Duran Duran has rendered a heartfelt tribute to the late American filmmaker, David Lynch, whose mesmerizing and eccentric cinematic creations served as a beacon of inspiration for a youthful Nick Rhodes. In a poignant post on the band's Instagram page, which boasts induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, Rhodes reminisces about Lynch as a "creative superhero," hailing from "the very moment I first laid eyes on his groundbreaking film, Eraserhead, during my teenage years." The keyboardist further elaborates, "His boundless imagination, unparalleled innovation, distinctive style, and dry humor will forever remain a towering source of inspiration."
The bond between Duran Duran and the iconic auteur, who passed away after a prolonged battle with illness, runs deep. In 2011, Lynch lent his directorial prowess to an episode of American Express' "Unstaged" concert series featuring Duran Duran. Recalling the collaboration, Rhodes, the group's founding keyboardist, once told Billboard.com, "The stranger it is, the more beautiful it becomes. What truly resonated with us about working with David was his unconventional way of thinking and his relentless pursuit of creating something uniquely his own. He operated completely outside the established norms, and that's precisely what we strive for. I believed that the synergy between us and David would birth something unprecedented—something enigmatic, magical, and astonishing."
A revamped version of Duran Duran: Unstaged premiered in cinemas in 2014, showcasing the original band members Rhodes, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, and Roger Taylor, alongside guest artists Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), Beth Ditto (Gossip), Kelis, and Mark Ronson. The following year, Duran Duran concluded a concert tribute dedicated to the music of Lynch with a medley of three songs.
Lynch's demise at the age of 78 came mere months after he revealed that he was confined to his home, fearing COVID-19 due to his emphysema diagnosis attributed to years of smoking. Born in Missoula, Montana, Lynch was a maestro of the surreal, whose dark and twisted cinematic touches are recognized within the creative sphere as distinctly "Lynchian." Several of his films garnered Oscar nominations, including The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, and Mulholland Drive. Although he never took home a competitive Academy Award, Lynch was honored with an honorary Oscar for his lifetime achievements in 2019.
"A relentless explorer of the unknown, fearlessly venturing into the darkest alleys, he was an uncompromising and experimental artist with a vision truly one of a kind," writes Rhodes in his emotional post, accompanied by a candid photograph of Lynch and Rhodes comparing cameras, with the band's drummer Roger Taylor observing. Partly inspired by Lynch, Rhodes has pursued photography since his youth, exhibiting collections and publishing several books chronicling his artistic endeavors. "Sadly," Rhodes laments, "today's weather in California is tempestuous, and there seems to be no lucky number to console us."
