Feel the Heat: The Power Station Turns 40
There are supergroups, and then there’s The Power Station — the short-lived, high-voltage collaboration that brought together Duran Duran’s John and Andy Taylor, CHIC’s Tony Thompson, and the incomparable Robert Palmer. In 1985, they fused funky grooves, rock riffs, and pure swagger into a sound that was unmistakably theirs. Four decades later, fans finally get the full celebration this legendary project deserves.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the band and their self-titled debut, DuranDuran.com recently announced that Rhino Records is releasing a 4CD deluxe box set and a 2LP gatefold vinyl edition, both dropping on January 23, 2026. Expect remasters, unreleased rarities, and live gems that prove this wasn’t just a side project — it was a dirty and sweet creative detour, oh yeah.
The 4CD Box Set
The deluxe 4CD edition comes in clamshell packaging with a 12-page booklet featuring a fresh interview with John and Andy Taylor by journalist John Earls. Inside, fans will find:
- Remastered original album
- Single remixes and raw instrumentals from the studio archives
- The band’s legendary Live Aid performance
- Previously unreleased live set from The Spectrum, Philadelphia (Aug 21, 1985), newly remixed by Richard Whittaker
For vinyl enthusiasts, the 2LP edition includes the remastered album, a curated set of single remixes, and Live Aid tracks — all on eco-friendly recycled black vinyl. Saving the planet and blasting “Some Like It Hot”? Peak 2026 energy.
“We Were an Unusual Crew, But We Made a Fantastic Noise”
“It’s been so exciting to dive back into the Power Station project after all these years,” John Taylor says in the new interview published on DuranDuran.com. “We were an unusual crew, but we made a fantastic noise.”
He’s not exaggerating. The Power Station’s lineup was a collision of style and history:
- John and Andy Taylor — fresh from Duran Duran’s global domination
- Tony Thompson — the powerhouse drummer from CHIC
- Robert Palmer — the velvet-voiced style god who could out-cool anyone in a five-mile radius
The Project That Started with T. Rex
The Power Station began almost accidentally. John Taylor had a connection to model and singer Bebe Buell — mother of Liv Tyler — who claims that she was the one who suggested they cover T. Rex’s “Get It On (Bang a Gong).”
John Will Hold Your Hair When You Vomit
In a New York Post article from 11-17-22, Buell famously said:
“I slept in the same bed with him (John Taylor of Duran Duran),” she said. “He was tender and sweet. He was the guy who would wash your back when you took a bath and hold your hair when you threw up.”
But, back to The Power Station
The Band Comes Together
With Tony Thompson and Bernard Edwards producing, the project clicked. Palmer dropped in for one track, loved it, and took over the vocals entirely. The rotating singer idea died on the spot — and the name The Power Station was set, paying homage to the New York studio where the magic happened.
“Some Like It Hot” hit radio like a lightning bolt. Thompson’s drumming, Andy’s guitar, John’s bass — it was a sound entirely distinct from Duran Duran, and that was exactly the point. Even the video pushed boundaries, featuring Caroline Cossey (Tula), one of the first openly trans models to appear in mainstream media and a Bond film alum.
“Get It On” followed with a revved-up T. Rex blast, while “Communication” didn’t quite catch fire visually, though the groove was there. By the end of 1985, the album had climbed to #6 in the U.S. and #12 in the U.K. — cementing The Power Station as one of the decade’s most improbable success stories.
And then there was “Communication,” the single that never quite got its groove. The song itself had hooks, but the video looked like everyone involved had already mentally checked out. After the firepower of the first two singles, this one felt more like a postcard from the hangover.
When Robert Departed, Des Barres Delivered
When Robert Palmer left The Power Station to make Riptide, featuring Addicted to Love, the band faced a big problem: their summer tour and Live Aid performance still needed a frontman. Enter Michael Des Barres, a British rock veteran with a career as eclectic and fearless as the Power Station lineup itself.
His style was a stark contrast to Palmer’s smooth, soulful delivery. Where Palmer was polished and velvet-voiced, Des Barres brought grit, intensity, and rock-theater bravado. In a way, he bridged the funky-rock precision of Tony and Andy with the live energy a touring band needed, proving that The Power Station could survive and thrive even without its original singer.
Six Years is a Long Time?
In this interview from 1985, John looks back on his Duran days and reminds us that “six years is a long time to play with the same four people…” LOLz, John. How do you feel about 40+ years?
The Power Station Party Was Over
By the end of ’85, the party was over. John returned to Duran Duran. Andy went solo. Palmer’s Addicted to Love video became a cultural phenom. Thompson and Edwards went back to producing legends. They reunited briefly in 1996 for Living in Fear, (with single She Can Rock It) but tragedy followed. Bernard Edwards passed away while touring with CHIC. Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson both died in 2003.
Listening back now, The Power Station still feels dangerous in the best way. John Taylor has often called it a “creative detour that became a destination.” And fans agree — the record still slaps, grooves, and struts.
Says John:
“We were an unusual crew, but we made a fantastic noise… Tony Thompson, the disco ‘clock’ behind so many massive hits, turned out to be one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. Andy Taylor, my Duran Duran bandmate, was absolutely on fire… It was a truly unique experience, and I’m proud of the work we created. I’m also super happy with this re-issue edition, which has been beautifully remastered with bonus tracks added…”
The Power Station DLX (Parlophone/Rhino, 2026)
Disc 1: Remastered album (released as Parlophone POST 1 (U.K.)/Capitol SJ-12380 (U.S.), 1985)
- Some Like It Hot
- Murderess
- Lonely Tonight
- Communication
- Get It On (Bang a Gong)
- Go to Zero
- Harvest for the World
- Still in Your Heart
Disc 2: Bonus material (* previously unreleased; + included on 2LP)
- Some Like It Hot (Raw Instrumental) *
- Communication (Raw Instrumental) *
- Murderess (Raw Instrumental) *
- Harvest for the World (Raw Instrumental) *
- Go to Zero (Raw Instrumental) *
- Lonely Tonight (Raw Instrumental) *
- Get It On (Bang a Gong) (Raw Instrumental) *
- Communication (Night Version) +
- Get It On (Bang a Gong) (7″ Single Edit) +
- Some Like It Hot and The Heat is On (Megamix) +
- Communication (Night Version Edit) +
- Some Like It Hot (7″ Single + Video Version) +
- Murderess (Alive At Live Aid, John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia, PA – 7/13/1985) * +
- Get It On (Bang a Gong) (Alive At Live Aid, John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia, PA – 7/13/1985) * +
- Somewhere Somehow Someone (We Fight for Love) +
Tracks 8 and 11 released on Parlophone U.K. 12″ 12R 6114/Capitol U.S. 12″ V-15204 and Capitol U.S. single B-5511, 1985
Track 9 released on Parlophone U.K. single R 6096/Capitol U.S. single B-5479, 1985
Tracks 10 and 12 released on Parlophone U.K. 12″ 12 R609/Capitol U.S. 12″ V-8631, 1985
Track 15 released on The Power Station (20th Anniversary Edition) – Capitol 7243 8 66315 0 3, 2005
Disc 3-4: Live at The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA – 8/21/1985 (previously unreleased)
- Murderess
- Dancing in the Streets
- Some Like It Hot
- Lonely Tonight
- Go to Zero
- Too Good to Be Bad
- Harvest for the World
- Thinking with Your Body
- Still in Your Heart
- Some Guys Have All the Luck
- Communication/The Reflex
- White Light White Heat
- Obsession
- Hungry Like the Wolf
- Get It On (Bang a Gong)