John Taylor (bass guitarist)
Nigel John Taylor is a British musician who is best known as the bass guitarist for new wave band Duran Duran, of which he was a founding member. Duran Duran was one of the most popular bands in the world during the 1980s due in part to their music videos which played in heavy rotation in the early days of MTV. Taylor played with Duran Duran from its founding in 1978 until 1997, when he left to pursue a solo recording and film career. He recorded a dozen solo releases through his private record label B5 Records over the next four years, had a lead role in the movie Sugar Town, and made appearances in a half dozen other film projects. He rejoined Duran Duran for a reunion of the original five members in 2001 and has remained with the group since.
Taylor performing at the O2 Arena in 2023
Taylor performing in 2015
Duran Duran are an English pop rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor. With the addition of bassist Simon Colley and drummer Roger Taylor the following year, the band went through numerous personnel changes before May 1980, when they settled on their most famous line-up by adding guitarist Andy Taylor and lead vocalist Simon Le Bon.
Duran Duran in 1983. Left to right: Roger Taylor (drums), Nick Rhodes (keyboards), Simon Le Bon (vocals), Andy Taylor (guitar) and John Taylor (bass)
Duran Duran as a trio, in 1986
After contributing to the band for three years, Warren Cuccurullo (pictured in 2009) was made a full-time member of Duran Duran in 1989.
Duran Duran performing live at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, 2005