All Images courtesy of Maggie K de Monde and Andrew Sparke Publishing
The Duran Duran En Scène trio of books contains an incredible collection of intimate photos shot by the late Paul Edmond of the music scene in Birmingham at a time when Duran were just beginning to take off around the recording of Planet Earth. These books really are a rare glimpse into a period in the band’s career that is rarely accessible visually. “It was a vibrant and creative time,” recalls Edmond’s sister, musician Maggie K de Monde, also a big presence on the scene. “Boy George was living in Brum and all the bands – UB40, Dexys, Beat, Au Pairs and more – and fashion designers and club kids were hanging out at the Rum Runner and the Holy City Zoo. My band at the time was Swans Way, before Scarlet Fantastic, and we used to rehearse at the Rum Runner, as did Duran Duran. My band Playthings before that supported Duran several times.”
As well as documenting that lesser-seen period in the fivepiece’s ascendant early days, each volume of this series features the personal recollections of musicians and associates from the scene at the time, including Boy George and Mulligan from the band Fashion, Maggie herself, as well as introductions written by author Martin Tracey – the following intimate excerpts provide a taste of the series as a whole.