Andy Wickett
Duran's lead vocalist in 1979

My first memories of John were seeing him playing in a band called Dada. Nick used to come and record TV Eye on his tape recorder while we were rehearsing.

TV Eye was apparently quite well known in Birmingham, Duran was relatively new to the music scene. What did the band sound like and what were the early Duran live shows like (musically and visually)? Is it true that at one show the band had ketchup thrown at them from the audience....?

You'll have to buy the demo to find out what they sounded like, he! he!.... Visually they very much looked like me and TV Eye. We were actually showered with paper plates when we were mistakenly booked to play on a college rugby team night. I thought it was a flying saucer attack.

Can you tell us more about meeting Roger Taylor (previously drummer with Scent Organs) and how he joined Duran?

TV Eye played a few gigs with the Scent organs. I Asked Roger to join the band.

How did you come into contact with Bob Lamb and record Duran's first demo tape?

UB40 recommended Bob Lamb to me.

Is the demo CD you've released an exact copy (musically) of the demo tape or did things need to be enhanced/changed?

Yes it's an exact copy.

See Me Repeat Me evolved into Rio, did Reincarnation and Working the Steel evolve into any other tracks, that you know of?

See me repeat me did not evolve into Rio. I don't know who told you that! [Editor's note - we took this information from JT's early Duran memories on his website] Rio was ripped off from Stevies Radio Station. A song I performed with both TV Eye and Durans

Do you remember any other song titles from your time in Duran? Did you play any covers?

To the Shore, Sound of Thunder, Love Story. No covers.

When did you first start thinking about releasing these demos?

A few years ago.

Have you by any chance heard The Devils' album Dark Circles? This album contains several of the earliest Duran songs, but recorded a couple of years ago. If you've heard it, how 'early Duran' does it sound to you?

Sorry I haven't heard it. Would be interesting to hear it though

Both Stephen Duffy and Simon Le Bon have commented about Nick and John that they were the most ambitious people they'd ever met, in what they wanted to achieve with Duran Duran. Did you share that amount of ambition and that dream?

Not in the same way. I think I'm more ambitious in a creative sense.

You left Duran at the end of 1979 - what were your reasons at the time? Any regrets?

We fell out over a girl. I regret that I didn't get credited for my writing contributions.

Have you kept in touch with any of the band over the years?

I bump into them from time to time.

Have you followed Duran's career over the past 2 decades?

I haven't really heard much of their stuff. I did like the track Ordinary World though.

In 1994 your band World Service was opening act for Duran? How did that come about and how was it to perform as a support for Duran?

My bass player wrote them a letter. It was nice to play to a big audience with a good sound system.

We've seen on your site that since leaving Duran you've performed with several other bands and worked in animation. Can you give our readers a brief overview of your career since Duran - what are your personal highlights and what are your plans for the future?

During and after Durans I fell in love with reggae music. I Joined the XpertZ. We experimented with mixing Dub and electronics. We played with U2, The Clash, Culture club. The highlight would be our British tour with Gregory 'Mr Cool' Issacs, Burning Spear. Later I helped form a band called World Service. We toured the Sahara Desert and North Africa a few times. I also did a lot of painting and writing at the same time. Then I got into computers and animation. I've created pop videos for several bands, one was shown on MTV every 15 minutes. I'm currently recording an album and producing a secret animated film. I would love to earn enough money from my music to ensure the future of my kids.