What Is Andy Taylor’s Net Worth?
Andy Taylor, the British musician best known for his work with Duran Duran and Power Station, has an estimated net worth of $20 million as of 2024. This wealth is built from his successful music career, including record sales, royalties, production work, and other ventures.
Early Career and Duran Duran Success
Andrew Arthur Taylor was born on February 16, 1961, in Cullercoats, Tyne and Wear, England. His passion for music started early, and he began playing guitar at age 11. Taylor started his musical journey by playing in local bands during his teens. Driven by his passion, he dropped out of school to pursue music full-time, eventually moving to Birmingham. In 1980, Andy Taylor answered an advertisement in Melody Maker for a “live-wire guitarist,” which led him to Duran Duran. He joined keyboardist Nick Rhodes, guitarist/bassist John Taylor, and later, singer Simon Le Bon.
Taylor’s addition to Duran Duran marked the beginning of an era of unprecedented success. The band quickly ascended to global fame with their catchy pop-rock songs and innovative music videos that dominated MTV. Duran Duran sold over 100 million records worldwide, contributing significantly to Taylor’s financial prosperity. In July 2022, Simon Le Bon stated that the band splits all income equally, highlighting the financial fairness within the group.
The Power Station and Solo Ventures
In 1985, during a break from Duran Duran, Taylor co-founded the supergroup Power Station with Robert Palmer, John Taylor, and Tony Thompson. The band’s self-titled debut album, released in 1985, was a commercial success. “The Power Station” album peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard 200 and number 12 on the UK Albums Chart. It sold over 1,314,520 albums, including 1,000,000 in the United States and 100,000 in the United Kingdom. The album spawned three Top 40 hits in the United States: “Some Like It Hot,” “Get It On (Bang a Gong),” and “Communication.” According to Billboard, Duran Duran has sold over 100 million records. They achieved 30 top 40 singles in the UK Singles Chart (14 of them top 10) and 21 top 40 singles in the US Billboard Hot 100.
Leaving Duran Duran in 1986, Andy Taylor embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut album, “Thunder,” in 1987. While not as commercially successful as his work with Duran Duran, “Thunder” charted at number 46 and sold roughly 350,000 copies. The album featured Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones. Taylor also contributed to soundtracks for films like “American Anthem” and “Tequila Sunrise.” His second solo album, “Dangerous,” released in 1990, consisted of cover songs. The album did not chart in the UK or US, but two singles, “Lola” and “Stone Cold Sober,” reached numbers 60 and 94 in the UK, respectively.
Production Work and Recent Activity
While his solo career didn’t reach the heights of Duran Duran, Andy Taylor established himself as a successful producer, contributing to albums by artists such as Rod Stewart and Thunder. In 2019, Round Hill Music announced a worldwide publishing deal with Taylor, recognizing his extensive catalog as a songwriter, guitarist, singer, and producer. He co-wrote, co-produced, and played guitar on Rod Stewart’s multi-platinum album, “Out of Order,” and produced hits for Thunder, The Almighty, and Robert Palmer. In 2022, Taylor released a new solo single, “Man’s A Wolf To Man,” his first solo effort in 33 years. In March 2023, it was announced that Taylor would rejoin Duran Duran to record a new album, “Danse Macabre,” which was released in November 2023.
Other Ventures
In addition to his musical endeavors, Andy Taylor has also been involved in other ventures. Andy Taylor is also credited as Visual Effects Producer for Peter Jackson’s “Mortal Engines” and has over 14 years of experience in production at Double Negative. His credits include “Godzilla”(2014), “Captain Phillips”, “Iron Man 2”, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Star Trek Beyond.” In 1982, Taylor married Tracey Wilson, a hair stylist, and opened a wine bar in Whitely Bay named Rio.