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Duran Duran
Traces the history of the popular British new wave group, offers brief profiles of all five band members, and looks at their recordings
126 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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January 2, 2009Because Shut Up. Neil Gaiman and Duran Duran? Two great tastes that taste great together. I hope. If I can ever find the book...
March 4, 2013
Proud to say that I own a copy of this band biography that not only shows the promise of the band as more than a flash I'm the pan but also shows the burgeoning genius of Neil Gaiman.
May 20, 2022
eponymous sentence:
p9: To understand Duran Duran one must understand the scenes and the pendulum swings in the Britain from which they emerged.
This book came in at a disadvantage from all angles, but the main thing is that I am not at all familiar with the band in question--apparently they were already at the height of their careers by the time I was born. The obsessive-compulsive in me made me slug through it anyway.
I think the section Boys On Film (about the band's music videos) was a bit off and unnecessary, but I accept that may not be the accurate at the time of publication.
p9: To understand Duran Duran one must understand the scenes and the pendulum swings in the Britain from which they emerged.
This book came in at a disadvantage from all angles, but the main thing is that I am not at all familiar with the band in question--apparently they were already at the height of their careers by the time I was born. The obsessive-compulsive in me made me slug through it anyway.
I think the section Boys On Film (about the band's music videos) was a bit off and unnecessary, but I accept that may not be the accurate at the time of publication.
May 26, 2022
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/duran-duran-the-first-four-years-of-the-fab-five-by-neil-gaiman/
Neil Gaiman’s first ever book, and the last of the Humble Bundle of Gaiman rarities that I acquired a few years ago. I confess that I was never particularly into Duran Duran; they pleasingly drew their name from the film version of classic French comic Barbarella.
The kindest thing that can be said about this book is that at least its writer went on to greater things. 1984 was the peak of Duran Duran’s original burst of fame; the five central musicians were all still in their mid twenties, dealing with the sudden acquisition of fame and riches about as well as any self-centred young men do (which is to say not very well). Gaiman can’t quite disguise the fact that the people he writes about are not very nice, or in the end very interesting. Nick Rhodes’ androgynous presentation does leap out as unusual for the time; but Boy George was already taking it further. Not really recommended, and not all that easy to get either.
Neil Gaiman’s first ever book, and the last of the Humble Bundle of Gaiman rarities that I acquired a few years ago. I confess that I was never particularly into Duran Duran; they pleasingly drew their name from the film version of classic French comic Barbarella.
The kindest thing that can be said about this book is that at least its writer went on to greater things. 1984 was the peak of Duran Duran’s original burst of fame; the five central musicians were all still in their mid twenties, dealing with the sudden acquisition of fame and riches about as well as any self-centred young men do (which is to say not very well). Gaiman can’t quite disguise the fact that the people he writes about are not very nice, or in the end very interesting. Nick Rhodes’ androgynous presentation does leap out as unusual for the time; but Boy George was already taking it further. Not really recommended, and not all that easy to get either.
March 6, 2025
Picture this: it’s 1984, the world’s dripping in neon and synths, and a young Neil Gaiman—yep, the Neil Gaiman, before he was conjuring Sandmen or gods—grabs a pen and dives headfirst into the glitzy, wild universe of Duran Duran. This isn’t just a book, folks; it’s a time capsule with a pulse, a slick little snapshot of the Fab Five at their peak, served up with Gaiman’s unmistakable flair.
Duran Duran: The First Four Years of the Fab Five is like a backstage pass to the 80s new wave explosion. Gaiman doesn’t just chronicle the band—he vibes with them, peeling back the layers of Simon Le Bon’s poetic swagger, John Taylor’s basslines that could melt glaciers, and Nick Rhodes’ synth wizardry that feels like it’s beaming in from a pastel-colored future. It’s less a dry bio and more a love letter to a moment when music videos ruled the earth and these Birmingham boys were kings of the screen.
The prose? Cool as a cucumber in a power suit. Gaiman’s got this knack for weaving facts with a sly, almost mischievous energy—like he’s whispering secrets about the band over a flickering MTV signal. He’s not here to bore you with dates; he’s painting a scene, dropping you into the chaos of their rise, the glamour, the excess, all without losing that sharp, quirky edge that’d later make him a legend. The photos? A treasure trove of 80s gold—big hair, bigger dreams, and outfits that scream “we’re here to slay.”
Is it perfect? Nah, it’s raw—typos sneak in like uninvited groupies, and Gaiman himself has called it a gig he took for the cash. But that’s the charm: it’s a rough-cut gem from a writer finding his voice, vibing with a band that defined a decade. For Duran fans, it’s a must. For Gaiman fans, it’s a wicked peek at his origin story. Either way, it’s a rad relic that’ll have you hungry like the wolf for more.
Four stars for the nostalgia trip alone. Grab it if you can find it— this one’s a collector’s dream.
Duran Duran: The First Four Years of the Fab Five is like a backstage pass to the 80s new wave explosion. Gaiman doesn’t just chronicle the band—he vibes with them, peeling back the layers of Simon Le Bon’s poetic swagger, John Taylor’s basslines that could melt glaciers, and Nick Rhodes’ synth wizardry that feels like it’s beaming in from a pastel-colored future. It’s less a dry bio and more a love letter to a moment when music videos ruled the earth and these Birmingham boys were kings of the screen.
The prose? Cool as a cucumber in a power suit. Gaiman’s got this knack for weaving facts with a sly, almost mischievous energy—like he’s whispering secrets about the band over a flickering MTV signal. He’s not here to bore you with dates; he’s painting a scene, dropping you into the chaos of their rise, the glamour, the excess, all without losing that sharp, quirky edge that’d later make him a legend. The photos? A treasure trove of 80s gold—big hair, bigger dreams, and outfits that scream “we’re here to slay.”
Is it perfect? Nah, it’s raw—typos sneak in like uninvited groupies, and Gaiman himself has called it a gig he took for the cash. But that’s the charm: it’s a rough-cut gem from a writer finding his voice, vibing with a band that defined a decade. For Duran fans, it’s a must. For Gaiman fans, it’s a wicked peek at his origin story. Either way, it’s a rad relic that’ll have you hungry like the wolf for more.
Four stars for the nostalgia trip alone. Grab it if you can find it— this one’s a collector’s dream.
February 28, 2019
Neil Gaiman's first book. Lots of pictures, not much to it, and the subject is a band I was never really fond about
July 26, 2020
I picked this up as part of a HumbleBundle bundle. It was a detailed perspective on Duran Duran, just not terribly intresting for me.
November 26, 2024
Prosječna knjiga. Tekstovi bi više odgovarali nekom magazinu nego knjizi. Fotografije su sjajne.
January 26, 2016
I...it's a Duran Duran biography written by Neil Gaiman. His writing is great, I'm not so much a fan of the band, I read this for a Neil Gaiman book club that I'm a part of, don't think I would've read it otherwise. Very interesting to see a slightly journalistic side of Gaiman, and his personal style definitely shows.
July 21, 2019
It's, um, just a biography of Duran Duran as written by Neil Gaiman. It's the first book he ever wrote. I'm not a particular fan of the band, but it is well written, and you can see the Gaiman-esque writing come through at parts. Otherwise, it's just a straightforward bio of the band.
April 3, 2015
Wish I hadn't sold this one last year - always loved it.
September 10, 2015
Short and informative.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews