Attention all Duranies! BBC Four announces Boys On Film - A Night with Duran DuranOFFICIAL PRESS RELEASENEWS PROVIDED BY BBC Four The iconic British rock band Duran Duran are set to take over BBC Four on Friday 29 June from 9pm. With exclusive access to the band, the night of programming features two newly-filmed documentaries which showcase incredible insights, previously unseen archive footage and rare demo tapes, as well as the group’s thoughts and inspirations across the decades since they first formed in 1978 in Birmingham. Duran Duran: A Night In (10pm-11pm) sees the group talking about their early inspirations, as they look back together at the television programmes, music and film that they grew up on from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Bassist John Taylor says: "Without the BBC, there would be no Duran Duran. Forty years ago this October, the BBC first aired Barbarella. It was while watching that late-night screening of the Jane Fonda sci-fi epic that members of a burgeoning Birmingham post-punk band decided the name of one of the films characters - Durand Durand - would make for a cool and unusual band name. "The BBC provided us with a constant stream of the best contemporary music throughout the '70s, just when we were coming of age and finding ourselves as individuals and future artists. Everybody who was anybody went through the doors of Top Of The Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test, and we were there soaking it all in, so it is with great pleasure we present our curated night of music on BBC Four this coming June 29. These documentaries and clips have allowed us to explore the origins of the band through personal experiences and cultural touchstones. Even the savviest fans will find surprises." Jan Younghusband, Head of Commissioning for BBC Music, says: "Duran Duran have remained one of the world’s most influential and successful bands across the last four decades, starting off in the early 80s as an alternative group who embraced the New Romantic era. Fusing fashion, design, art and technology with timeless music they have continued to captured the hearts of millions around the world across several generations. As the home of music on BBC Television, I’m thrilled that BBC Four is celebrating this unique group with a night of exclusive programming." Notes to Editors Coming to BBC Four, the home of music television on the BBC, in June are Africa: A Journey Into Music With Rita Ray, exploring ancient traditions and enduring influence of popular music of Mali, Nigeria and South Africa, and Smashing Hits! The 80s Pop Map of Britain & Ireland with Midge Ure, and Kim Appleby revealing how the 80s was actually one of the most revolutionary musical decades in British pop history. Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know Charting their trajectory since they formed, the story is told through seven of their 14 groundbreaking albums - each one uncovering a compelling chapter in the band’s journey: the fame, the fortune, the meltdowns, the hits, the misses, the iconic videos, the tours, the fans, the partying and the supermodels. With intimate access to each band member, and previously unseen archive footage, the documentary reveals how their meteoric rise to fame at such a young age affected each of them and how they have reclaimed their seat at the table with rock royalty. It is a story of survival. Four decades on and the band are still getting Top 10 hits. In 2016, their 14th studio album, Paper Gods, co-produced by Mark Ronson, Nile Rodgers and Mr Hudson, and featuring soul pop sensation Janelle Monae - was critically acclaimed worldwide, not just by fans, but by fellow musicians, artists and the music industry. The film looks at how they survived this incredible journey and how they still compete in today’s cut-throat pop business. Back2back Executive Producer/MD David Notman-Watt says: “Duran Duran are still standing where so many of their peers have fallen by the wayside. Revealing, surprising, and at times shocking, this documentary lifts the lid on the real story of one of the truly great British bands.” The documentary includes contributions from Cindy Crawford, Boy George, Mark Ronson, Nile Rodgers, Antony Price, Russell Mulcahy, Nick Egan and many more. Duran Duran: A Night In Taylor and his three bandmates took great pains in selecting choice cuts from the BBC archive that would best represent their experiences and interests growing up. "There was just so much to choose from, we could have programmed hours of music," says John Taylor. In an exclusive interview, they discuss their influences from the worlds of film and art, referencing Blade Runner, Andy Warhol and Tomorrow’s World. From Barbarella in ‘68 to Patti Smith’s Horses in ’76, David Bailey on Andy Warhol in ‘73 to Prince’s Kiss in ’86 and Roxy Music’s Virginia Plain in ‘72 to Midnight Express in ‘78. A Night In is a trip down memory lane with the band as they remember the shows that capture a particular moment in their creative lives. There’s even a moment for Roobarb And Custard! With more than 100 million records sold, 18 American hit singles and 30 UK top 20 songs, Duran Duran have won Grammy, Ivor Novello, Brit, Q, BPI, Silver Clef and MTV Music Video Awards (amongst others) and were inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993. Their name famously comes from the character Dr. Durand Durand in the film Barbarella. Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know and Duran Duran: A Night In have been ordered by Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor of BBC Four, commissioned by Jan Younghusband, Head of Commissioning for BBC Music. Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Emma Cahusac. Executive producer for Back2back Productions is David Notman-Watt, producer/director is Zoe Dobson.
Source BBC Four
June 4, 2018 6:03am ET by BBC Four |