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  • In the Pleasure Groove

  • Love, Death, and Duran Duran
  • Written by: John Taylor
  • Narrated by: John Taylor
  • Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (28 ratings)

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In the Pleasure Groove

Written by: John Taylor
Narrated by: John Taylor
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Publisher's Summary

John Taylor, Duran Duran's co-founder, takes the listener on a wild ride through his life. From the 80s through today, from Rio to All You Need is Now, John writes about the music, the parties, and the MTV videos that made millions swoon.

With Duran Duran, John Taylor has created some of the greatest music of our time. From the disco dazzle of debut single "Planet Earth" right up to their latest number one album, All You Need is Now, Duran Duran has always had the power to sweep the world onto its feet.

It's been a ride - and for John in particular, the ride has been wild, thrilling...and dangerous. Now, for the first time, he tells his incredible story. A tale of dreams fulfilled, lessons learned and demons conquered.

A shy only child, Nigel John Taylor wasn't an obvious candidate for pop stardom and frenzied girl panic. But when he ditched his first name and picked up a bass guitar, everything changed. John Formed Duran Duran with his friend Nick Rhodes in the summer of 1978, and they were soon joined by Roger Taylor, then Andy Taylor and finally Simon Le Bon. Together they were an immediate, massive global success story, their pictures on millions of walls, every single a worldwide hit.

In his frank, compelling autobiography, John recounts the highs - hanging out with icons like Bowie, Warhol and even James Bond; dating Vogue models and driving fast cars - all the while playing hard with the band he loved. But there were tough battles ahead - troubles that brought him to the brink of self-destruction - before turning his life around.

Told with humor, honesty and hard-won wisdom, and packed with exclusive pictures, In the Pleasure Groove is a fascinating, irresistible portrait of a man who danced into the fire... and came through the other side.

©2012 John Taylor (P)2012 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

“Unlike most cred-obsessed rockers, the Duran Duran bassist presents his (and the band's) story as one of substance in the service of style. And his natural raconteur's wit lends Duran's ruthless ambition some crucial charm.” (LA Times)

“Taylor's honest and heartfelt style makes for a highly worthwhile and entertaining read whether you are a fan of the band or not. In the Pleasure Groove is, quite simply, a fascinating tale of very interesting man who has jammed one hell of a lot of living into his 52 years.”(Huffington Post)

"The book is a familiar tale of rock ’n’ roll, sin and redemption, but Taylor’s capable voice make this a more nuanced and intriguing memoir than might be expected.” (Kirkus)

What listeners say about In the Pleasure Groove

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  • JV
  • 2023-11-20

magic and substance

reading in bed with John Taylor's voice ? heaven. such a great read. kind. respectful reflections. sigh.

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Great story

I was a huge Duranie in the 80s so to get to hear John Taylor tell his story was amazing. He comes across as very honest and does not sugar coat his struggles with fame and all it's ups and downs. I would have been happy with an even longer book, it was that interestimg! You come away feeling that John is someone who would be happy talking with anyone and not a pretentious Rockstar. Loved this book!

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Love!

I have this book in hard back at home, I loved it so much the first time I read it that I knew it would be the first book I purchased in audio format. I just finished listening to it and I loved it even more than when I read it. I love the fact that John Taylor is the one reading the book, it makes it more personal. Duran Duran is still my favourite band after all these years. 💕

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Now I Know

What a story teller he is. Felt like I was there following his footsteps. Loved it all

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A View to Duran Duran

I was a casual Duran Duran fan as a teen, and I went into this book with no great expectations of John Taylor as a reader or of the story itself.

John Taylor is an excellent reader, and I really loved hearing the story told in his voice (literal and figurative).

Hearing about John's childhood and the beginnings of Duran Duran was interesting and to get the inside perspective of the phenomenon that was and is Duran Duran was fascinating.

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Good bits of John history

Good memoir for those who like Duran Duran. John did read well but sometimes the tone was off a bit and Alan it thought it was someone else . Would like to have heard more about his drug issues and how he overcame it besides the rehab place. Could help others .

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Did not want this book to end!

I was sad when I finished this book because I wanted it to go on. I cant believe the details John gives even as a young boy. I am slightly younger than him and in no way can I even come close to remembering details like him.
As an aspiring musician I was as a boy, just like John(but unlike John I never "made it" ), this was an especially fascinating detailed account of a bonified rock star.
Thank-you John for opening your heart like that to the world.

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Listened Twice!

I loved this book so much, I listened to it twice. I’ll admit, I’m a Duranie from wayyyy back, and John was always my favourite, so this book would’ve had to be really bad for me not to like it, but it was great. Well written, great stories and inside memories about the band, and John in particular. And all in his own voice.

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