Rig Rundown - Duran Duran's John Taylor
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- čas přidán 18. 07. 2016
- Article and photos: www.premierguitar.com/articles...
PG’s Chris Kies hangs with bass icon John Taylor of Duran Duran before their headlining gig at the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville to chat about why he prefers stock Peavey basses, how he acquired his favorite bassist’s StingRay, and the way he carves his own signature sonic space in the band.
Ever since the reunion tour in 2005-2006, Taylor has relied heavily on this stock Peavey Cirrus bass. Taylor considers not only the instrument’s tone, but also the looks of it, and this one spoke to him specifically for use on their 2015 album Paper Gods. In the band’s heyday, he often was seen with an Aria Pro II SB1000 and he says these Cirrus basses are tonally the closest thing to those old Arias.
If the sky blue Cirrus ever needs a rest or breaks a string, Taylor will take a spin with this Peavey Cirrus that has a flame maple veneer. He compares playing these basses to driving a BMW because he feels that each one is rock solid, consistent, and you know what you’re getting each and every night.
To continue learning about John's gear, visit: www.premierguitar.com/articles... - Hudba
Criminally underrated player. His looks kept people from considering him a serious talent for not just years - decades.
sad but true!. most people dont know that John is the founder and mastermind in dd. most people only see john as a pretty boy. i saw some comments on youtube about john taylor and they are clueless about john, they think john's role in the band is just standing there being eyecandy. they dont know how crucial john is in the band. they dont know that john is the architect of dd who formed the band, created the concepts of the band, and planned out. they think john is just a pretty face with no skill and talent. john barely given his due for his talent and musicianship because people only judge him by his looks. tbh i also had that first impression of john when i first saw duran's video. i find it hard to believe that john is a bass player cos he's so beautiful he could have been a model. however, even though i didnt know who he is, he still stood out among the rest of the band and stole the show.
I heard the same thing...
Word!
What a silly comment!
You're right!!! Having good looks is great but...
John Taylor’s bass lines are a whole other song within a song.
The song "Rio" is a real treat. Are there any other DD songs that approach that level of bass badassery? Thanks!
@@Torgo1969 'Last Chance On The Stairway' convinced me to play bass when I realized I'd never get a drum set.... I always loved 'Sound of Thunder' as well.
Anyone who really knows anything about music knows John Taylor is one of the best Bass Players of all time.
My bass teacher was once talking with Geddy Lee about 80s pop, and Geddy told him that in his opinion John Taylor had some of the grooviest grooves of the times.
Chavezoid that a fantastic endorsement. JT is great, rumors of Gut Pratt "ghosting" on some Power Station tracks tho. Riddle me that?!
Maybe the same Bernard Edwards, I remember a video where the two are sitting with their basses in the studio and Bernard plays something and says: "that is gonna work!"
John never gets mentioned in the same breath as great rock bassists. He's a great player.
I'm big into playing classic rock, so I get some funny looks when I tell my friends that John Taylor's tone and playing style on those early Duran records is remarkable. Sort of the heavy funk of Bernard Edwards that John was inspired by, with a little gritty, punky sort of vibe mixed in.
Chavezoid Your teacher told you the truth. The Rush guys used to listen Duran Duran a lot at the 80' - like all the New Wave bands... And Police, for sure.
About time JT gets profiled. Underrated player and pure class.
Here, Here!! PURE CLASS...
JT is a top notch player. He is vastly, vastly underrated!
Agree with all!! ...
Underrated? Almost every bass player knows who JT is and most of them agreed that he is a terrific bass player.
Duran Duran fans also know that JT is the bass player, they even chant in their concerts : play that funky bass John, play that funky bass John!!
Ahem...that's not "funky" they're chanting!! ;)
I saw Duran Duran live in their prime. Must have been 1984 or ˋ85. The Beatlemania was Kindergarten compared to what was going on during that show. It was absolutely crazy. Really unbelievable. People who didn’t witness the heydays of Duran Duran wouldn’t believe how incredibly big they were in the 80‘s. For a short period they were probably the biggest band in the world.
Criminally underrated.
I love your playing, John! 👍
what a down to earth, funny & cool guy. you can tell he loves what he does. kudos to him.
Well said!
Gotta second that me ole China!
+1, it would also be cool if John could finish completing a sentence without this douchebag constantly interrupting. just sayin.
Always a joy to see a man taking pleasure in his livelihood. I'm the same way as a veterinarian.
The musicianship of Duran Duran is extremely underrated!!! I'm glad you chose to highlight John Taylor! I also LOVED Powerstation! Amazing bassist! Equally in live as well as in the studio environment! Got nothing but love for DD.
Apparently, the bassist from Chic, Bernard Edwards, played a lot of the bass parts on the Powerstation album...it is a great album though...one of the first albums I ever bought!
+Daniel Gorman Not sure if he actually PLAYED on the record, but I can certainly say that he was indeed the inspiration of the lines played by John on that album.
I saw a documentary on the making of the Powerstation album right here on youtube....check it out, interesting stuff!
KISS... Keep it Simple Stupid
Daniel Gorman No the first Power station album was all JT. The second album was the one Edwards played because JT was big into his drug habits at the time and couldn't play anything.
This guy is a legend.
John, Andy from The Smiths, Hooky from Joy Division/New Order and Simon Gallup of The Cure. That's all I.need.
spot on there, mate.
When I was younger, I thought as you do. I admired all those guys (and I *_STILL_* do to this day) but, as I got older and my musical pallette grew, I now find inspiration and enjoy listening to so many different bass players. There are so many often painfully overlooked and ignored players that to me, are just as good as those guys you mentioned. People like:
Mark Burgess - The Chameleons
Steven Severin - Siouxsie & The Banshees
Tim Butler - The Psychedelic Furs
Frank Maudsley - A Flock Of Seagulls
Dan K. Brown - The Fixx
Thierry Sobezyk - Asylum Party
Anka Wolbert - Clan Of Xymox
David J - Bauhaus
Paul Gardiner - Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
And *_MANY, MANY_* more. I try to learn and pick up things from as many players as I can cause, the more stuff you have to use in your music arsenal, the better and more creative a musician you will be and I think that's what we all aim for, overall...
John Taylor's book is very good too..Excellent back-story on Duran Duran and John's personal struggles and success.
Finally... An accomplished bass player who advocates for *_NOT_* changing bass strings too often. Every time I said similar things about favoring a dull tone, people around me just wouldn't "get it". They'd sit there, talking about how supposedly all professional players change their strings regularly cause they favor a bright tone. When I suggested that bright tones don't "work" with everything or for everyone all the time, all I got in return was mocking and criticizing but now, I've got the last laugh. Much obliged Mr. Taylor...
I'd rather play than spend time changing strings anyhow. Time is precious.
Master bass player. Knows his stuff, down to earth. Legend
JT is one of the best bass players ever.
I enjoy his bass lines and playing almost equally to Steve Harris .
Humble and nice guy with great groove.
Insanely melodic bass player...carries Duran Duran thru every song.
Great bass player, just saw Rio on TOTP from 82, his playing is pretty astounding.
Awesome interview indeed! John Taylor is definitely one of my influences just as Bernard Edwards was his - the circle of life ever-expanding!
Feels like justice that they are getting the credit they well deserve as a band. I know John was a big influence on us young Bassists back in 82/83 with that Aria SB. Good to see he is a nice guy to boot.
I've been playing bass since I was about 11 (first time I picked one up), then I got really into it at 16 and there were 2 players who influenced me (and very different they are): John Taylor and Geddy Lee. I love them both. Obviously vastly different techniques and styles. John has written some iconic bass lines (Rio for example) and I love his groove. The man is a legend in my mind (as is Geddy) and one of the true greats because he's true to himself when he plays - it sounds simple but it's harder than it looks and John makes it look so easy. Love the guy.
Same here... I listen to a lot of Duran + Rush... I've played keyboards for decades and picked up the bass for the first time aged 52 14 months ago and set to work playing all of the Rio album in one take as my practice exercise.
What a lovely down to earth bloke! And incredible bass player as well!
I've loved John for over 30 years. He's an amazing artist and my favourite bassist.
Play the fookin' bass John! Play the fookin' bass John!
I like it when he said he is not a gear freak ,there are some artist who would talk 10 minutes just about strings or nuts and bolts which gets boring keeping its simple is more enjoyable .
I can't help but think of Spinal Tap when I watch these kinds of videos. I keep waiting for John to say "Don't look at it! You've seen enough of that one."
legend
Trust me John Taylor was the most beautiful man in his youth
He was absolutly GORGEOUS.
D' archies - We don’t need to trust you. If we weren’t around in his youth, there is plenty of photo and video evidence online! He’s aging very well, too. 😊
@@nadogrl LoL. Chill out girl
Oh he is still cute he aged like a fine wine! I just love him! One of my favorite bassists of all time!
Definitely a "pretty-boy", as I thought way back then. But now that I'm older I just call him an outstanding bass player. The song "Rio" is a real treat and I am grateful that I was able to rediscover the legitimate musicianship of this man and this band.
Killer bass player!
The best bass player of all time, no doublt! Listen to the bass covers of Duran Duran's songs or just the instrumental versions and you'll see how influential his sound is.
John is great. I've loved him for so long. Super talented bass player.
Indeed.
This guy is an excellent bass player!
Sadly enough a underrated bassplayer. But for me and for people with a brain and taste for great real music...John is a amazing bassist!!! And Duran Duran is a great band.
What an awesome man. So down to earth, kind, humble, modest (and of course extremely talented). He is just too cool for this world.
I started playing bass in 1982 and John was a huge influence on me. After I had been playing about a year I finally bought an Aria Pro 2 and a Peavy amp and used that set up for the next 12 years.
My favorite bass player of all time.
Viva John Taylor
I have loved him since the early 80's!! John Taylor will always be a beautiful man!!
I come back here every few months just to hear John muse about his gear. Such a good little video.
John was always my favourite ❤️
Awesome..Humble guy!!!Thanks PG...
I’ve always loved his playing on songs like Hungry Like the Wolf and Rio, his tone is just so lively and those bass lines are just so much fun to play
taylor seems to always be really great value, very down to earth. chris is great in these too, he lets people just do their thing.
Amazing bass player! Always plays for the song perfectly too. Everytime I hear "Some Like It Hot" by The Power Station as well I'm always blown away by how hard that song grooves!
Jt you are the total bass god!!
Got to be the coolest dude ever.
underrated and misunderstood JT bass player, and music composer. . He can kick many asses, that´s for sure.
Very cool and informative rig rundown. Always wondered why he chose to play Peavey aside from endorsing their basses. Loved the information on string brightness and what he says about Musicman basses........ Thanks PG
Narrow pin point frequency to sit nice in the mix, instead of big full range tone. This guy has obviously delved right into music and would be a great teacher for all musicians to learn from on how to find your place on a band.
I’ve been playing bass for about 40 years ,always been a metal head but JT’s bass lines have always been one of my guilty pleasures top guy too very unpretentious for one so talented.
JT is and Cirrus basses are definitely under rated! The man can groove! And the USA Cirrus's are some of the best non-custom instruments out there! Too bad they don't make them anymore 😕 I'd love to have a 4string version.
Criminally underrated bassist
One of the greatest bass players ever👍🏼👍🏼
A great player who brought a deep musicality and groove to what was essentially a bubble gum pretty boy pop band. It's nice to see he still takes it seriously. Interesting dude.
They may have been "pop" band but they had killer songs and all have awesome chops, a rarity for a pop band to have both.
All the 3 Taylors, John,Roger(drums),Andy(guitar), Nick Rhodes(synths) and Simon Le Bon are very talented.
John Taylor el Bajista de Duran Duran, wuauh!! 😍😍😍😍
Very handsome guy. And...don't forget! A great bassplayer. Can he give me one or two lessons please?
Me too, get in the queue, hehehehe.
I always loved his Kubicki X factor bass from way back in the day.
even if i don't like a band its still cool to see all their gear
I would've loved to have heard him play something solo in this setting
lots of people here comment 'underrated' and various of this. On one hand given JT and his handsome look with DD - i get that. On the other - growing up in the 80s = in working class area - when i say 'all' club bands either directly or obviously without explicity stating it - were most influenced by duran duran more than any other band. More specfically, when talking to guys who played in the bands, much of their band names or style were as a result of john or andy taylor. so DD are/were a mixed bag of look/style/but a depth of skill and talent - and the latter was not picked up as much as i would have liked. I dunno how you measure a technical abilty of a bass player - is there such a tool? doubt it. But - his contribution to DD tracks is amazing - my favourite is A View To A Kill, thats a song for bass. WOW. It just wouldnt be brilliant without it. Hes certainly a main player of DD - but also briliantly articulating his view of bass. Great talent.
That presenter has obviously a mancrush on John Taylor, lol So nice to see John wants to go and talk about Bernard Edward's MusicMan. I would be eager to show it too...
He surely does. He stares at john without blinking
Very underrated bassplayer. My god he is so good! He (just 19 years old) was playing the bass just 2 years when he recorded basslines like Girls on film, Careless memories, Sound of thunder etc. So a true legend! Wish I had a signing from him on my bass. That's my wish....yes I know, it's a dream. Gr. From Holland
One of the *great* bass players, no question!
great rig rundown top bloke😀
Great, underrated bass player! The Cirrus is such a sleeper. Thanks for having JT on the show.
Some of those 80's guys from the New Wave/New Romantic scene look hot still even when they get older.
Grew up in the 80s always digging Duran Duran. I was lucky to see them live in '93, it was everything I could have hoped for in the show. They probably had to look up where New Mexico was on the map LOL but they killed it, especially John Taylor - right at the tip of the stage keeping everyone dancing. LOVE and RESPECT.
Seems like a really down to earth guy.
Excellent and awesome player!!!! Duran Duran to rocks👍👍👍👍😊😊
My Jedi player!
The best Rig Rundown talk I have watched
The Power Station showcased his talent.
Back in my youth I had my whole music career planned as a Drummer in a band that could also play Acoustic/Lead & Rhythm Guitar & then one day I sat down with my Sony Walkman (remember them lol) as I had bought the Rio Album on cassette & put it on & that was it my whole plan as a Drummer was up in the air as this mans bass playing just blew me away...
I had heard a few of their songs from their debut album & I liked what I heard but when I heard " Rio " the song that was it as I was now a fully fledged paid up member of the bass guitar community & I would do whatever it took to learn from this mans body of work...
Luckily for me i have a great ability to learn things from scratch almost instantaneously by ear on most instruments but it was odd to actually end up coming away from all of my practice as a lover of the bass guitar & everyone knows the story of members of a band trying to convince the other to play the bass but no one wanted that as it was or seemed to be boring but by the 70s & 80s that was about to change...
Even though i could learn everyone of his bass lines that doesn't detract from the fact that I Didn't Come Up with these bass lines for such iconic classics like " Rio " & so many more but John did & I was never ashamed to admit that it was John Taylor that switched me on to the bass guitar & that I loved his body of work...
He has continually challenged himself & you can actually hear with each album how he matured in age with each new album they recorded...
As you can actually hear that his earlier bass lines though they were fantastic they were also more flashy but they also served the songs without overstepping his role within the babd & when your younger you want to be a bit more flashier & show off but by the time you come to the " Wedding Album " (again) you can hear that he serves the songs brilliantly but ,he is more conservative with his bass lines & " Ordinary World " " Come Undone " showed you that he literally matured as a man & as a bassist...
The thing is the worst critic of John Taylor is in fact John Taylor!..
As he has never really rated himself as a great bassist but thankfully through the years he has stopped beating himself up & accepted that he is in fact worthy of being called a musician & a great bassist...
Another great bassist of mine who John loved was the late great Mick Karn & though Japan turned down the chance to work with & produce an album with them in the earlier year's, that didn't stop the admiration that Duran Duran had for Japan as that band were so far ahead of everyone else that it became almost too difficult to define their sound...
But if your a true fan of Japan you'll know that Yes they at the time thought that Duran Duran though very talented & would go a long way but were a little lightweight but you have to remember Japan were such a complex group of individuals & how they managed to stay together for as long as they did under circumstances that wouldve crippled & ruined other bands a lot sooner was & still is a testament to their ability to try & overcome their problems & serve the music...
I think I must've been 1 one of the few fans of Japan that was gutted but also delighted that they split up as I knew each individual member had the ability to go & carve out a career in music, plus they could try & at least leave the baggage at the door that Japan as a band was bringing to the table...
In my humble opinion i think John Taylor needs no affirmations as a great bass player not from the bass & music scene community as they know & see a true talent when they see & hear one & it's usually my friends or other people I'll meet that haven't really given Duran Duran a proper listen to until I've told them to that they now realise what a hell of great band they are...
John Taylor I thank you for turning me on to the bass guitar which is still my passion today, though limited through my disabilities...
Not to detract from the great bass players world wide as there are so many I could type their names in & it'd be a huge list, but you have to admit from a small island & country like the UK they serve up some of the most diverse music I've ever heard coming out of a small country & I'm also not ashamed to admit that most of my favourite bassist's come from the UK but that's the thing about the bass guitar that many out with being in a band don't realise is that you have to feel it to appreciate it & in the right hands it's one of the most expressive instruments in modern musical history & I'm proud to be a bass player & I'd love to see more of the younger generations picking up whatever instruments they want to keep music alive...
To All Those Out There World Wide I Say Stay Safe in light of this outbreak of coronavirus & together well get through this like we always do...
Enjoy whatever music you love & keep it Alive...
.....
john taylor did not play on come undone or ordinary world. it was nick rhodes who used a synth bass - because JT was struggling with addiction. DDs influences are quite broad - JT draws on a lot of areas of bass - his main influnces being James Jameson and Bernard Edwards - the cream. Of course there is other inputs - like all muscians have various inputs to form their skills, we are 'blank slates'. JT other main influences were Roxy Music for bass, John Gustafson being most significant from Roxy. Of course bands like duran duran, japan, and a few others were a product of that sound, with david bowie, kraftwerk, disco, at least with the DD sound. But JT didnt play on either of the tracks - but was in the videos.
@@gingerindian1141
I know of John Taylor's influences for music in general & then the bass but I will put my hand up & admit that I did not know he didn not play bass on " Ordinary World " & " Come Undone " & I don't think many would until the internet came along or this was published in an interview for a magazine or autobiographical book...
I don't know how I missed that when i read John Taylor's autobiographical book back in 2012 called " In The Pleasure Groove " which you'll no doubt know of...
I'd known about his addictions as he was making the news along with Andy for this & went into rehabilitation to get his drugs but predominately his drinking abuse in order...
Many musician's/actor's & celebrities make the news for this even when they want it kept quite as that's just the world we live in, in the past, & even more now, with the internet at your fingertips 24/7...
I'm usually not one for reading autobiographical books as I believe that's people's personal information but if they want to share it with others to get it off their chest & that it might help someone else that's fine, just as long as it's an authorised autobiographical book, & not one done without someone's consent...
I've only read a handful of autobiographical books of people I really admire for what they over came to achieve something of themselves, all the while still trying to grow & better themselves as a human being but no one is perfect & the shit hits the fan & they find themselves in a dark place & are trying to figure a way out but its not easy or like many who just lose control all together & have sadly passed away... This obviously is not just for those who become famous & it happens to people we know & care for in our lives...
These are the only autobiographical books I've read & they are about Steve McQueen (the actor) & the other's were John Taylor/Andy Taylor/Mick Karn/Kate Bush & Nile Rodger's autobiographical books...
John Taylor may not have played on those 2 song's but you must admit his bass sound & playing is more mature now & he doesn't feel the need to do something too flashy or fancy, as all the member's admitted to playing as much as they could in their first few album's as they were young & wanted to be noticed but also doing this in a way that still serves their song's...
Thanks for the information about those 2 song's Greg as I truly must have missed that piece of information but it still doesn't diminish from the fact that it was John Taylor's style of playing & the sound he got from his Aria Pro II SB range of bass guitar's & not Mark King for example who I also admire & play his style also & have seen Level 42 Live many times as I'm a huge fan of their work from their earlier work through to their so called " sold out to become popular " song's to this very day...
Its as they say "' You Learn Something New Every Day "
Most of my information comes from word of mouth from the very person themself & that's usually via approved documentaries & I only found out this year that Keith Richards played quite a few bass lines on The Rolling Stones song's & he actually believes he's a better bassist than an acoustic or lead/rythmn guitar player & he's like most old school musicians & learned on the piano... He still likes to play & get ideas from what he plays on the piano & incorporates that into his guitar work/bass lines or the over all song...
I think the image of Keith Richards is one that many get wrong & he is actually a very nice guy who has a vast knowledge not just about music but on other subjects & yes he liked to drink & party but a lot of that was blown out of proportion to regards him, as a lot of today's perception of him still think he is or was like that 24/7...
In light of the coronavirus stay safe and healthy where ever you are in the world...
All The Best...
.....
@@gingerindian1141
Hi Ginger Indian ,
Since you are more knowledgeable than i am with certain things about John Taylor could you tell me if you know the name of the first (& the one in this upload) Peavey Bass Guitar that they gave to John Taylor , as trying to get a simple question with an answer on the internet is not proving to be as easy as i thought...
I know (as John states) in this Rig Rundown Peavey are constantly changing/trying new ideas & updating the electronics all the time but im just wanting to what model (which is the Blue one) that Peavey they first gave him quite a few years back now...
I had a couple of Peaveys back in the 90s & i always found them very easy to play & they dont fight you & you could get models that were quite light with the body or go with a higher priced model with a heavy wood used for the body but all of them (i felt) had nice fast necks that didnt cause me to dislocate my fingers to reach specific notes...
Im in the mood for getting a Peavey again & i was just wanting know what the Peavey model the one in this Rig Rundown & i shouldve stated the 4 string version in Blue...
In light of this still ongoing coronavirus and its variants stay safe and healthy wherever you are in this world...
.....
@@greatwhite61967 Now that was a response! haha. Thanks. WOW. I am trying to remember - where the source was - it was around Medazzaland time and SLB was asked about JT leaving - around 1999/2000 - I think in promotion of Someone Else Not Me period. SLB was asked about not having JT in the badn...and replied along the lines of '...well we have Nick, Warren and myself...and John didnt play on our biggest resurgance singles. It was Nick on a synth base that filled in for him....'. For me to hear that is a shocker. Its not pleasant. But there you go.
Considering it was 'just pop', the music of bands like Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet is surprisingly complex and difficult to play
finally, ive been wanting to see his rig for ages!
Lucky to live my late teen years in this Great decade of music and characters
At 09:08 John's 'accent' slips back in to in native Brummie!
perfect eloquence when describing the musicman - so true! and about old strings too - i prefer old strings 90 percent of the time. a dull thud that would sustain if i need it to.
Wow! Such a cool dude & what a wonderful band! I grew up listening to Duran Duran. Their music is amazing!
Thanks for sharing this! I saw Duran in '84, and again last Friday - 9/9/16. They are still fantastic! One of my fav bands of all time.
I would rush (love Rush too) home from school and learn all of their songs on bass - trying to be like John, and sing in the car like Simon. When they go on tour again I'll be there for sure. Great energy!
Great interview.
Un verdadero genio. A real genius.
Wow this is great thanks for sharing!!
I miss the cirrus bass, hope they bring it back one day
One of my first musician heroes.
“Thank you Bernard Edwards” John Taylor
best pop basss player ever :)
Because he was so handsome people didn’t see the mega talent that he is. One of the best, if not THE best, bass players of all time
John the "Mega Star" actually showed up for this presentation in person. Solid!
John forgot to talk about the Philip Kubicki basses........
Love his work. Very solid.
Thanks John!!!
The interviewer did a very good job. Very respectful.
I prefer John Bollinger.
He's a fun interview. One of my fave bassist.
The part about not changing strings rings so true, i had the hardest time wanting to change my strings after 7-8 years of them working just fine. Ill never get that tone back for years...
Legend!
When I think "John Taylor" I see him either with an Aria or with a Kubicky Factor bass. But I do understand why he has moved on.
This is awesome.
That MM is a beautiful Bass. The Aria sound is my favorite.
Class A bassist
Love this guy's attitude and energy :)