Arcadia (band)

Arcadia
(L-R): Nick Rhodes, Simon LeBon, and Roger Taylor, 1985
Background information
Origin	United Kingdom
Genres	Art rock new wave synthpop
Years active	1985–1986
Labels	Capitol Parlophone Atlantic
Associated acts	Duran Duran The Power Station
Past members	Simon Le Bon Nick Rhodes Roger Taylor

Arcadia were a new wave British group formed in 1985 by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran as a side project during a break in that band's schedule. The project was only active during 1985 and 1986 for just one album, So Red the Rose, which was certified Platinum in the United States and included the singles "Election Day", "Goodbye Is Forever", "The Flame" and "The Promise (ft. David Gilmour and Sting)". Drummer Roger Taylor appeared in only a few band photographs and in none of the music videos, and stated he was only to be involved in the recording side of the project (he also had minor involvement in The Power Station, the other Duran Duran splinter group formed by Duran Duran's Andy and John Taylor alongside Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson of Chic).

The name of the band was reportedly inspired by the Nicolas Poussin painting Et in Arcadia ego (also known as "The Arcadian Shepherds"). At the same time that So Red the Rose was in production, Asia's third album, in production, was tentatively titled "Arcadia" but renamed to "Astra", to avoid confusion.