Duranalysis: Three To Get Ready

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Comments

DKoren said…
Whoa! I've never even heard of this documentary! Love the screenshots, and the recap of the highlights is so funny (as usualy)... and so very odd.
Morgan Richter said…
It's on YouTube! I'm enough of a Duran Duran completionist that I've ordered a DVD copy from eBay (it was available from sellers in either Estonia or Finland) -- when it comes, I'll replace the screenshots with cleaner ones. It's very... odd.
actemin said…
Good Duranalysis!! It's a bit sad to watch it because they really knew that they were not hip anymore to the mainstream and they struggle to be together and continue to make music, the most important thing for them; and every part of the documentary is amazing, the meetings with joe smith(not only did he hurt duran duran with the promotion, but queen: during the 80's , their sales in USA were a disaster)their legal problems with andy (what a bastard but I love him). To Sum It Up, THE DARK SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY,! It's not just sex drugs and rock'n roll, there's more..
Morgan Richter said…
Great comment, actemin. One of the things that struck me so strongly about Three to Get Ready is how self-aware John, Simon and Nick all seem to be -- as you point out, they know they've lost a big chunk of their once-huge popularity, and now they're struggling just to stay in the game. And they're not operating under any illusions that it'll be easy for them to regain all that lost ground. It's a much more practical, grounded side of the band than we'd seen in anything prior to this.
actemin said…
ohh Morgan, thank you, I wrote it from the heart,I've listened Duran Duran since I was five (93 with the wedding album)And I keep on loving them, with or without andy, I was lucky to watch the fab five line up in 2005 when they came to argentina, and believe me,It was amazing, They didn't get older, they got better!!,I was close to andy, who smoked while he was playing (just like in arena!!), I could watch john doing the "flash" at the begining of "girls on film". As far ar the documentary, there're a lot of chunks that impressed me really: they're hard workers, they always were, their rehearsals, testing arrangements, how important is simon for the melodies, nick and john for the arrangements; their little quarrels about management and current music (nick speaking good about U2, and john complaining)It's a shame that EMI dind't include it on the notorious Deluxe on better quality, and expanded it the "working for the skin trade" to watch "the matter of feeling live version", there are a lot of things I love from this documentary...,
Morgan Richter said…
As far ar the documentary, there're a lot of chunks that impressed me really: they're hard workers, they always were

Exactly! It's interesting seeing them taking both their music and the whole promotional process so seriously throughout the documentary. Watching them on the phone with radio stations, and signing stacks of albums and posters, and taping all those endless promotional spots for television stations really drills home how much hard work was behind their success -- it's not just a matter of recording a handful of albums and playing at concerts, it's also a matter of nonstop promotion to keep their name out there. It's a nice balance to their "decadent globe-trotting playboys" image (which, don't get me wrong, I also love -- it's hilarious watching Nick and John making all their very particular catering demands ("No obscure cheeses!")).
actemin said…
you're right, It's like the exact opposite of "sing blue silver", they were very brave when they exposed this "behind the scenes" of Duran Duran, and the proof of their sincerity amd integrity with the fans is that they are very respected nowadays by journalism and the rock community, even Noel Gallagher of oasis!! and there're plenty of bands and singers in britain and america who copy their style, their sound, even their videos!! in my opinion, they were more daring than michael jackson in the industry of the videos: save a prayer and hungry.. were released before that billie jean and thriller!! one last question, do you have some information about the "liberty" album, they haven't talked about it for years! My Uncle loved that album!! he always told me when I was a kid that he enjoyed more the "90's duran duran" than the "80's duran duran"; in fact, because of him, I listened liberty before rio... And I love it!!
actemin said…
Hey, one more thing! here in argentina, we have a famous musician who has one of the best selling records in our country, and he always talked in his interviews about warren!! he said that he was one of the best guitarrist in the world, one of the few who recognized him!!he played with frank zappa and duran duran, and he's never in a dammned guitarrist list!! what more can you ask for?
Morgan Richter said…
actemin, you know, I don't even own the Liberty album! I'm not sure why not; I don't think the band members were totally happy with how it turned out, but you're right, there's some good stuff on it. I first got into Duran Duran during the Rio/Union of the Snake/Arena era, and then my interest sort of faded for a while until Medazzaland, so I still have gaps in my Duran knowledge from 1986-1995.

Good to hear Warren getting some praise! Talented guy.
actemin said…
medazzaland!!, what a weird album!! I discovered a few years ago, a dark period for them!! I am completely opposite to you; I kinda lost them after the wedding album, because in those days, if MTV didn't air the videos and EMI didn't support them, you would know nothing about current music...less in south america!! so, I rediscovered them in the astronaut period, thank you for the info!!