WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The Power Station

The Power Station liked it hot, but did the music masses? Get it on!

Members of Duran Duran were very busy in the mid 80’s, not only with their own material but as the backbone of two ‘supergroups’ at the same time. 1985 found Duran x2 on top of the charts with the title theme to that years James Bond film “A View To A Kill”, at the same time, Andy Taylor and John Taylor formed one third of the band The Power Station along with Michael Des Barres (b.1948), Robert Palmer (b.1949), Chic’s Tony Thompson (b.1954) and Bernard Edwards (b.1952). Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes would occupy their time with the group Arcadia, before the Duranies regrouped for their 1986 album, “Notorious”. The Power Station formed in 1984 with half the members based in New York and half in London, but recording took place at The Power Station studios in New York, so that seemed like a good name for the band, and in February 1985, their debut single, “Some Like It Hot”, was released.

The track went to No.14 in the UK and No.6 in America and was a top twenty hit in multiple other countries, paving the way for their self-titled first album to come the following month. “The Power Station” would make it to No.6 Stateside and No.12 in the UK, while the second single, “Get It On”, would reach No.9 in the US and No.22 in the UK in May 1985, the same time as “A View To A Kill” was peaking at No.1 in America and No.2 in the UK. Both singles went top ten in Australia but the third and final cut, “Communication”, was only a minor hit in America. All members disbanded as they pursued their own, usual agendas with Duran Duran making their return in late 1986, Bernard Edwards would go on to produce records for Joe Cocker, ABC and Jody Watley. Robert Palmer would enjoy a successful 1986 with his global smash hit “Addicted To Love” and his multi-Platinum album “Riptide”. But all was not over for The Power Station…

…the band would regroup in 1995 and record the follow up album “Living In Fear”, which along with the lead single “She Can Rock It”, were released during 1996. The single made the UK top 75 but that was as far as the group went. Once again, busy work schedules prevented any further reunions and sadly won’t as Bernard Edwards died in April 1996 at the age of 43. 2003 claimed the lives of Robert Palmer in September aged 54, having achieved smash hits of his own with “She Makes My Day” (1988), “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” and “Mercy Mercy Me”, both in 1990, while two months later, Tony Thompson died at the age of 48.