And the Welcome everyone to So DeJaker on Song Racing, episode 217.

I'm Simon.

And I'm Brian.

And joining us today are the lead singer and bass player of one of the most successful British

bands in pop music history.

They've sold over 100 million records worldwide and scored 30 top 40 singles,

14 top 10 singles and 21 singles in the Billboard Hot 100.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of their eponymous debut album and as this reaches you they recently dropped their 15th studio effort

Future Past featuring contributions from the likes of Errol Alken, Georgeo'Rode, Mike Garson, Ivorian Dahl and

Graham Coxon. We're thrilled to welcome Durand-Garan's Simon Labon and John Taylor

to the show.

Duran were founded in Birmingham in 1978 by John Taylor and his friend Nick Rhodes and Stephen Duffy later of the Lylek time.

Their moniker was inspired by the character of Dr Duran Durand in the cult 60s movie Barbarella.

Their formative influences included the Sex Pistols, Bowie, Shee, and Roxy Music.

With Roger Taylor on drums, they began performing as a band in 1979, recruiting Simon Lebonne on vocals and guitarist Andy Taylor the following year.

This band's got more tailors than Savl and Row.

Simon's first gig with the band was at local nightclub The Rum Runner, which played a huge part in the group's early development.

It was to them what the Blitz was to expand our ballet essentially and they used it as their rehearsal space

and had the residency there and it's where they wrote their first song with Simon, Sound of Thunder.

Durand signed to EMI towards the end of 1980 and reached the top 10 with their eponymous

1981 debut album propelled by the hit singles Girls on Film and Planet Earth. They followed by the hit singles Girls on Film and Planet Earth.

They followed that 12 months later with Rio which did even better business and led to their

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