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Post by madoldlu on Jul 2, 2020 16:52:16 GMT -5
He was somewhat successful, 'Take it Easy' was a decent hit and charted at 24 spot in the USA and #1 on MTV. 'I Might Lie' charted at 17, 'Don't Let Me Die Young' at 36. So Andy did have 3 top 40 singles! 'Thunder' charted at 46, and sold roughly 350K copies, which for today would be amazing (and tops any DD album since Thank You). So he was off to a 'good start', but honestly, it was 1987 and his brand of jock rock wasn't appealing to the wider DD base who had moved on to bands like U2, Depeche Mode, etc. Plus, Andy didn't tour the 'Thunder' album much in the USA or world. He played a handful of shows in the USA, Japan and that was it. If 'Thunder' had come out in 1985, it would've gone platinum - in the same way 'Power Station' and 'So Red the Rose' did. Because anything Duran related in 1985 would done the same. But again, by 1987, it was over. Andy then moved into producing, and he recorded that covers album on a whim per his book. He was supposed to produce it for someone, but then recorded it instead. His voice was completely shot on it lol... and he didn't tour it at all. Covers albums are a waste. Andy just never committed to the solo thing. It seemed more like a monetary opportunity to him than an actual artistic and career direction. And that's why he didn't make it. If he had toured 'Thunder', playing 100+ shows worldwide, opening for bands like Def Leppard, Night Ranger, etc, bands in 1987 that were huge... 'Thunder' probably would've gone gold or even platinum. I just don't think he cared. I was going to write that perhaps he didn't have the sex appeal that Bon Jovi or Motley Crue, etc had--but I think you're right on with saying that if he had worked harder with touring and attaching himself to other hair bands, he might have had a much better shot. I think his music had potential to appeal to that audience, but probably no one in that group ever heard any of it. I actually really liked Thunder and think he had some strong songs on there. I still listen to Don't Let Me Die Young and Bringing Me Down.
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Post by andre005 on Jul 2, 2020 17:12:21 GMT -5
Great song and great album. Actually, I’m still playing both of his album a lot! Really hoping for more new song. Will always be a Andy fan :-)!! Sure.. but we’re discussing why the single I Might Lie wasn’t a hit? Or rather Andre is asking the question! Lol Lol I was addressing the flaky bandit you mentioned and threw Roger in there !!! Lol
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Post by goldengun on Jul 2, 2020 17:19:55 GMT -5
He was set to tour in support of David Lee Roth in 1987/88 which would have been something - but then AT pulled out.
I remember reading that he was asked to join Def Leppard at one point- but declined as he didn't think it wise to follow in the steps of their guitarist who died in the early 90's.
I think that he just needed to get the rock out of his system - The Power Station album and tour helped but that freedom on guitar and writing was going to get muted within Duran Duran.
Also, I loved Astronaut, it was a return for Duran into the charts, videos getting played, hearing them on the radio, and their massive tour. That's what Duran needed as they lost it with Poop Trash and Medazzaland and they lost it ever since. Their album AYNIN deserved greater airplay as it was well made.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 17:49:37 GMT -5
Sure.. but we’re discussing why the single I Might Lie wasn’t a hit? Or rather Andre is asking the question! Lol Lol I was addressing the flaky bandit you mentioned and threw Roger in there !!! Lol Well I didn’t throw Roger in there.. you did. I’m getting confused now! Ha!
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Post by aftertherain on Jul 2, 2020 18:29:27 GMT -5
Roger left DD in 86 due to a breakdown (I don't like using the m word so I won't) his health issue changes everything compared to ATs departure
Andy left DD coz to an extent he was selfish eg he wasn't happy with DD's success, the S&TRT LP, Arena, wild boys or view to a kill (perhaps they weren't rocky enough for him?) and hence wanted to be centre stage doing SLBs job with a guitar in hand, rock n roll hero like.
I think his solo career died in the bum because
- fans wanted him back in DD (I can only speak for myself obviously I was one of these people) - his sound was so unrelated to DD - his look of a rock n roller with immaculate makeup and long softly curled wavy hair didnt cut it, seen his LP cover? (eg people wanted a true rocker to have a Bon Jovi type look), his LP cover IMO looked like a hair advertisement. - he tried to sue DD & cease them from using the DD name moving forward. (Again I can only speak for myself but this was my band he attempted to do this to and thereby IMO what was there to like about his solo offering?) why would I buy his LP ? Opps I lied I did a few months after its release for only $ 1 - he damaged DD financially, knocked em off being the biggest band in the world. I mean what is a major band (especially in the USA) without a bonafide guitarist.
They're my thoughts
Yet it's ok if DD fans disagree with me, we're all different !
Dont get me wrong, I'm not an Andy hater, I simply wanted him in DD, it was his choice to leave and under the circumstances I can't forget actual events/facts that once occurred to my band...........DD !
One thing was for sure tho and that was that once AT departed on his own accord, it left the door W I D E Open for someone to fill his shoes, and that someone was...............WC !
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Post by andre005 on Jul 2, 2020 23:59:26 GMT -5
He was set to tour in support of David Lee Roth in 1987/88 which would have been something - but then AT pulled out. I remember reading that he was asked to join Def Leppard at one point- but declined as he didn't think it wise to follow in the steps of their guitarist who died in the early 90's. I think that he just needed to get the rock out of his system - The Power Station album and tour helped but that freedom on guitar and writing was going to get muted within Duran Duran. Also, I loved Astronaut, it was a return for Duran into the charts, videos getting played, hearing them on the radio, and their massive tour. That's what Duran needed as they lost it with Poop Trash and Medazzaland and they lost it ever since. Their album AYNIN deserved greater airplay as it was well made. Aynin did not have a strong record label behind.. tape modern.. Had Warner been behind it .. album would have done awesome and Robson connection should have been big! But again there is ageism in the record industry.. so it’s tough these days for older artists/ bands!!
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Post by andre005 on Jul 3, 2020 0:27:30 GMT -5
Lol I was addressing the flaky bandit you mentioned and threw Roger in there !!! Lol Well I didn’t throw Roger in there.. you did. I’m getting confused now! Ha! Well what I was trying to say is that you were mad Andy left. But where you mad that Roger left? Was it easier since his was a nervous breakdown/ exhaustion? My idea was to have Roger leave a few years get energized and come back. If Andy’s solo career bombed to come back to Duran. I was always jealous of U2 who had the same 4 Unit members and still together! What if Duran had the same fan 5 what could have been? We will never know ...
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Post by aftertherain on Jul 3, 2020 0:29:08 GMT -5
He was set to tour in support of David Lee Roth in 1987/88 which would have been something - but then AT pulled out. I remember reading that he was asked to join Def Leppard at one point- but declined as he didn't think it wise to follow in the steps of their guitarist who died in the early 90's. I think that he just needed to get the rock out of his system - The Power Station album and tour helped but that freedom on guitar and writing was going to get muted within Duran Duran. Also, I loved Astronaut, it was a return for Duran into the charts, videos getting played, hearing them on the radio, and their massive tour. That's what Duran needed as they lost it with Poop Trash and Medazzaland and they lost it ever since. Their album AYNIN deserved greater airplay as it was well made. Aynin did not have a strong record label behind.. tape modern.. Had Warner been behind it .. album would have done awesome and Robson connection should have been big! But again there is ageism in the record industry.. so it’s tough these days for older artists/ bands!! That's true A and aside from ageism, unfortunately neither Warner or Sony wanted to support AYNIN because of its sound. its obvious DD would have gone to the big labels coz they do things BIG yet in this case when the big labels said not interested, they had to go independant or adapt as they did with PGs and therefore DD got the big label support it's unfortunate but it's the way of the business such as it is, whether we like it or not and unfortunately whether DD like it or not ! Obviously DD aren't going to tell us of the labels that actually knock them back over and over. Besides they did that already with reportage and still got a slamming (to an extent) by some as a result of a) AT leaving for the 2nd time and b) Sony insisting they work with hit makers ! To an extent our DD are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
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Post by heskethbang on Jul 3, 2020 2:51:04 GMT -5
One word: Credibility. Around the mid 80s, DD were seen as a teenage pin up band - a light fluffy manufactured pop band that rock fans would laugh or sneer at. We know, and history has realised this wasn't the case - but that was the perception - and perception is everything.
A brand new artist with that single, an artist only ever known for rock, would've stood a much, much better chance at success.
I agree he might've stood a better chance doing support tours with big rock names, but the problem would more or less have remained.
He'd have been better off embracing the fact he was a guitarist of a successful pop band, rather than trying to fight it, but of course he was a young man with money exploring where his talent could take him. So who could blame him?!
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Post by durandurannorway on Jul 3, 2020 4:30:50 GMT -5
Great song and great album. Actually, I’m still playing both of his album a lot! Really hoping for more new song. Will always be a Andy fan :-)!! Sure.. but we’re discussing why the single I Might Lie wasn’t a hit? Or rather Andre is asking the question! Lol Ok, sorry for mention that I like the song and the album in this thread
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