ARCADIA

Arcadia was formed in 1985 by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor from Duran Duran, during a break in that band's schedule. However, Roger Taylor appeared in only a few band photographs and in none of the music videos, and stated he was only to be involved in the recording side of the project The name of the band was reportedly inspired by the Nicolas Poussin painting Et in Arcadia ego:

The group recorded just one album, the platinum-selling So Red the Rose. It peaked at no.30 in the UK and no.23 in the US, and featured the UK/US top 10 "Election Day," as well as "The Flame," "The Promise," and "Goodbye Is Forever". Simon Le Bon described So Red the Rose as "the most pretentious album ever made"

Musicians who contributed to the album included guitarists David Gilmour from Pink Floydand Carlos Alomar, pianist Herbie Hancock, Sting from The Police (who provided backing vocals on "The Promise"), Grace Jones (who provided brief but dramatic spoken-word interludes on "The Flame" and "Election Day")

The band also recorded the single "Say the Word" for the Playing for Keeps movie soundtrack.

Arcadia continued the Duran Duran tradition of a slick image, tasteful fashions and hair-dos. For the Arcadia incarnation of their ever-changing band aesthetic, Rhodes, Le Bon, and Roger Taylor donned an upmarket 'gothic' look of black tuxedos, vintage formal wear, and bow ties. The three also dyed their hair black. 

The group did a variety of promotional appearances on television, but never toured, and dissolved a year later in 1986 when Duran Duran re-formed with Le Bon, Rhodes, and bassist John Taylor to record their next album Notorious. 

DISCOGRAPHY

ELECTION DAY  (Oct 85)  Single

4:30 Election Day (Single version)

4:28 She's Moody And Grey, She's Mean and She's Restless

SAY THE WORD  (1986)  Single

4:29 Say The Word

4:31 Say The Word (Instrumental)

SINGLES IN CHART

ARCADIA BOX SET - BOOTLEG

CD1: Election Day
Election Day (7 inch Mix), She's Moody And Grey, She's Mean And She's Restless, Election Day (The consensus Mix), Election Day (Cryptic Cut No Voice)
CD2: The Promise
The Promise (7 inch Mix), Rose Arcana, The Promise (Extended Mix)
CD3: Goodbye Is Forever
Goodbye Is Forever(7 inch Mix), Missing, Goodbye Is Forever (Extended Remix), Goodbye Is Forever (Dub Mix)
CD4: The Flame
The Flame (Remix), Flame Game (Yo Homeboy Mix), The Flame (Extended Remix), Election Day (Early Rough Mix)
CD5: Say The Word
Say The Word (Single Version), Say The Word (Instrumental), Say The Word (Extended Vocal Remix), Say The Word (Extended Instrumental)

EL DIABLO (CD6) - Bootleg

El Diablo (7" Mix), El Diablo

 

Power Station was formed in 1984 by Robert Palmer, bassist John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor of Duran Duran and Chic drummer Tony Thompson, Bernad Edwards, also of Chic, was involved on the studio side as recording producer. For a short time he also functioned as Power Station's manager. Power Station was named after The Powerstation recording studio where their album was conceived and recorded. after Duran Duran's third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger. Roger Taylor was mainly the drummer for Arcadia, but also contributed percussion to the Power Station.

In March 1985 the band issued the album. It reached number 12 in the UK and number 6 on the US album chart.The band also released a collection of the band's three music videos called "The Power Station Video EP".

The group's unexpected success led to two incompatible results: the band decided to do a summer tour in America, and Robert Palmer decided to record a solo album to take advantage of his sudden name recognition. This inevitably led to Palmer's departure from the band.Power Station went on to tour with singer/actor Michael Des Barres  (formerly of Silverheads).

Des Barres' friendship with actor Don Johnson led to the band's guest appearance on an episode of the TV drama Miami Vice. Similarly, his friendship with producer Joel Silver led to Power Station writing a song called "We Fight for Love" for the Commando Movie (1985). The track was originally titled "Someday, Somehow, Someone's Gotta Pay." The band folded late in 1985, as its members turned to other projects: John Taylor returned to Duran Duran, while Andy Taylor chose to leave Duran Duran in favour of a solo career. 

The band reunited ten years later with its original members, including Palmer. However, personal issues forced bassist John Taylor to withdraw from the project before the album was complete. Bernard Edwards (former Chic bassist) stepped in and completed the album Living In Fear (1996) in his stead, and was prepared to tour with the group, but then died suddenly. The group decided to press on, and toured. The group disbanded shortly after.

EMI released a new version of the album Power Station in 2005, to commemorate the album's 20th anniversary. The package includes the original eight-song album, seven bonus tracks and a 40-minute eight-chapter DVD. Among the bonus tracks on the album is the track "Someday, Somehow, Someone's Gotta Pay" (from the Commando OST), sung by Michael Des Barres.

In 2002, EMI Music issued The Best of The Power Station as part of their Ten Best Series. The final track is a previously unreleased live version of "Dancing in the Street" sung by Michael Des Barres.

Both Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson died late in 2003.

 

DISCOGRAPHY

The Devils is the name of an odd electronic pop project formed by Nick Rhodes and Stephen Duffy The first incarnation of the band Duran Duran in 1978 included Rhodes as keyboardist and Duffy as songwriter/vocalist (along with John Taylor and Simon Colly. The band performed live for almost a year before Duffy left the band. Duran Duran went on to super stardom, fame, and fortune with singer Simon Le Bon.

In the year 1999, Duffy came across an old tape recording of a live Duran Duran concert from a 1979 show. Shortly afterwards, Rhodes and Duffy met by chance at a fashion show, and began talking about the old music. They decided it might be fun to re-record some of those original, dark, art-school, pre-Le Bon Duran Duran songs.

A few months later they took to the studio, using vintage analog instruments but modern production techniques to recreate the early Duran Duran sound. The lyrics remained unchanged.

The resulting album, Dark Circles is an odd blend of past and future. The lyrics are dark and arty, often inspired by Duffy's esoteric reading habits; the music is quirky and futuristic, but it is the electronic, robotic-tinged future of 1979, breathed back into life more than twenty years later.

The band played live only two times, in London and Cologne, before both members returned to their normal careers.

 

DISCOGRAPHY