Duran Duran’s “Rio”: John Taylor’s Isolated Bass Line

by Kevin Johnson | Saturday, July 14th, 2012

John Taylor really brought it in the Duran Duran tune “Rio”. His active bass line locks in with the drums and drives the song forward.

Luckily, we have a video of Taylor’s isolated bass line to scope out his groove and tone.

Thanks to Facebook friend Leon Wilson for sending this one in. If you have a video to share, drop us a note at videos@notreble.com.

More: isolated bass, John Taylor

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Comments:

Duranice Land says:

August 23, 2012 at 11:39 am

Thank you for sharing with us! In my opinion he´s very talented bass player…. and handsome too. :+)

Mark Harclerode says:

August 20, 2012 at 9:11 pm

One of the greatest players of all time, interesting enough this sounds like it has a few patches in it. Doesn’t sound like one “live” recording…

Lee Bigland says:

August 17, 2012 at 8:10 am

The tone is amazing! The bass line never seems to stop.

Claudio Rizzo says:

August 17, 2012 at 8:25 am

Yep, this is a classic !! John Taylor is way underrated as bassist….

Pete Braun says:

July 23, 2012 at 12:56 am

The complexity of John Taylor’s bass lines here could rival those found in progressive rock music.

Ted Pence says:

July 22, 2012 at 9:10 pm

John always had interesting, complex, tight bass parts…I still love listening to this stuff!

Kat Schroeder says:

July 22, 2012 at 11:55 pm

You bought me my copy of Big Thing. Still have it.

Roberto DueApi says:

July 24, 2012 at 3:10 am

Going back to the 80s, when was the last time you listened to “This Charming Man”? Talk about a bass line….

Tiffany North says:

July 24, 2012 at 10:55 am

Robb, sadly the Handsome Man is not a Smiths or Morrissey fan. Guess we can’t alll be perfect! ; )

John Gilbert says:

July 22, 2012 at 12:55 am

Is that really an isolated track of Taylor playing, or someone doing a nice job playing along with the track? I swear I hear a few notes missing where he accents the snare before the first chorus. Maybe I have a different track.

Dru Sax says:

July 24, 2012 at 12:40 pm

I too question the authenticity of this track. I swear I can hear some mistakes. Still, a great John Taylor impersonation, nonetheless.

Peter K Bawa says:

September 11, 2012 at 1:10 pm

Agreed – it is VERY close but doesn’t completely sound like the original, especially toward the end where it seems to get a little loosey-goosey. Still, a very nice job indeed on a very challenging bassline. John Taylor rocks.

Paul Butcher says:

July 21, 2012 at 5:10 pm

was never a fan of this kind of stuff, but I now aprectate it a lot more years later, nice bass line, cool tone.

Brandon Ensley says:

July 19, 2012 at 1:25 pm

Great example of how the bass can drive a song, Kudos to Taylor!

Christian Ale says:

July 15, 2012 at 12:40 pm

John Taylor is definitely the most fantastic bassist in pop/rock. He made in the first two records very active and complicated bass lines like no other bassists did in the genre.
He always was, is, and will be my favorite.

Lorraine Cherry says:

July 15, 2012 at 12:25 pm

great music great man duran duran rock.

Colin Chapman says:

July 14, 2012 at 8:55 pm

Class!

Daniel Bass says:

July 14, 2012 at 7:55 pm

Great bassline, and one of my all time favorite songs.

Alfonso Ontiveros Carrillo says:

July 14, 2012 at 5:40 pm

it´s a great bass line , this song is one of my favorites in pop music!

Miguel Pasos says:

July 14, 2012 at 5:55 pm

Excelente bajista John Taylor, y una de mis bandas favoritas del pop.

Alfonso Ontiveros Carrillo says:

July 14, 2012 at 6:25 pm

tu si sabes mi mike !

Keith McElroy says:

July 14, 2012 at 3:40 pm

I have to admit, John Taylor was the most instrumental (no pun intended) to my playing style. I loved their first few records, much to the chagrin of my parents and friends..

Kren Bennett says:

July 14, 2012 at 5:55 pm

are you implying that you listened to it a few times?

Keith McElroy says:

July 14, 2012 at 6:55 pm

I still have all my old records..they were played ALOT

Dru Sax says:

July 24, 2012 at 12:40 pm

I’m with you Keith. John was my biggest bass influence. I play in a Christian church and I’m always adding “John Taylorisms” to the songs! :)

Sonja G Carpenter says:

July 14, 2012 at 3:25 pm

I agree with you on the “commercial and less edgy” comment… D2 is one of my all time fav bands and I LOVELOVELOVE h=their earlier stuff! And having John Taylor to look at too? Oh Yeah… ;)

Jerry Schwanebeck says:

July 14, 2012 at 2:10 pm

I always liked Duran Duran. Their first couple of albums were great, then they started getting a little too commercial and less edgy.

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Duran Duran’s “Rio”: John Taylor’s Isolated Bass Line

Victor Wooten: “Isn’t She Lovely”, Live Solo Bass Performance

Funk Bass Line Lesson – James Brown’s “The Payback”

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no treble

the online magazine for bass players

Duran Duran’s “Rio”: John Taylor’s Isolated Bass Line

Victor Wooten: “Isn’t She Lovely”, Live Solo Bass Performance

Funk Bass Line Lesson – James Brown’s “The Payback”

No Treble T-Shirts, Hoodies & Stickers

Related Articles:

John Taylor Releases Autobiography

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Comments:

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