Amanda met John Taylor, the tall, handsome bassist in 80's supergroup Duran Duran in 1989 when she was only 17. Both were well known on the party circuit in London. Duran Duran's unofficial photographer
Denis O'Regan had introduced them. They partied hard together in a swirl of drugs and alcohol.
She was attracted to him because he was a worldly, wealthy, good looking older man. He was attracted to
her youth, beauty and energy. Theirs was very much a violently passionate relationship with lots of sparks. She was wild and
it appealed to his catholic boy upbringing.
They were married on the 24th of December in the Chelsea Registry office, London in 1991. She was 19,
he was 32. She was also 5 months pregnant at the time, 5 months after their holidays in Mauritius.
Their only daughter, Atlanta Noo de Cadenet Taylor was born in March, 1992. John had named her "Atlanta"
because Amanda's family members all have names that start with "A". They also gave her the middle name "Noo", which is
short for "Noodlehead", a term of endearment between John and Amanda. The couple vowed that they would stay clean and their
baby would mark the end of their partying years.
Their family moved to LA shortly after Atlanta was born, to escape the scrutiny of the british press, after
a photographer took pictures of Amanda breastfeeding in Hyde Park. John had also grown weary of the critical eye of the British
press. Amanda wanted to chase her dream of becoming an actress and John wanted the anonymity to work on his music.
As they faced everyday life in LA just like any other struggling musician and actress, they started moving
in very different directions and in different circles. Each began to experiment with drugs and alcohol again.
There are many theories why they split up. John's diehard fans say that Amanda began having affairs with
actors and directors she met, that she often left their baby daughter on her own while she attended parties and networked
her way in movie stardom. Amanda's fans say that John had begun to spiral into his drug habits again, despite her protests.
Their fiery relationship eventually burnt out when they separated in 1995 and were divorced two years later.
John Taylor and Amanda de Cadenet marked a turning point in each other's lives. They both grew up as a result
of their split. John had begun his slow gruelling road to recovery during their separation. Amanda threw herself into her
career. During their three year separation, they tried in vain to make it work, but found themselves face to face with two
totally different people.
They share joint custody of their daughter.
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