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Sunday, March 26, 2023

Duran Duran Reveal Former Guitarist Andy Taylor Contributing To New Album

Duran Duran recently took to social media to reveal that the group's former guitarist Andy Taylor will be playing guitar on some of the tracks in the band's new album, due out later this year.

"Duran Duran are thrilled to confirm a special new music project is in the works, set for release later this year on BMG," the group wrote on Instagram and Twitter. "The new recordings will feature extended Duran Duran family and friends, old and new, including our former bandmate Andy Taylor who will join us on guitar on a few tracks."

Duran Duran split in two in 1985 after the release of the James Bond theme "A View to A Kill," with Taylor and bassist John Taylor setting out to form The Power Station with Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson. Taylor then moved on and began a solo career, briefly reuniting with Duran Duran in 2004 and supporting the band on some tour dates.

"We're working on an album right now that is going to be coming out at the end of the year and [Andy Taylor] is playing guitar," John Taylor recently told The Mirror. "There's a lot of cover songs on the album, songs meaningful to us when we were kids. So having him be a part of that project is great."

Taylor could not join his bandmates to attend Duran Duran's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony last year because he is fighting Stage 4 cancer.

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Bruce Springsteen, Gladys Knight & More Receive National Medals Of Arts From President Biden

Bruce Springsteen and Gladys Knight received the National Medal of Arts from President Joe Biden on Tuesday, March 21, the highest honor given to artists by the United States government.

Besides Springsteen and Knight, the U.S. government also honored Jose Feliciano, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mindy Kaling, artist Judith Francisca Baca, radio station owner Fred Eychaner, the International Association Of Blacks In Dance, the Billie Holiday Theatre, and painter Antonio Martorell Cardona.

They were supposed to be honored in 2021, but the ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19.

First lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also attended the ceremony.

"We're a nation, a great nation, in large part because of the power of the arts and humanities. That's stamped into the DNA of America," Biden said during the ceremony in the East Room. "Today . (we) continue the legacy of awarding two of our nation's highest honors to 23 extraordinary Americans."

(Photo: Danny Clinch)

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Nita Strauss Releases New Single 'Winner Takes All' Featuring Alice Cooper

Nita Strauss recently released a new single, "Winner Takes All," featuring her bandmate Alice Cooper.

"Winner Takes All" is a song from the Alice Cooper guitarist's upcoming sophomore solo album.

About the collaboration, Strauss said, "When we were working on the music for this album, there was no question that I wanted to create a song to collaborate with my longtime boss and friend, the legendary Alice Cooper."

"I think the track accomplishes what we set out to do - showcase Alice's voice and signature style on the backdrop of a heavy, modern rock track," she added. "After many years of lending my style of playing to Alice's music on stage, it was truly an honor to work together and hear his voice on one of my songs."

An interview by Cooper of Strauss about their duet is set to be broadcast on the former's syndicated radio show "Nights With Alice Cooper."

Earlier this month, Strauss revealed that she is returning as guitarist with the legendary rocker after departing last year to tour with Demi Lovato.

(Photo: Raphael Pour-Hashemi)

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