Roger’s Favorite Things

Each year, the members of Duran Duran take a moment to reflect on their favorite books, movies, music, and more that defined their year. It’s a glimpse into their personal tastes and inspirations beyond the stage. Among them, drummer Roger Taylor has shared a consistently fascinating array of choices, revealing his eclectic interests and keen eye for culture. This list compiles Roger’s favorites from over the years—a journey through the films that thrilled him, the books that captivated him, and the music that stayed on repeat.

To read more about Roger’s favorite things, visit the official Duran Duran website.

2024

• Favorite Events: Aston Villa returning to the Champions League for the first time since the early ’80s, with their standout star, Jhon Durán, leading the charge!
• Favorite Movie: Zone of Interest
• Favorite Book: Al Pacino’s Sonny Boy. “He is a hero of mine and he’s been in some of my favorite movies.”
• Best podcast: BBC Radio Desert Island Discs
• Best Music: Fontaines D.C. was Roger’s favorite Irish band in 2024, recommended by his oldest son, James.
• Most memorable Duran Duran event: Duran Duran playing Madison Square Garden on Halloween. “It was the longest we ever played in our entire history.”
• Most looking forward to in 2025: “Doing more shows! We have announced 2 shows in the UK and maybe a few more in Europe.”

2023

• Favorite Events: The Beatles releasing Now and Then.
• Favorite Movie: Inside starring Willem Dafoe.
• Favorite TV: The BECKHAM documentary. “I’d forgotten how hated he was, and how ridiculous that is; sport should never be that serious, but he was really vilified.”
• Favorite Book: Matthew Perry’s book Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. “I was a huge fan of Friends.”
• Best podcast: “I did one with Bernie, John’s bass tech. It’s called “Is Breakfast Included,” and I enjoyed it.”
• Best Music: Volcano by Jungle, and Peter Gabriel i/o. “I am a huge fan of Peter”
• Most memorable Duran Duran event: The UK tour and Forest Hills Stadium in New York.
• Most looking forward to in 2024: Shows! Latitude Fest and Cruel World Festival. “We have some great music we are going to resurrect. Some from the 1980s… Reportage is also one we’re talking about.”

2022

• Events: The passing of the Queen. “We were in Los Angeles when it happened and I heard about it from my son, James. I’ve never known a life without the Queen.” Also, watching Judas Priest at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Induction. “I hadn’t seen them live since I was a kid. It was great. Oh, and meeting Dave Grohl.”
• Favorite Movie: The Outfit staring Mark Rylance
• Favorite TV: All Quiet on the Western Front “also an amazing soundtrack”
• Favorite Book: The Islander, autobiography by Chris Blackwell, who discovered Bob Marley and started Island Records. “I also sat next to Pete Townsend on a recent flight back to the UK so I got his autograph.”
• Best Music: Erol Alkan’s remix of “Give it all Up.” Also, the remix of the Cure’s “Lullaby” by Pete Tong and the new album by Florence and the Machines, “Dance Fever.”
• Most memorable Duran Duran event: Our performance at Hyde Park. “It felt like all of London had come to see us.”
• Most looking forward to in 2023: “We are playing the UK, America, maybe more places.”

2021

• Events: The passing of Charlie Watts. “The other event that was big for me was the roll out for the vaccine. I felt we could finally conquer Covid with science.”
• Favorite Movie: Saw Godzilla Vs. King Kong in Florida with Julian. Also saw No Time to Die.
• Favorite Book: Think like a Monk by Jay Shetty.
• Best Music: London Grammar’s new album. Also “The Tipping Point” by Tears for Fears.
• Most memorable Duran Duran event: Playing live, Austin City Limits, Isle of Wight, Birmingham. Also the album release!
• Most looking forward to in 2023: “Getting out and playing live again.”

2020

• Events: The COVID vaccine. Also, “we bought a dog!”
• Favorite Movie: 1917
• Favorite Book: The Theatre for Dreamers” by Polly Samson
• Best Music: The new Duran Duran record! Also Nothing Breaks like a Heart by Miley Cyrus. And Working Men’s Club.
• Best TV: “We don’t really watch any TV in this house but what I have binged on was the News! In 2020, I’ve been glued to it!!”
• Most memorable Duran Duran event: Playing live, Austin City Limits, Isle of Wight, Birmingham. Also the album release!
• Most looking forward to in 2021: Playing shows again!

2019

• Events: Aston Villa getting back into the premiership!
• Favorite Movie: Apollo 13 (revisited after the NASA event). and I really loved seeing it again. Also, “Rocketman,” the Elton John movie.
• Best Music: Mark Ronson’s “Late Night Feelings.” Also, “I got really in to Elton John’s music.”
• Best TV: When They See Us Now on Netflix.
• Most memorable Duran Duran event: Playing in Cape Canaveral. Also, being back in the studio with Mark, Erol Alkan and Giorgio Moroder.
• Most looking forward to in 2020: Releasing the album, and playing the Isle of Wight Festival

2018

• Events: The World Cup “we had the relatives from Peru in town who got in to the World Cup finals for the first-time ages.” Also teaching his son Julian how to tie a necktie.
• Favorite Movie: Bohemian Rhapsody
• Favorite TV: Villa matches! (Roger prefers documentaries)
• Favorite Book: Thanks a lot Mr. Kibblewhite” by Roger Daltrey. “I am a big WHO fan”
• Best Music: Girlfriend by Christine and The Queens and the Mark Ronson song Nothing Breaks Like A Heart feat. Miley Cyrus.
• Most memorable Duran Duran event: Playing with the guys again and making new music. “I also really enjoyed making the BBC 4 documentary: going back up to Birmingham and finding the places we started, which was interesting and emotional. When you’re younger, this stuff passes you by, but when you get older, you’re lucky if you can look back at the important moments of your life.”
• Most looking forward to in 2019: Going to Cayman Islands, the mini tour of the America, and getting back out and playing live again.

2017

• Events: Brexit and the royal engagement. “One of the most interesting things I did this year was my DNA test! I am 50% English, 26% Scandinavian, 12% Northern-West Europe (Germany/France), a bit of Irish, Scottish, Wales and 2% Jewish. I loved finding out where I came from.”
• Favorite Movie: Dunkirk, Everything Everything
• Favorite TV: The Crown on Netflix
• Favorite Book: Steven Jones biography.
• Best Music: London Grammar, XX, Stevie Wonder especially Songs in the Key of Life
• Most memorable Duran Duran event: The Electric Picnic in Ireland. “An unexpected great gig.”
• Most looking forward to in 2018: “New Duran Duran material is on the agenda again!”

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