Nick Rhodes
| Nick Rhodes | |
|---|---|
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Rhodes in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nicholas James Bates |
| Also known as | Ringo (1980s nickname), The Controller |
| Born |
8 June 1962 Moseley, Birmingham, West Midlands, England |
| Genres | Pop, pop rock, synthpop, new wave |
| Occupation(s) | Keyboardist, producer |
| Instruments | Keyboards, sampler, vocals |
| Years active | 1978-present |
| Associated acts | Duran Duran, Arcadia, The Devils, TV Mania, Kajagoogoo, The Dandy Warhols |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Roland Jupiter-4 Roland Jupiter-8 Fairlight CMI Alesis Andromeda A6 |
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Nick Rhodes (born Nicholas James Bates; 8 June 1962) is an English musician, best known as a founding member and keyboardist of the new wave band Duran Duran.
He has also released albums with Arcadia in 1985 (a Duran Duran side-project), as well as The Devils in 2002 with Stephen Duffy the original lead singer of Duran Duran. In March 2013, he released the TV Mania side project with ex-Duran Duran guitarist Warren Cuccurullo.
Nicholas James Bates was the only child of well-off parents, the owners of a Birmingham toy shop. Bates attended Woodrush High School in Hollywood, Birmingham. He and John Taylor (also from Hollywood) formed a band called 'RAF'. Bates left school in 1978 at the age of sixteen, and founded Duran Duran with schoolfriends Stephen Duffy (vocals), John Taylor (who then played lead guitar), and Simon Colley (bass). At about the same time as the name Duran Duran was chosen for the band, Bates decided to change his name, which was given to him by John Taylor before the first interview they had together for their band. He cited a dislike for being called Master Bates and chose the name "Rhodes" after the brand of electronic keyboard.
As the band coalesced into its final line-up in 1979-80, Duran Duran started playing at a local Birmingham club called "The Rum Runner". The club owners became the band's managers, and Rhodes began working at the club as a disc jockey.
The band achieved rapid success, and Rhodes was a driving force throughout. An unschooled musician, he experimented with the sounds his analogue synthesisers were capable of, but shied away from the "novelty" sounds of some other early synth bands. The distinctive warble of "Save A Prayer", the keyboard stabs of "A View to a Kill", and the string sounds of "Come Undone" and "Ordinary World" are some of his most recognisable creations, as well as the futuristic oscillating synth that characterised Duran Duran's self-titled first album. He also popularised the Crumar Performer on the early records.
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