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Post by Sir rogerlejohn jr. on Oct 26, 2014 15:21:40 GMT -5
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Post by Dr Of The Revolution on Oct 26, 2014 15:45:36 GMT -5
Because he had the vision. Because he formed the band. Because he owns the brand. Because he's Nick. Strangely enough, in Duran there's more to it than being able to play your instrument well although I agree it takes a special personality to go on stage and almost totally fake it.
I remember a very early behind the scenes minidoc on the 1981-82 tour that was originally broadcast on UK television(I think it's an easter egg on Greatest) : Nick is soundchecking and speaking to the sound engineer about the sound. I think the sound engineer was trying to tweak his sound. Then Nick says : "Who cares". I always understood that as "Who cares if my keaboard sound is coming through because it's all on tape"
There's also the Old Grey Whistle Test performance where you can see a reel to reel tape spinning in the background And then there's a version of New Moon On Monday in 1984 where the keyboards are a few measures out of sync with all the other instruments. They stay out of sync far too long : another sign it was on tape (or sequencer).
Nowadays it's on Mac
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2014 16:07:19 GMT -5
And then there's a version of New Moon On Monday in 1984 where the keyboards are a few measures out of sync with all the other instruments. They stay out of sync far too long : another sign it was on tape. You mean almost for the entire song? As well as the Rio arpeggio in some live versions...
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Post by Dr Of The Revolution on Oct 26, 2014 16:09:34 GMT -5
I don't remember how long it went on and I don't have the recording near me to check but it was embarrasing
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2014 16:16:20 GMT -5
I don't remember how long it went on and I don't have the recording near me to check but it was embarrasing It was the King Biscuit Flower Hour show and it was painful to listen to as it was ahead of other instruments....
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Post by coolbarn on Oct 26, 2014 20:41:50 GMT -5
Nick is the chief songwriter for Duran, and generally does a bloody good job of it. I don't care if he is like Liberace on the keyboards or not; I just care that he writes good music.
(It's when he overdoes things that annoys me, as mentioned in other threads)
So I may be critical of Nick from time to time, sometimes very critical, but I wouldn't swap him for any other keyboard player in the world.
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Post by jamieaiken919 on Oct 26, 2014 21:01:45 GMT -5
Nick is the chief songwriter for Duran, and generally does a bloody good job of it. I don't care if he is like Liberace on the keyboards or not; I just care that he writes good music. (It's when he overdoes things that annoys me, as mentioned in other threads) So I may be critical of Nick from time to time, sometimes very critical, but I wouldn't swap him for any other keyboard player in the world. For once I agree with almost everything you said, coolbarn. The opinion on overdoing things I'll leave blank, but that's just me. Nick plays on the tracks. Whether or not what's coming through in a live performance is different because we don't know the reasons behind using tracks versus playing live. But it's still Nick playing the damn keyboards regardless of whether it's pretaped or live, and that's what I feel like people forget. A lot of the old performances that people are talking about, all of them were pretaped and they were all going through the motions. Where's the criticism in those? To single out Nick isn't fair, though I'll admit it would be nice to hear his talents live. What everyone needs to remember is that without Nick Rhodes there wouldn't be a Duran Duran. Be thankful that he had the drive to bring together amazing talent and allow that talent to flourish into the band we're all here for.
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Post by sergejames on Oct 26, 2014 21:52:07 GMT -5
If you look at old Roxy Music performances, Eno had reel to reel tapes going too. No big deal.
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Post by mynick7 on Oct 26, 2014 23:29:55 GMT -5
Nick is the chief songwriter for Duran, and generally does a bloody good job of it. I don't care if he is like Liberace on the keyboards or not; I just care that he writes good music. (It's when he overdoes things that annoys me, as mentioned in other threads) So I may be critical of Nick from time to time, sometimes very critical, but I wouldn't swap him for any other keyboard player in the world. For once I agree with almost everything you said, coolbarn. The opinion on overdoing things I'll leave blank, but that's just me. Nick plays on the tracks. Whether or not what's coming through in a live performance is different because we don't know the reasons behind using tracks versus playing live. But it's still Nick playing the damn keyboards regardless of whether it's pretaped or live, and that's what I feel like people forget. A lot of the old performances that people are talking about, all of them were pretaped and they were all going through the motions. Where's the criticism in those? To single out Nick isn't fair, though I'll admit it would be nice to hear his talents live. What everyone needs to remember is that without Nick Rhodes there wouldn't be a Duran Duran. Be thankful that he had the drive to bring together amazing talent and allow that talent to flourish into the band we're all here for. I agree with Jamie and coolbarn. Nick is the heart and soul of Duran. Nick (along with Simon) kept the group alive through the all the line-up changes...through what a lot of people consider their worst albums. Yet Duran Duran is still together today. Nick was barely 16 years old when he started playing the keyboards. He isn't a piano-prodigy...but he always had the desire and passion for music. He taught himself keyboards, and he's still learning to this day. Of course he had a tech and Mark Tinley was and still is an awesome programmer. But at least Nick knows what he wants and absorbs everything like a sponge. With technology always changing, one needs to experiment with new keyboards, gadgets, programs, etc. It cannot be an easy instrument to play. But Nick does it. So what if not everything is live? For goodness sake! On top of playing, you've got constant fiddling on various keyboards as well as making sure all of the programs are running correctly. I can't blame him for making parts of song recorded. But I have seen him play...and play live and right along with the correct beat, syncing, everything. Saying that John, Andy and Roger are real musicians and Nick isn't is not fair by any sense. Nick is The Controller because he's Nick and he takes Duran Duran and their music to heart. He's honestly interested in the studio side as well as the music side...which is good for the group because no one else has the dedication he has had when it comes to DD's sound. I've heard everyone in the group mess up live...and so what? They are human. Sometimes they are in the groove and sometime they sound like crap. I can admit that. But Duran Duran would not be Duran Duran if Nick wasn't there playing the keyboards.
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Post by coolbarn on Oct 27, 2014 1:42:42 GMT -5
Funnily enough I have a double-standard when it comes to Duran's instrumentation. If Roger and John go missing on an album, I'm extremely critical. However I prefer Nick to lay low. Maybe it's because I'm a drummer and I expect the rhythm-section to always be 'on' every album. If I sense John or Roger are not pushing themselves hard enough, or being lazy and just recording four bars of music and then looping it for the duration of the song, then I'll be incensed. However I prefer to 'feel' Nick's keyboard parts rather than hear them; I think he's at his best when I barely know he's there, but when I listen back to the song and concentrate on the keyboards it's only then I'll realise how cool they are. And mynick7 makes a very good point - the synthesiser is an electronic instrument that is always advancing and progressing. Nick has always been a keyboard player rather than a piano player. It's not fair to compare him with John, Roger, or Dom, whose own instruments haven't fundamentally changed for years. Yes I know electronic drumkits are changing and incorporating more and more sounds, but the fundamentals remain the same. You look at any "best drummer of all time" poll on the internet and it's always the older guys who are up the top. Someone like John Bonham is regularly regarded as the greatest drummer in Rock history, and he died in 1980. Similarly the Bass and Guitar top 10 lists are dominated by guys who have either retired or sadly passed away. So I expect Roger's fills, hi-hat work, and flourishes to blow me away, and John's basslines to wow and mesmerise me, and of course Dom to come up with some really cool riffs (I don't care that he isn't an official member of the band, I still expect great guitar work from the guys they do employ), but Nick not so much. In fact if I don't really notice him he's probably doing a really good job. Just like in cricket you shouldn't notice a really good wicketkeeper because he just goes about his job with a minimum of fuss, the same applies to Nick Rhodes and his ability to play the keyboards in Duran Duran. As long as the songs are great, then I am very happy with Mr Rhodes
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