Rare and unseen photos of Duran Duran in Birmingham have been released

Rare and previously unseen photographs showing the early days of Duran Duran as well as 1980s youth culture in Birmingham have been published in a series of books.

Footage also appears of other bands such as Dexys Midnight Runners, Spandau Ballet and Boy George.

The photographs in the three-volume set, Duran Duran en Scène, were taken by Paul Edmond as a teenager in the city.

He died in 2015 and his archive was preserved and now revealed by his sister Maggie K de Monde.

“He was an amazing photographer and quite famous,” she said.

The three volumes contain about 200 images, many of which have never been seen before, she added.

The photographs span from 1979 to 1982, which was “a really important time in Birmingham’s musical history”, Ms de Monde explained.

Duran Duran formed in the city in 1978 and released their debut single, Planet Earth, in 1981.

“Paul was taking pictures of the band when they were recording it before it was a hit, so it was really early,” she said.

The band were resident at the city’s Rum Runner club, but also caught gigs at other venues including the Cedar Club and Aston University.

Playthings, Ms de Monde’s band at the time, had even supported Duran Duran.

She also had success with the bands Swans Way and Scarlet Fantastic.

“It was just an incredible time to be around,” she said.

Martin Tracey, who wrote introductions to the three volumes, said the photographs were “the defining images of a band still displaying a form of innocence, not yet understanding what they were about to achieve”.

“There aren’t many photos like this of any band, let alone of this era, but it captured things in the moment, which is just priceless,” said the musician-turned-author.

Other photos include Boy George, who wrote the foreword to one of the books, as well as Annie Lennox from the Eurythmics.

There was “quite a wide spectrum of bands that were getting on the scene, but none of them really made it as such at the time and that’s what makes it so beautiful,” Mr Tracey added.

The images also show “regular kids on the streets or in clubs,” Ms. de Monde explained, as well as fashion designers from the city at the time, such as Patti Bell and Jane Kahn.

“Every night we went from club to club dressed like peacocks,” she added.

“I would start at someone’s house and then go to the Holy City Zoo and then the Rum Runner.

“My brother always managed to be in the right place at the right time.”

The books were like a “time capsule of the creative scene going on in Birmingham at the time”, Ms de Monde said.

Her brother, who went on to work for magazines such as Sounds and New Sounds, New Styles, died in a car accident in 2015.

“These books are a great way to honor and celebrate his memory and legacy,” she added.

The three-volume set, Duran Duran en Scène, is published by Andrew Sparke Books.