his life story, from a fractured childhood up to the highs and lows of being in the band(highs- fame and success beyond his wildest dreams lows- being dumped unceremoniously by the band), and how he survived to become the person he is today. Andy doesn't pull punches, so if you want a fair
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Jan 13, 2009
Michelle
rated it:
A matter-of-fact telling of life in an 80's band. Well, not just any band, Duran Duran! Lots of sex, drugs 'n rock 'n roll, but that should be expected. One also gets a behind the scenes at how a band rises to fame and the turmoil and toll it takes on the people in the band. And they do turn out to be people after all--not idols.
I've been to D2 concerts in '85, '05 and '07. The '05 concert rocked! They really are a great live band. Read the book to get an appreciation of band More...
I've been to D2 concerts in '85, '05 and '07. The '05 concert rocked! They really are a great live band. Read the book to get an appreciation of band More...
Jan 12, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
I'm convinced you need to be a Duranie to like this book as much as I did. I was a MTV baby and spent a good 5+ years of my life living and breathing Duran Duran. Andy was my least favorite, sorry to say that was based on looks alone. Given that fact, I liked that Andy wrote the book and not anyone else. It somehow made it more objective to me. I enjoyed the fact that he has a successful love story, that he was a self taught musician, survived serious drug and alcohol abuse and basically is j
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Dec 16, 2011
Desiree
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Nov 12, 2008
Laren
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 08, 2009
Tina
rated it:
Ugh. Andy Taylor cry me a river. Seriously, this is such a book filled with Andy taking hardly any responsibility for any part he played in any upset in Duran Duran. It was mostly Nick's fault. Or it was Simon, or it was management, or "fill in the blank". And I'm sorry, I'm all for having cocktails, but it's almost like I could hear Andy laugh about his escapades with drink and making it seem like his drinking was as common and ok as brushing your teeth. He shares stories of John Tayl
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Sep 04, 2008
Jeffrey
rated it:
Andy Taylor – Wild Boy
If you were alive in the 1980’s, then you know Duran Duran. Rio, Hungry like a Wolf are signature 80’s songs still enjoyed by countless Gen-xers as their first forays into music. Duran Duran was a major force made in the New Romantic movement of pop rock. And that was Andy Taylor’s problem with the rest of the group; he wanted the band to be more hard rock. Eventually he left and returned only to leave again.
Wild Boy is a fun behind the scenes look of this epi More...
If you were alive in the 1980’s, then you know Duran Duran. Rio, Hungry like a Wolf are signature 80’s songs still enjoyed by countless Gen-xers as their first forays into music. Duran Duran was a major force made in the New Romantic movement of pop rock. And that was Andy Taylor’s problem with the rest of the group; he wanted the band to be more hard rock. Eventually he left and returned only to leave again.
Wild Boy is a fun behind the scenes look of this epi More...
Sep 13, 2009
Paula
rated it:
Yes, it's the first biography of the life of mega-group Duran Duran and yes, it's from one band member's point of view, but I was still expecting a bit more about the band as a whole. However, it's a very interesting insight into Andy Taylor, he of lead guitar and frankly, the last on my lust list when I was 12 <g>. And it did kinda shatter my teenage dreams of the band... all that alcohol, all those drugs. But hey, I'm not surprised, considering they were only around 20 when they hit i
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Oct 12, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Was a big Duran Duran fan back in the day and when everyone had a favorite I chose Andy Taylor because he was different from the others. Unfortunately his autobiography reads like the generic rock star story. The personality clashes and drug use and perils of fame were familiar. It was like a Behind the Music collage or a famous rock band comes apart Madlibs with the name "Duran Duran" scrawled in.
Feb 23, 2010
Catherine
rated it:
First off, how much did the librarian who pulled this book for me laugh??? This is an in-depth account of the rise and fall of Duran Duran told by the least-favorite member of the band. Drugs, sex, fighting among the band mates, you get the picture. However, Andy Taylor does praise all of the members of the band and speaks highly of their time together. It's poorly written, but at least written honestly.
Jan 07, 2009
Megan
rated it:
Totally awesome!!!!! Andy had never been my favorite, however I certainly gained a new respect for him. There is no mention of anyone helping him write this book ~ I am impressed if he wrote it all on his own (considering how much he seems to drink!)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, especially the private Duran Duran moments. Can't get enough of that :)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, especially the private Duran Duran moments. Can't get enough of that :)
Jan 25, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
I feel like it's 1985 and my bedroom is covered wall to wall with Duran Duran posters ! I enjoyed reading Andy's book, it was a fast read. I felt as though I got to know him a little bit better, since my life was consumed with knowing every fact about John Taylor during this time period.
Of course I feel Andy down played his drug usage and his comings and goings from the band.
Please, Please tell me now what you thought ...
Of course I feel Andy down played his drug usage and his comings and goings from the band.
Please, Please tell me now what you thought ...
Dec 14, 2008
Staci
rated it:
well, he didn't really get into detail about much. Sort of a gloss over of the early years and their drug/alcohol use. At times it felt like everyone else was doing something bad then Andy (superhero) came to the rescue. I'm saddened to think John Taylor spent most of the 80's in a drug-induced haze. It does put a little perspective on some of the songs and what was going on with the band. I agree with Mellymel, you'll probably only like this book if you were ever or still am a fan of Duran Dura
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