John’s Favorite Things

John Taylor, the charismatic bassist and co-founder of Duran Duran, is a driving force behind the band’s unmistakable sound. Known for his funky, groove-laden basslines on hits like Rio and Girls on Film, he helped define the New Romantic era while embodying its style and swagger. A fan-favorite among Duranies, John’s enduring charm, sharp wit, and lifelong passion for music continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Beyond the stage, he’s also an accomplished author and advocate, proving his artistry extends far beyond his iconic bass guitar.

Every year, the members of Duran Duran share their top picks in books, movies, music, and more on the official Duran Duran website. With a unique blend of musical genius and timeless style, you can always count on John Taylor to share an interesting mix of books, movies, music, and more that range from offbeat to iconic.

To read more about John’s favorite things, visit DuranDuran.com.

2024

Favorite Events: Hanging out with his grandson, Virgil. Seeing Aston Villa versus Bayern Munich in the first champions league game in Birmingham.
Favorite Movie: Emilia Perez, Conclave, THE Northman, Eno
Favorite TV: Bad Sisters, Landman, The Agency “That’s how I chill out at night”
Favorite Book: Biography on Claude Monet, Monet, the Restless Vision by Jackie Wullschlager, Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin
Best podcast: Peter Attia (a health and fitness guru). Also, Record Review
Best Music: Eno Top Boy, Sophie, the Duran Duran “Evil Woman” remixes
Most memorable Duran Duran event: Cruel World, Latitude, Lucca, Madison Square Garden on Halloween.
Most looking forward to in 2025: Atlanta’s wedding, playing Europe, Duran Duran projects and enjoying life

I have a life beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you to the fans out there for helping realize that for me.
John Taylor, Duran Duran

2023

Favorite Events: When the first hostages were released from Gaza
Favorite TV: The Bear, Season 2
Favorite Movie: May December, Killers of the Flower Moon
Favorite Book: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
Best podcast: Fluffy Wraxall’s 🙂
Best Music: Classical, Brian Eno, Steve Lacy’s Gemini Rights, Doha Cat’s Paint the Town Red, Travis Scott Utopia, the soundtrack of Oppenhemier, Nick Cave for Dahmer
Most memorable Duran Duran event: The American tour and the special show for Andy in California
Most looking forward to in 2024: Aston Villa Top 4 Premier League! The world getting smarter, and Atlanta getting married next year. Also, the Cruel World Festival and the Latitude Fest. Bringing Reportage back to life.

I’m a lucky guy, I have an extraordinary life. I’d like to see some of that luck spread out around the world a little more. It’s hard to see so many people hurting.
John Taylor, Duran Duran

2022

Events: US politics, and the threatening of abortion rights. The demise of Donald Trump (Yes, John!! We agree!)
Favorite Movie: TAR
Favorite TV: The English, White Lotus
Favorite Book: Biography of Mozart, The Islander, as read by Bill Nigh
Favorite Podcast: BBC podcasts
Best Music: Butcher Brown, Bruce Springsteen Only the Strong Survive, Kendrick Lamar Mr Morale & the Big Steppers, The Beatles
Most memorable Duran Duran event: Rock in Rio, Hyde Park, Lytham St Annes , Madison Square Garden, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Lionel Richie at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Induction. The shows last year with Chic & Nile
Most looking forward to in 2023: Shows in the UK and going back to US cities we missed in 2022.

2020

Events: antibodies for COVID, “my art work‘ and doing Tutorials, ZOOM
Favorite Movie: Hillbilly Elegy
Best Music: Megan Thee Stallion, Simon’s WHOOOSH! playlists
Best Podcast: I’m Over It
Best TV: Roadkill, Queen’s Gambit, Dublin Murders, Mrs America, The Crown
Hope to never happen again: Corona Virus. Lockdown.
Most looking forward to in 2021: Playing concerts

John Taylor’s paintings in the exhibition “Not Broken, Unfinished” at the gallery One Hour Ahead in Aspen, Colorado.

2019

Best Book: MILKMAN by Anna Burns
Favorite Movie: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Best Music: Lizzo
Best TV: The Crown, Chernobyl, Top Boy, Euphoria, Succession
Best Podcast: Whoosh! BBC podcast The Missing Crypto Queen
Most memorable Duran Duran event: Simon’s 60th birthday in Ibiza
Most looking forward to in 2020: Freedom from deadlock in both the States and the UK

2018

Events: France banning cell phones in schools, and doing the Brilliant Minds symposium
Favorite Movie: Bohemian Rhapsody, Nico, 1988, Cold War
Favorite TV: Bosch, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel “I love Rachel Brosnahan”, Killing Eve
Favorite Book: The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown, Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker
Best Music: Culture II by Migos, “Narcos was the song of the year in the Taylor household”, Hive Mind by The Internet, Chic’s It’s About Time, Julia Holter Aviary, Anderson.Paak Oxnard
Most looking forward to in 2019: Duran Duran gigs in February
Most memorable Duran Duran event: the BBC documentary and the take-over in the UK

2017

Events: the Swedish Church removing gender identification from their teachings, Zoe’s (step daughter) single Rather Die, and her feature on the G-Eazy track The Beautiful & Damned
Favorite Movie: Blade Runner 2049 and Dunkirk
Favorite TV: Mindhunter, Godless, The Crown
Favorite Book: History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund, The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Best Music: The Weeknd’s album, Starboy, Jay Z’s album
Most memorable Duran Duran event: the Buenos Aires Lollapalooza show, going to Japan and bringing Atlanta “it was one of the best weeks of my life. I’ve been going to Japan since I was 21 but to get to go with her was like doing it for the first time all over again.”
Most looking forward to in 2018: Mine and Nick’s musical, getting back in the studio and creating new material

2016

Events: David Bowie’s passing, photo with Stevie Wonder at the Aspen Snowmass Festival in September. “Also, I voted twice in the States!”
Favorite TV: Stranger Things, Halt & Catch Fire, Goliath. “I loved the music from Stranger Things and the cast”
Favorite Movie: Arrival starring Amy Adams.
Favorite Book: Lonely Boy by Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols
Best Music: A SEAT AT THE TABLE by Solange
Most memorable Duran Duran event: Signing the petition against HB2 at our show in North Carolina in April.
Most looking forward to in 2017: not having my “reading resolution” to deal with!

I always want to do a better job – being a better friend, a better husband. I am looking forward to more Duran Duran shows, and I just want to keep on keeping on.
John Taylor, Duran Duran

2015

Favorite TV: Scandal and Saturday Night Live
Favorite Book: Jonathan Franzen’s Purity, and Freedom
Favorite Movie: Mad Max Fury Road, Clouds of Sils Maria
Best Music: Julia Holter, Have You in my Wilderness. Bjork’s new album, Beachhouse, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd’s Can’t Feel My Face
Most memorable Duran Duran event: in Denver when Chic went out on stage and we watched from the side
Most looking forward to in 2016: touring

2014

Events: Seeing The Winter’s Tale ballet
Favorite TV: Nashville
Favorite Book: The Glitter Plan: How We Started Juicy Couture for $200 and Turned It into a Global Brand by Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor!
Favorite Movie: Get On Up
Best Music: Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson Uptown Funk, Elvis From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential ’60s Masters
Most looking forward to in 2015: Getting the album out and putting a show together
Most memorable Duran Duran event: Getting back in the studio with Nile Rodgers with Mark

Year in Review interviews (C) Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor, DuranDuran.com

Snake

Traci (aka "Snake") is a dedicated Duranie who saw her first Duran Duran show in 1984 and The Power Station in 1985. She channels her passion for the band into DuranDuranies.com, sharing unique insights and engaging with the community.