Arcadia

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
During a short hiatus in late 1984 and early 1985, three Duran Duran members -- lead singer Simon LeBon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and drummer Roger Taylor -- formed Arcadia, a short-lived splinter group which offered an artier version of Duran Duran's new wave synth pop. Arcadia released their only album, So Red the Rose, in 1985, just after Duran Duran's popularity reached a peak. Consequently, the album became a hit based on name recognition alone, as did the single "Election Day," which sailed into the American and British Top Ten. After their brief moment of success, the members of Arcadia re-formed Duran Duran without guitarist Andy Taylor.