You know that feeling when you hear a drum beat so loud it feels like a physical punch to the chest? That’s the Power Station. Most people remember them as "that 80s supergroup with the guy from Duran Duran," but they were so much more than a side project. They were a collision. When you look at the members of Power Station, you aren’t just looking at a list of names; you’re looking at the exact moment when posh British New Wave crashed into gritty American R&B and heavy metal. It should have been a disaster. Instead, it became one of the most influential sounds of the decade.
Let’s be real for a second. In 1984, Duran Duran was the biggest band on the planet. They were posters on every teenage girl's wall. But behind the scenes, John and Andy Taylor (no relation, by the way) were bored. They were tired of the synthesizers. They wanted to play loud. They wanted to play funk. They wanted to sound like Chic, but with the volume turned up to eleven.
The Core Four: Breaking Down the Members of Power Station
The original lineup was lightning in a bottle. You had John Taylor on bass and Andy Taylor on lead guitar. These guys were the "teen idols" who secretly wanted to be rock stars. Then they recruited Tony Thompson, the drummer for Chic. If you don't know Tony Thompson's name, you definitely know his hands. He played on David Bowie’s Let’s Dance. He was basically a human metronome with the power of a sledgehammer. Finally, they brought in Robert Palmer.
Robert Palmer was already a sophisticated solo artist, known for his smooth soul and tailored suits. He wasn't some kid. He brought a "cool uncle" energy that grounded the Taylors' frantic energy.
Robert Palmer: The Voice That Almost Didn't Happen
Initially, the group was going to have a different singer for every track. They even thought about Billy Idol or Mick Jagger. But once they heard Palmer sing over the tracks they’d recorded at the Power Station studios in New York (which is where the name came from), they realized they didn't need anyone else. He had this gritty, soulful growl that cut right through Andy Taylor's distorted guitar riffs. It was the perfect contrast.
Palmer’s involvement was a massive gamble. He was doing okay as a solo act, but joining a group with two "pretty boys" from a boy band could have tanked his credibility. Instead, it gave him the biggest hits of his career up to that point, like "Some Like It Hot" and the cover of T. Rex’s "Get It On (Bang a Gong)."
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Tony Thompson: The Secret Weapon
If you talk to any producer from the mid-80s, they’ll tell you the "Power Station sound" was really the "Tony Thompson sound." He hit the drums so hard that they had to record him in a separate room or sometimes even a hallway to capture the natural reverb. It was massive. Without Tony, the members of Power Station would have just been another synth-pop band. He gave them the "thump" that made them a staple in nightclubs and rock radio alike.
John Taylor famously said that playing with Tony changed the way he played bass. He had to be tighter. More aggressive. You can hear it in the basslines—they're percussive, almost like a second set of drums.
Why the Lineup Kept Changing
The thing about supergroups is that they usually burn out fast. Power Station was no exception. Just as they were about to go on tour in 1985, Robert Palmer quit. He wanted to go back to his solo career and capitalize on the momentum (which worked out for him, considering he released Riptide and "Addicted to Love" shortly after).
The band was devastated. They had a tour booked and no singer.
Enter Michael Des Barres.
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The Michael Des Barres Era
Des Barres was a rock and roll veteran. He’d been in Silverhead and Detective, and he had that classic glam-rock swagger. He stepped in for the Live Aid performance and the subsequent tour. Honestly? It was a different vibe. While Palmer was cool and detached, Des Barres was theatrical and wild. Some fans hated it. Others loved the chaos. It’s one of those debates that still rages on Steve Hoffman music forums today.
- Robert Palmer (1984–1985, 1995–1997): The original soul.
- Michael Des Barres (1985): The touring wild card.
- Andy Taylor: The man responsible for the "crunch."
- John Taylor: The funk-driven heartbeat.
- Tony Thompson: The powerhouse on the kit.
- Bernard Edwards: The legendary producer who eventually stepped in on bass.
The 1996 Reunion: A Bitter-Sweet Return
Most people forget that the members of Power Station actually got back together ten years later. In 1996, the original lineup (mostly) decided to give it another go with the album Living in Fear.
However, things were different. John Taylor was dealing with personal issues and left early in the process. This led to Bernard Edwards taking over bass duties. Bernard was the co-founder of Chic and the guy who actually produced their first album. He was a god in the music industry.
Tragically, shortly after the album was recorded, Bernard Edwards passed away from pneumonia while on tour in Japan. It cast a massive shadow over the reunion. The album didn't have the same commercial impact as the debut, but it showed that the chemistry between Palmer, Thompson, and Taylor was still there. It was darker, heavier, and perhaps a bit more mature.
The Sound That Defined an Era
What made the members of Power Station so special wasn't just their fame. It was the "Gated Reverb" drum sound. If you listen to any pop-rock song from 1985 to 1988, you’re hearing the influence of this band.
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They took the slickness of disco and the aggression of arena rock and smashed them together. It was expensive-sounding music. It sounded like Ferraris, neon lights, and New York City at 3:00 AM.
Misconceptions About the Band
- They were a Duran Duran spin-off: Not really. While John and Andy were in it, the musical direction was dictated more by Tony Thompson and Bernard Edwards. It was a funk band disguised as a rock band.
- Robert Palmer hated the band: He didn't. He just wasn't a "band guy." He was a solo artist through and through, and the pressure of a massive tour didn't appeal to his lifestyle at the time.
- It was all studio magic: If you watch the Live Aid footage, you’ll see they could actually play. Andy Taylor’s guitar work is surprisingly technical, and Tony Thompson was a beast live.
Why We Still Talk About Them
The legacy of the members of Power Station is found in the DNA of modern rock. You can hear their influence in bands like Queens of the Stone Age or even the way pop producers like Mark Ronson approach "big" drum sounds. They proved that you could be "pop" and still have incredible musical chops.
The band ultimately ended because of tragedy. Tony Thompson and Robert Palmer both passed away within weeks of each other in 2003. It was a devastating blow to the music world and effectively ended any chance of the "classic" lineup ever sharing a stage again.
Actionable Insights for Music Fans
If you're just getting into the band or want to appreciate the work of these musicians more deeply, here is how you should dive in:
- Listen to "Some Like It Hot" on high-quality headphones: Pay attention specifically to the separation between the bass and the kick drum. It’s a masterclass in production by Bernard Edwards.
- Check out the 1985 Live Aid performance: Watch Michael Des Barres' energy. It’s a fascinating look at how a different frontman changes the entire chemistry of a group.
- Explore Tony Thompson's session work: To understand why he was chosen, listen to his work on Chic's C'est Chic and then David Bowie's Let's Dance. The range is incredible.
- Read Andy Taylor’s autobiography: Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran gives a lot of "behind the curtain" details on the friction and the fun of the Power Station days.
The Power Station wasn't meant to last forever. It was a project born of boredom and brilliance. It was a moment in time where the stars aligned, the drums were too loud, and the suits were too sharp. And honestly? We haven't seen a supergroup quite like them since.