Duran Duran

Band

Photo: Brian Aris · Public domain
Active 1978-present
Origin Birmingham, England
Albums 16
Tracks 188
Most frequent collaborator Nile Rodgers · 29 tracks
Genres New WaveSynth-PopPop Rock
Artist
90%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 170 of 188 tracks

Does Duran Duran write their own songs?

All of them. Every original across sixteen albums is credited to the band, and not one outside songwriter appears anywhere in the catalogue. They are credited on 155 of 188 album tracks; almost all of the rest are covers, on Thank You in 1995 and on half of Danse Macabre in 2023.

By the Numbers

16
Studio Albums
188
Tracks Credited
90%
Self-Written
over 100 million records
Records Sold
48
Years Active
96
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 170 / 188 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 188 tracks: how many Duran Duran wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Duran Duran has a writing credit90%
55%
36%
10%
Sole author103tracks55%
Co-written67tracks36%
Outside writers18tracks10%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Duran Duran's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 188 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)90%
Composer (music)90%
Producer75%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 188 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Simon Le Bon 1980-present
79%
79%
69%
94%
Nick Rhodes 1978-present
79%
86%
69%
94%
John Taylor 1978-1997, 2001-present
68%
74%
69%
79%
Roger Taylor 1979-1985, 2001-present
34%
40%
44%
54%
Andy Taylor 1980-1986, 2001-2006
21%
21%
11%
21%
Warren Cuccurullo 1989-2001
28%
28%
13%
28%
Sterling Campbell 1989-1991
6%
6%
6%
6%
Stephen Duffy 1978-1979
0%
0%
0%
0%
Simon Colley 1978-1979
0%
0%
0%
0%
Andy Wickett 1979-1980
0%
0%
0%
0%
Alan Curtis 1979-1980
0%
0%
0%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Duran Duran's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 90%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
92%
8%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
54%
1981Duran Duran
1982Rio
1983Seven and the Ragged Tiger
1986Notorious
1988Big Thing
1990Liberty
1993Duran Duran
1995Thank You
1997Medazzaland
2000Pop Trash
2004Astronaut
2007Red Carpet Massacre
2010All You Need Is Now
2015Paper Gods
2021Future Past
2023Danse Macabre
Early · 100% written
Mid · 84% written
Late · 88% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1980s
Duran Duran, Rio +3 more
76%
1990s
Liberty, Duran Duran +2 more
100%
2000s
Pop Trash, Astronaut +1 more
100%
2010s
All You Need Is Now, Paper Gods
76%
2020s
Future Past, Danse Macabre

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Duran Duran sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Duran Duran
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Celine Dion1%
Selena13%
Backstreet Boys25%
Hilary Duff42%
Cyndi Lauper60%
Phil Collins78%
Eurythmics99%
90%Duran Duran
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Hungry Like the Wolf
Rio
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor
Wrote it
Rio
Rio
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor
Wrote it
Save a Prayer
Rio
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor
Wrote it
The Reflex
Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Written by Simon Le Bon, Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon John Charles Le Bon, Andrew James Taylor, Nigel John Taylor, Roger Andrew Taylor, Nicholas James Bates
Wrote it
Union of the Snake
Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Written by Simon Le Bon, Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon John Charles Le Bon, Andrew James Taylor, Nigel John Taylor, Roger Andrew Taylor, Nicholas James Bates
Wrote it
New Moon on Monday
Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Written by Simon Le Bon, Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon John Charles Le Bon, Andrew James Taylor, Nigel John Taylor, Roger Andrew Taylor, Nicholas James Bates
Wrote it
Notorious
Notorious
Written by John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, Nigel John Taylor, Nicholas James Bates, Simon John Charles Le Bon
Wrote it
Skin Trade
Notorious
Written by John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, Nigel John Taylor, Nicholas James Bates, Simon John Charles Le Bon
Wrote it
Meet El Presidente
Notorious
Written by John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, Nigel John Taylor, Nicholas James Bates, Simon John Charles Le Bon
Wrote it
I Don't Want Your Love
Big Thing
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor
Wrote it
All She Wants Is
Big Thing
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor
Wrote it
Do You Believe in Shame?
Big Thing
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor
Wrote it
Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)
Liberty
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Warren Cuccurullo, Sterling Campbell
Wrote it
Ordinary World
Duran Duran
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Warren Cuccurullo
Wrote it
Come Undone
Duran Duran
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Warren Cuccurullo
Wrote it
Too Much Information
Duran Duran
Written by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Warren Cuccurullo
Wrote it
Electric Barbarella
Medazzaland
Written by Nick Rhodes, Warren Cuccurullo, Simon Le Bon, Nicholas James Bates, Warren Bruce Cuccurullo, Simon John Charles Le Bon
Wrote it

Discography 16 albums

All sixteen studio albums. The live albums, the compilation Decade and the side projects Arcadia and The Power Station sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Duran Duran188 tracks
29Nile Rodgers, 29 tracks JJ25John Jones, 25 tracks JB23Josh Blair, 23 tracks MH22Mr Hudson, 22 tracks LB21Le Bon, 21 tracks CT18Colin Thurston, 18 tracks TM18TV Mania, 18 tracks MR17Mark Ronson, 17 tracks DB16Dominic Brown, 16 tracks SP15Syn Productions, 15 tracks JE12Jonathan Elias, 12 tracks DA12Daniel Abraham, 12 tracks CK11Chris Kimsey, 11 tracks D11Danja, 11 tracks T11Timbaland, 11 tracks TM10TV Mania in association with Syn Pro Tokyo, 10 tracks JT10Justin Timberlake, 10 tracks RT9Roger Taylor & Nick Rhodes, 9 tracks AS9Alex Sadkin, 9 tracks IL9Ian Little, 9 tracks DG9Don Gilmore, 9 tracks EA9Erol Alkan, 9 tracks NH8Nate Hills, 8 tracks JB8Jim Beanz, 8 tracks JD8Jimmy Douglass, 8 tracks GC6Graham Coxon, 6 tracks SP3Syn Pro Tokyo, 3 tracks AJ3Anthony J. Resta, 3 tracks DA3Dallas Austin, 3 tracks M3Mosley, 3 tracks N"3Nate "Danja" Hills, 3 tracks JB3Joshua Blair, 3 tracks LR2Lou Reed, 2 tracks SS2Sly Stone, 2 tracks SJ2St. John, 2 tracks GM2Giorgio Moroder, 2 tracks BH2Benjamin Hudson McIldowie, 2 tracks MN1Milton Nascimento, 1 track MM1Melle Mel, 1 track SR1Sylvia Robinson, 1 track EC1Elvis Costello, 1 track BD1Bob Dylan, 1 track FF1Flavor Flav, 1 track on Public Enemy's page KS1Keith Shocklee, 1 track TB1The Bomb Squad, 1 track ES1Eric Sadler, 1 track DB1David Bowie, 1 track RG1Ricky Gardiner, 1 track TD1The Doors, 1 track NW1Norman Whitfield, 1 track BS1Barrett Strong, 1 track JP1Jimmy Page, 1 track on Led Zeppelin's page RP1Robert Plant, 1 track on Led Zeppelin's page BS1Bob St. John, 1 track MT1Mark Tinley, 1 track AM1Ana Matronic, 1 track K1Kelis, 1 track NH1Nick Hodgson, 1 track K1Kiesza, 1 track JM1Janelle Monáe, 1 track JB1Jonas Bjerre, 1 track TL1Tove Lo, 1 track CL1Carolina Liar, 1 track ID1Ivorian Doll, 1 track LJ1Lei Jennings, 1 track CL1Christopher Layton, 1 track VM1Vanessa Mahi, 1 track KH1Kaz Haga, 1 track MK1Mathieu Kranich, 1 track HK1Hannie Knox, 1 track C1Chai, 1 track MG1Mike Garson, 1 track BE1Billie Eilish, 1 track FO1Finneas O'Connell, 1 track MC1Marc Cerrone, 1 track AW1Alain Wisniak, 1 track LL1Lene Lovich, 1 track LM1Lili Marlen Premilovich, 1 track JD1Jerry Dammers, 1 track J1Jagger-Richards, 1 track RJ1Rick James, 1 track AM1Alonzo Miller, 1 track SS1Siouxsie Sioux, 1 track B1Budgie, 1 track JM1John McGeoch, 1 track SS1Steven Severin, 1 track SB1Susan Ballion, 1 track PE1Peter Edward Clarke, 1 track DB1David Byrne, 1 track CF1Chris Frantz, 1 track TW1Tina Weymouth, 1 track VD1Victoria De Angelis, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. JJ John Jones · JB Josh Blair · MH Mr Hudson · LB Le Bon · CT Colin Thurston

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Duran Duran credit their songs to the band, which means the credit changes shape every time the lineup does. Five names on Rio, three on Notorious, four on The Wedding Album, three again on Medazzaland. They are credited on 155 of their 188 album tracks, and nearly every one of the remaining 33 is a cover: Thank You in 1995 and half of Danse Macabre in 2023.

Quick Facts

  • Always the bandCredited on 155 of 188 album tracks, with no outside writer
  • The credit movesFive names on Rio, three on Notorious, four on The Wedding Album
  • Career salesOver 100 million records, per Billboard
  • American singles21 top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100
  • Five decadesTop five albums in the UK in five consecutive decades
  • Hall of FameInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022

Creative Fingerprint

A band credit that expands and contracts with the lineup, and never once opens to a hired songwriter.

The Story

Sixteen albums across five decades, over 100 million records, and one rule that has never changed: whoever is in the band that year wrote the songs. No outside writer has ever been hired.

Awards & Recognition

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2022)
Two Brit Awards, including Outstanding Contribution to Music (2004)
Two Grammy Awards
MTV Video Music Award for Lifetime Achievement
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Frequently Asked Questions Duran Duran

Does Duran Duran write their own songs?
All of them. Every original across sixteen albums is credited to the band, and not one outside songwriter appears anywhere in the catalogue. They are credited on 155 of 188 album tracks; almost all of the rest are covers, on Thank You in 1995 and on half of Danse Macabre in 2023.
Who wrote "Hungry Like the Wolf"?
The credit reads Duran Duran, meaning the five-piece lineup of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor. It reached number 3 on the Hot 100.
Why do the writing credits keep changing?
Because the band credit follows the lineup. Rio carries five names, Notorious three after Roger and Andy Taylor left, The Wedding Album four with Warren Cuccurullo, and Medazzaland three again after John Taylor went.
How many albums have they released?
Sixteen studio albums between 1981 and 2023, plus live records and the Arcadia and Power Station side projects that sit outside this catalogue.
How many records have they sold?
Over 100 million, according to Billboard.
Who wrote "Ordinary World"?
The credit reads Duran Duran, at that point Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Warren Cuccurullo. It reached number 3 on the Hot 100 in 1993.
What is Thank You?
A covers album from 1995. Eleven of its twelve tracks are other people's songs, which makes it the one record in the catalogue the band barely wrote.
Are there two self-titled albums?
Yes: the 1981 debut and the 1993 record, which everyone calls The Wedding Album to tell them apart.
Who is Warren Cuccurullo?
The guitarist from 1989 to 2001. He shares the band credit on Liberty, The Wedding Album, Thank You, Medazzaland and Pop Trash.
Have they won a Grammy?
Two, along with two Brit Awards, an MTV Video Music Award for Lifetime Achievement and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Sources

Wikipedia: Duran Duran Wikipedia: Duran Duran discography