Duran Duran's Dom Brown uncovered: "there’s room there to make that into something really special"
Eager to explore new creative avenues, Dom Brown’s next musical chapter with his band UNCOVERED-The Electric Rock Experience has his full attention.
In his first year in Duran Duran, he played in front of 120,000 people at Poland’s Sluzewiec Racetrack. He’s since played some of the world’s greatest venues, and last year he performed on stage in front of rock royalty Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen as part of Duran’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame. However, Dom Brown’s next musical chapter with his latest band, UNCOVERED-The Electric Rock Experience, has his full attention.
It’s a Thursday night at The Bedford and the south London pub is putting on one of its most beloved acts. Making a subtle entrance to the stage you’d be forgiven for mistaking UNCOVERED-The Electric Rock Experience as a newly formed band. But this group of seasoned musicians have years of experience and put on a show that was bound to please any fan of classic rock.
Starting with a Who medley the band expertly eases the crowd into the night before Anna takes the lead with a soulful rendition of Aretha Franklin's 'Rock Steady', which quickly gets everybody moving. Only four songs in, and the lady behind me has already moved her chair to make room for dancing. The energy in the room is energising as the band continues with hits such as Tears for Fears' 'Everybody wants to rule the world', Chaka Kahn's 'I'm a woman (I'm a backbone)', and Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain'.
The band then takes a brief interlude as Anna and Michael leave the stage, giving the other three a moment to shine with their performance of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Voodoo Child’. As Dom blasts out the iconic lines: “'cause I'm a voodoo child / Lord knows I'm a voodoo child, baby” my camera shakes from the booming beat of Jeremy’s bass drum. It’s obvious the trio revel in playing one of the more electrifying songs on the setlist.
As the night continues, we’re treated to Tina Turner, Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones. The band delivers a fantastic rendition of Paul McCartney and Wings 'Live and Let Die', which proves to be a crowd-pleaser. But as the night comes to an end, it’s the band’s deliverance of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ that steals the show.
The lights dim and the spotlight is on Dom to bring the show to its dramatic close. By now, the entire crowd is up on their feet eagerly anticipating Dom's final guitar solo. When he finally brings the solo to its thunderous conclusion, the crowd cheers and it’s the perfect way to leave them wanting more.
Before Thursday’s performance, I had the chance to sit down with Dom and find out more about his plans for UNCOVERED. As I discovered this was more than just a passion project for him.
As we sit in his studio in South West London, he tells me about being a shy young teen learning to play the guitar as a form of expression. It paints a distinctly different picture to the confident and accomplished musician I saw play on Thursday night at The Bedford. “As you’ll see there’s a lot of chapters in my life with music” he says.
He has definitely come a long way since those early days as a teen. Since learning guitar at the age of thirteen his musical journey has taken him from the practice rooms of Richmond and Twickenham College to the iconic venues of LA. It has allowed him to develop a glowing reputation as a successful session musician playing with legends like Lionel Richie, Elton John, and Rod Stewart and, even making numerous appearances on Top of The Pops and CD:UK.
But most notably, his career has been defined by his role in the renowned 80’s group, Duran Duran. As a replacement for Duran’s original guitarist, Andy Taylor, Dom has spent the last eighteen years playing alongside vocalist Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bass guitarist John Taylor, as well as Roger Taylor on drums.
“I can remember it clearly, it was a Wednesday morning and he was like ‘Duran Duran need a guitar player and I’ve put you forward if you’re up for it.”
In 2004, after being recommended by his friend Fraser T Smith, Dom received a call from Duran Duran’s Tour Manager. Speaking about the moment Fraser called he said: “I can remember it clearly, it was a Wednesday morning and he was like ‘Duran Duran need a guitar player and I’ve put you forward if you’re up for it.” The band were playing a private show that Friday and needed a guitarist. Shortly after, Dom received the call asking if he could meet with Roger and John that evening to audition: “I was like absolutely”. When it was apparent Dom lived up to his hard-working reputation, he was handed a pile of CDs to learn overnight, before a run-through with John and Roger the next morning.
In a whirlwind 48 hours; he’d gone from jamming with John and Roger to mesmerising a whole collection of Duran hits, before meeting Nick and Simon in soundcheck. Even with little preparation and proper rehearsals Dom still put on a successful performance that Friday and the band invited him to join them for in America for the next 5 weeks. Three days later, he was on a plane to Atlanta to play in front of 18,000 people.
After a series of successful shows, Dom’s time with the band temporarily came to an end when Andy returned. This was until 2005 when Andy’s father fell ill and once again Dom was called in to take his place. Then in 2006, he got the call: “this time I thought, ah, this has to be something a bit more substantial.” Duran Duran’s Tour Manager explained that Andy had officially left: “Do you want the gig? The boys have asked.”
At this point, Dom was enjoying his own success. He had released his own album and was working with the Sugababes. I asked whether he ever questioned turning down the opportunity. “I’d had those years of doing my own thing that hadn’t quite worked out to how I wanted.” He went on to explain how as a session musician: “you’d still be that backing guy where you kind of come out to do your solos and then you’d be standing at the back pretty much most of the time.” It was clear that he wanted to be part of something more significant. Something that combined his musical ability and showmanship: “I knew that I had to do this […] it was a lead part, taking over the guitar part of an original principal member.”
Now, in between touring with Duran Duran, his most recent musical chapter has brought him full circle- to The Exchange in Twickenham, a mile down the road from his first gig as a teen. But this time with his latest band, UNCOVERED-The Electric Rock Experience.
As we move our conversation to the topic of UNCOVERED there’s a gentle shift in tone. He appears more energetic as he enthusiastically describes where he wants his next chapter to take him. He may be defined by his role in Duran Duran but Dom is keen to leave his own legacy by carrying the torch for the iconic rock musicians he loves.
The idea for UNCOVERED was born in 2020 before the pandemic struck. He envisioned a band that could do justice to some of the world’s greatest musicians and help preserve their legacy. Explaining how his professional career has meant he’s always had an affinity towards covers he goes on to say how he wanted to: “have a band of amazing musicians, playing these amazing songs by artists and musicians some who aren’t around anymore.”
He needed members who were not only incredibly talented but were capable of performing an eclectic setlist. Now, the group consists of Anna Ross on backing vocals, Jeremy Stacey on drums, John Hogg on vocals and bass, and Michael Bramwell on keys. Each of the members of the band has an impressive repertoire, and their longstanding friendships span decades. When asked if there was anyone else considered, Dom replied: “with this project, it was definitely about using those guys.” Each musician brings their own unique style and personality to the stage. At Thursday’s performance it allowed for the diverse setlist to shine without being diluted.
Cover bands and tribute bands are plentiful and some have even gained global recognition. The Australian Pink Floyd Show, an Australian band that performs covers of Pink Floyd's music, has gained a massive following and even played to David Gilmour at his 50th birthday party. Dom’s long-term goal is to preserve the legacy of bands like Pink Floyd and keep their music alive in a way that is both respectful and energising: “I want it to be of such a high standard, such an amazing show it’s the next best thing [ …] But it’s about pulling it off with authenticity and style”.
According to Dom, the key to an authentic performance lies in: "the way you interpret and the way you play around it and then the way you can embellish it and make it your own." His band embodies this philosophy during their live performances, as they are able to put their own unique spin on covers to keep the crowd engaged. His cover of Pink Floyd's ‘Comfortably Numb’ is just one example. At Thursday’s show, it’s evident that it’s one of the crowd’s favourite moments and when I spoke to Dom it was obviously also one of his: “it just becomes a sort of like… I sound corny…a spiritual thing.” As the audience gestures for more, his own interpretation allows him to prolong the solo to keep the excitement level high. This ability to infuse covers with their own personality has become a defining characteristic of the band's style.
“it just becomes a sort of like… I sound corny…a spiritual thing.”
The band have spent the last eighteen months playing regularly at The Bedford, a pub in South London which has become their spot. It’s not where you’d expect to see someone who also spent the last year playing some of the UK’s biggest events with Duran Duran. Including headlining British Summer Time festival, opening the Common Wealth Games and performing at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. However, he describes how playing the songs he loved as a teen, to an audience who appreciate it as being unmatched: “to relive those moments to an audience who look like they’re really enjoying themselves […] I love it so much.” He has plans to take UNCOVERED on a small UK Tour when his commitments allow it so that others can enjoy the shared experience that the band creates, too. You only have to look through their Instagram to know that the demand for them to visit towns and cities outside of London is high.
He believes that with this group of artists, “there’s room there to make that into something really” he pauses briefly, “special” and he’s prepared to put all his passion and time into making it work. We’d spoken earlier about some of the reasons his first bands didn’t work out and how the very best bands have undeniable chemistry. They bring the best out of each other. And that is there for UNCOVERED, too. You can see it when they’re on stage together, as they laugh and share jokes. But even still, he’s realistic that it’s going to take time for them to get to where he wants and knows they can be. It’s the first time since the beginning of our conversation that he’s shown vulnerability. As we’ve chatted through his experiences with Duran Duran it’s apparent that he’s no longer fazed by the regular headline slots or playing to 120,000 people. But with his new project, there’s a daunting unknown.
It’s undoubtedly a big task and there’s the obvious question that can anyone ever really fill these shoes? But Dom’s quick to answer: “No, no. I don’t mean that in an arrogant, complacent way I just mean it in a way that I feel that if I’m doing it and I’m playing it and I mean it and I’m putting everything I have into it, I think that’s good enough because people will either like it or they won’t.” And he’s not wrong, there’s a gap in the market for cover bands and I’ve seen it first-hand. The Bedford will continue to fill up with regulars who want to keep reliving some of the greatest musical riffs of all time. Throughout the night the band enjoy constant applause and cheers and it doesn’t take long for the audience to get up and start dancing.
But there’s also room for another demographic, like me, who grew up in a different musical generation and who have never been able to experience these musical legends play in real life, and never will. For one night, it’s nice to be absorbed in a world where Led Zepplin, Aretha, Prince, Bowie, and The Rolling Stones all come together to perform.
UNCOVERED’s next show is on Saturday 4th March at The Exchange in Twickenham. Click here for tickets.
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