Too Much Information

"Too Much Information" was the third single to be released from Duran Duran's 1993 album, Duran Duran, popularly known as The Wedding Album.

About the song
The song's lyrics dealt mainly with the commercialisation of the music industry and featured the tongue-in-cheek line "Destroyed by MTV / I hate to bite the hand that feeds me / so much information", alluding to the belief that it was solely MTV that had made the band.

Unlike the previous two singles from The Wedding Album, "Too Much Information" was more upbeat and rocky in nature with big chunky power chords played by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo and live drums played by Steve Ferrone. This may have alienated the ballad-friendly audience that were attracted to the previous two singles, "Ordinary World" and "Come Undone", which may have in turn led to a lower position on the pop and adult contemporary charts. It performed much better on the alternative rock and club charts.

Music video
The video for "Too Much Information" was filmed by director Julien Temple in Santa Monica on August 27 and featured the elaborate stage setup designed for the band's 1993 Dilate Your Mind tour.

B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes
The cassette and CD singles were released on August 23, 1993, and those who bought the cassette single received a free No Ordinary EP cassette with live tracks ("Hungry Like the Wolf", "Notorious", "Come Undone"), recorded during a performance at Tower Records a few months before. These recordings also appeared as bonus tracks on various global CD releases of the single.

Chart positions
On September 4th, "Too Much Information" peaked at #35 in the United Kingdom, and at #45 in the United States.


 * #35 UK Singles Chart
 * #45 Billboard Hot 100
 * #30 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks
 * #17 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play

CSS: Parlophone TC DD 18 (UK)

 * 1) "Too Much Information" (4:56)
 * 2) "Come Undone [live]" (7:35)
 * "Come Undone" recorded at Tower Records, Hollywood California May 15, 1993

12": Parlophone 12 DD 18 (UK)

 * 1) "Too Much Information [Ben Chapman 12" mix]" (6:18)
 * 2) "Drowning Man [D:Ream mix]" (6:29)
 * 3) "Drowning Man [ambient mix]" (6:45)
 * 4) "Too Much Information [Deptford dub]" (5:43)

CD: Parlophone CD DDS 18 (UK)

 * 1) "Too Much Information [Album version]"  (4:56)
 * 2) "Drowning Man [D:Ream mix]" (6:29)
 * 3) "Too Much Information [Ben Chapman 12" mix]" (6:18)
 * 4) "Too Much Information [Deptford dub]" (5:43)
 * Comes in a 2-CD card holder

CD: Parlophone CD DD 18 (UK)

 * 1) "Too Much Information [album version edit]" (3:59)
 * 2) "Come Undone [12" mix - comin' together]" (7:25)
 * 3) "Come Undone [live]" (7:35)
 * 4) "Notorious [live]" (5:31)
 * Come Undone "12" Mix" aka "Mix 1 Master"
 * Live tracks recorded at Tower Records, Hollywood California May 15, 1993

CD: Part of "Singles Box Set 1986-1995" boxset

 * 1) "Too Much Information" (4:56)
 * 2) "Come Undone [live]" (7:35)
 * 3) "Notorious [live]" (5:31)
 * 4) "Too Much Information [Ben Chapman 12" mix]" (6:18)
 * 5) "Drowning Man [D:Ream mix]" (6:29)
 * 6) "Drowning Man [ambient mix]" (6:45)
 * 7) "Too Much Information [Ben Chapman Instrumental 12" mix]" (6:00)
 * 8) "Too Much Information [Deptford dub]" (5:43)
 * 9) "Too Much Information [album version edit]" (3:59)
 * 10) "Come Undone [12" mix - comin' together]" (7:25)
 * Come Undone "12" Mix" aka "Mix 1 Master"
 * Live tracks recorded at Tower Records, Hollywood California May 15, 1993

CD: Capitol 7 16489 2 (US)

 * 1) "Too Much Information" (4:56)
 * 2) "Too Much Information [Techno 7" Remix]" (3:31)
 * 3) "Drowning Man [D:Reamix]" (6:29)
 * 4) "Hungry Like The Wolf [live acoustic]" (7:01)
 * Comes in yellow tray
 * "Hungry Like The Wolf" recorded live at Tower Records, Hollywood California May 15, 1993

CD: Capitol DPRO-79256 (US - Promo)

 * 1) "Too Much Information [Trance 7" mix]" (3:29)
 * 2) "Too Much Information [4:30 AM Twirl Mix]" (4:21)
 * 3) "Too Much Information [Club 2 Mix]" (4:14)
 * 4) "Too Much Information [Unplugged Mix]" (4:16)
 * Labelled "The Churban Mixes"

CD: Capitol DPRO-79269 (US - Promo)

 * 1) "Too Much Information [Trance Mix 12"]" (6:12)
 * 2) "Too Much Information [Trance Instrumental 12"]" (6:14)
 * 3) "Too Much Information [Deptford Dub]" (6:06)
 * 4) "Too Much Information [Club 2 Mix]" (4:15)

Other appearances

 * 1993 - Duran Duran (1993 album) [The Wedding Album]
 * 1999 - Strange Behaviour
 * 2004 - Singles Box Set 1986-1995

Personnel
Duran Duran are


 * Simon Le Bon
 * Nick Rhodes
 * John Taylor
 * Warren Cuccurullo