March 1985: The Power Station Releases "The Power Station"

The Power Station
Photo Credit
(Capitol Records)

When Duran Duran went on hiatus in the the mid-'80s, the band fractured into separate camps: Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor would form the artsy Arcadia, while John Taylor and Andy Taylor would connect with singer Robert Palmer and Chic drummer Tony Thompson to start The Power Station.

Where Arcadia was all atmospheric and moody, The Power Station went for a much more hard rocking approach. With Chic's Bernard Edwards serving as producer, the funk was strong with the outfit.

The first single from The Power Station, "Some Like it Hot," would be a breakout hit, climbing as high as #6 on the Hot 100. 

"I flew to Nassau in the Bahamas, which was where Robert Palmer lived at the time, and played him the demo that Andy and I had written and said, 'We've got this idea that we're calling "Some Like It Hot,'" John Taylor told The AV Club in 2012. "And he just looked at me and said, 'And some sweat when the heat is on. [Laughs.] I was, like, 'Yes! That'll do…'"

For the album's second single, the group would pull out another ace in the form of a high-energy cover of T. Rex's "Bang a Gong," recast as "Get it On (Bang a Gong)." Another top 10 hit in America, the track would peak at #9 on the Hot 100. 

There would be one more single from The Power Station album, "Communication." While cut from the same cloth as the previous singles, this time with even more emphasis on Robert Palmer's legendary vocal delivery, the tune would be the least successful of the three. The song would still crack the top 40, peaking at #34 on the Hot 100.

RELATED: On This Day in Duran Duran History: "Notorious" and Arcadia's "So Red the Rose"

Released on March 25, 1985, The Power Station would be a huge success peaking at #6 on the Billboard 200. It did so well that the band decided to take the show on the road. Singer Robert Palmer, however, had other plans. Given his heightened profile from working with The Power Station, he decided to revive his solo career.

Not willing to surrender the momentum, the group recruited Michael Des Barres to front the band for a North American tour. The tour commenced, with the band taking every opportunity to promote their music. Case in point: this daytime TV interview on Good Morning America.

The Power Station's biggest gig would happen over the summer, when they performedat the massive Live Aid show. The group would be introduced by Miami Vice star, Don Johnson.

In October 1985, The Power Station would return the favor, with a splashy appearance on  Miami Vice. John Taylor's dialogue seems to throw shade at the departed Palmer.

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(American Girl)
"She's a video-game lover with a totally rad style who dreams to make games of her own."
Roger Waters/YouTube

Roger Waters and his band have tackled the Pink Floyd song "Two Suns in the Sunset" in quarantine. 

(Ebet Roberts/Redferns)
The album came loaded with hits like "Kiss on My List" and "You Make My Dreams."

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