Duranalysis: Essays on the Duran Duran Experience

by Morgan Richter

No band epitomizes the eighties, a decade of stylish and absurd excesses, as much as Duran Duran. Certainly no band inspires the same dizzying range of emotions—adoration, delight, confusion, contempt—as those five beautiful boys from England who burst onto the New Wave scene like a glitter-encrusted wrecking ball at the start of the decade and, with the help of their spectacular music videos, held the public’s attention in a vise grip. Still (mostly) together and going strong, they’ve endured because no one could ever quite forget them, even when the end of the eighties threatened to turn them into relics of an era that overstayed its welcome. Duran Duran are pop music glamorous, ridiculous, larger than life, and absolutely hilarious.

With wit and affection, Duranalysis tackles the Duran Duran phenomenon. Duranalysis is composed of a series of insightful, informative, irreverent essays encompassing the complete history of Duran Duran, from their origins in working-class Birmingham through their MTV domination and the crazy chaos of megafame in the 1980’s, to their lower-profile but still glamorous present.

Welcome to Duranalysis. It’s going to be a wild ride.

Genres: Music

138 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2017

About the author

Morgan is the author of the neo-noir thriller THE DIVIDE (Knopf; August 2024), and the thriller THE UNDERSTUDY, which will be released by Knopf on August 5th, 2025.

Morgan is a graduate of the Filmic Writing program at the University of Southern California’s film school and has worked in production on several television shows, including ABC’s America’s Funniest Home Videos and E! Entertainment Television’s Emmy-winning comedy series Talk Soup. An avid popular culture critic, she is the author of Duranalysis: Essays on the Duran Duran Experience and has amassed a cult following on her analyses of classic Duran Duran videos. She has self-published five novels, but THE DIVIDE is her first foray into traditional publishing. Richter currently lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbeknownst to me, I had the knowledge to write a series of slightly snarky essays about Duran Duran's career. Since I did not, and Richer did - mad props to her! Fun to read, especially a bit at a time.

[Brian O'Leary · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read this, you are probably already a fan of Duran Duran, so that is probably why it gets such high marks. But in my opinion, nothing special here. Just a fluff piece written by a big fan of the band and the 80's in general. But it is too short, 124 pages, repetitive and does not have much insight. It is fine as a fluff piece about the band.

[Toni Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing new in this book. It is mostly just over-explained descriptions of Duran Duran's videos that true Duranies would have already seen a thousand times. I skimmed over most of it.

[Kerry Murtagh Ramsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Move along

Nothing new here. The book comes heartbreakingly close to making some good points about how DD both reflected and covered up what the as happening in the world around them but then just leaves that dangling. There’s at least one point that needs a source because I’ve read different information.

There also was some nice work toward the end where the author parallels her own journey with that of the band. Unfortunately, what we have is a description of many of DD’s videos, a lot of talk about Nick’s makeup and (as per usual when someone writes about the band) a quick gloss over the really tough stuff.

This book could have been so much more.

[Sandy Lender · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm late to the party finding, reading, and sharing thoughts about this book, published in 2017, but I'm delighted to add it to my Duran collection here in 2024. As a 40-year Duranie, I could nod along to the facts and dates shared in these essays. It was a fun and humorous reminder of random images and special songs of my youth. It even prompted me to dig out the photo albums to find that picture of me re-enacting John Taylor's Eiffel Tower shoot-em-up scene in "A View to a Kill."
Good book, good fun, good humor, good style...it's a shame it ends in 2017!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was exactly what the title says…. Duranalysis! I never cared what others are saying especially when it comes to books that are about one of my favourite band! It was so much fun to go back in time through the whole history from the glorious days to the dark deep ones. I suggest this book to all the Duranies our there that lived through the highs and lows of being a fan of this band.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, LOVE this book!!!

Perfect read for us lifelong duranies 😘

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging history of fandom

[Jolie Lindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a Duranie diehard. I have been since 1981. Morgan's essays made me feel seen.

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Very funny in parts and I liked her snarky humor.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. These essays SPOKE TO MY SOUL. (I, too, was 9 in 1973 and discovered and loved Duran Duran in much the same way as the author.) The author is funny, witty and the essays are filled warmth and love for her subject. (Plus, I learned stuff! Like the existence of the gonzo "The Night Boat" video! How have I lived my entire life without it?!?)