The Wild Boys (song)

The idea for the song came from longtime Duran Duran video director Russell Mulcahy, who wanted to make a full-length feature film based on the surreal and sexual 1971 novel The Wild Boys: A Book of the Dead by William S. Burroughs. He suggested that the band might create a modern soundtrack for the film in the same way that Queen would later provide a rock soundtrack for Mulcahy's 1986 film Highlander. Lead vocalist Simon Le Bon began writing some lyrics based on Mulcahy's quick synopsis of the book, and the band created a harsh-sounding instrumental backdrop for them,{{Cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/events/eighties/johntaylor.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030306092311/http://www.vh1.com/shows/events/eighties/johntaylor.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 March 2003|title=VH1 interview with John Taylor}} taking inspiration from the groove of the hit single "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.{{cite web|url=https://duranduran.com/2012/a-conversation-with-duran-durans-roger-taylor/ |title=A Conversation with Duran Duran's Roger Taylor |author=Mark Ragogna |date=2 October 2012 }}

The single was issued with six separate collectible covers – one featuring each individual band member and one of the band collectively.

Cash Box called the song "a rolling pop tune with a tribal intensity".{{cite magazine|title=Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-10-27.pdf|date=27 October 1984|accessdate=2022-07-26|page=8}} Billboard suggested that it sounds like "'Reflex' revisited".{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=Reviews|date=27 October 1984|accessdate=2023-02-10|page=63|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_SMEAAAAMBAJ&q=reviews}}

"The Wild Boys" became one of the band's highest-charting singles, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, while reaching the top spot on the US Cash Box Top Singles chart and in Germany and South Africa. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and on the Irish Singles Chart, as well as in several European countries. It also became the band's highest-peaking single in Australia, reaching number three. As of October 2021, "The Wild Boys" is the 10th-most streamed Duran Duran song in the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/duran-durans-official-top-20-most-streamed-songs-revealed__34312/ |title=Duran Duran's Official Top 20 most-streamed songs revealed |publisher=Official Charts |date=26 October 2021|access-date=12 June 2022 }}

{{Citation needed section|date=May 2022}}

The music video for "The Wild Boys" was directed by Russell Mulcahy. The cost totalled over one million pounds, a staggering sum for music videos at the time, as his design filled one entire end of the "007 Stage" at Pinewood Studios with a metal pyramid and a windmill over a deep enclosed pool, and called for a lifelike robotic face, dozens of elaborate costumes, prosthetics, and make-up effects, and then-cutting-edge computer graphics. The choreography of dance routines was undertaken by Arlene Phillips, including intricate stunts and fire effects added to the cost. Mulcahy meant the video to be a teaser for his full-length Burroughs film, demonstrating his vision to the movie studios he was wooing, but that project was never made.

The video featured all of the band members imprisoned and in peril, wearing uncharacteristically rough and ragged outfits similar to the pieced-together clothing of the film Mad Max 2 (1981). John Taylor was strapped to the roof of a car suffering a psycho-torture with pictures of his childhood and early past; Nick Rhodes was caged with a pile of computer equipment; Roger Taylor was put in a hot-air balloon that was dangling from the ceiling, leaving him high off the ground; Andy Taylor was bound (guitar and all) to a ship's figurehead; and Simon Le Bon was strapped to a blade of the windmill, his head covered in water as the blade passed through the pool.

"The Wild Boys" was named British Video of the Year at the 1985 Brit Awards.

The 8:00 12" "Wilder Than Wild Boys" extended mix, the only official contemporaneous remix, is actually the full length version. It continues after the album/single version's fade out with another instrumental section, then repeats the chorus to fade. This mix was also used for the full length promo video.

To promote the release of the compilation album Greatest in 1998, EMI commissioned a number of remixes, including two mixes of "The Wild Boys" that were released only on promo discs:

• "The Wild Boys [ASAP & PM Project Remix]" (3:42) appeared on a one-track promo CD in Spain
• "Wild Boys 98 [4 on da Floor Remix]" (3:10) appeared on a one-track promo CD in Belgium

In 2004, noted remixer Paul Dakeyne and the Mitchell Project produced the 7:30 "Wicked 'n Wild Dub" for DMC, the UK-based remix service.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

The original single B-side, "(I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement" (1984), was recorded at the 5 March 1984 show at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. This is the same concert where the video for "The Reflex" was filmed.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

7": Parlophone / Duran 3 UK

1. "The Wild Boys" (45) – 4:14
2. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement" (1984) – 4:00

• Track 2 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.
• Also released in sleeves featuring individual band members (DURANC 3)

12": Parlophone / 12 Duran 3 UK

1. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than the Wild Boys) (extended mix) – 8:00
2. "The Wild Boys" (45) – 4:16
3. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement" (1984) – 4:08

• Track 3 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

7": Capitol / B-5417 US

1. "The Wild Boys" (45) – 4:14
2. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement" (1984) – 4:00

• Track 2 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

12": Capitol / V-6817 US

1. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than the Wild Boys) (extended mix) – 8:00
2. "The Wild Boys" (45) – 4:16
3. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement" (1984) – 4:08

• Track 3 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

CD: Part of Singles Box Set 1981–1985

1. "The Wild Boys" (45) – 4:16
2. "(I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement" (1984) – 4:08
3. "The Wild Boys" (Wilder Than the Wild Boys) (extended mix) – 8:00

• Track 2 recorded live at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, 5 March 1984.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "The Wild Boys"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Duran Duran|title=The Wild Boys|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1985|access-date=2 September 2016|refname=CA_CERT}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Duran Duran|title=Wild Boys|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1985|access-date=2 September 2016|refname=GER_CERT}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Duran Duran|title=Wild Boys|award=Silver|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|id=8264-812-1|date=1 November 1984|access-date=24 May 2013|refname=UK_CERT}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Duran Duran|title=The Wild Boys|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1993|access-date=2 September 2016|refname=US_CERT}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Wild Boys

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Phixx

| album = Electrophonic Revolution

| B-side =

| released = June 2004

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 4:04

| label = Concept

| writer =

• Simon Le Bon
• John Taylor
• Roger Taylor
• Andy Taylor
• Nick Rhodes

| prev_title = Love Revolution

| prev_year = 2004

| next_title = Strange Love

| next_year = 2005

}}

English-Irish boy band Phixx released their version in 2004 which peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/9806/phixx/|title=PHIXX | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com}}

• List of number-one hits of 1984 (Germany)
• List of number-one hits of 1985 (Italy)
• List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1984

{{Reflist}}

• {{discogs master|121153|type=single}}

{{Duran Duran}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wild Boys, The}}

Category:1984 songs

Category:1984 singles

Category:2004 singles

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Concept Music singles

Category:Dance-rock songs

Category:Duran Duran songs

Category:EMI Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Russell Mulcahy

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:Number-one singles in South Africa

Category:Phixx songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers

Category:Songs written by Andy Taylor (guitarist)

Category:Songs written by John Taylor (bass guitarist)

Category:Songs written by Nick Rhodes

Category:Songs written by Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer)

Category:Songs written by Simon Le Bon