Birmingham Mail: The Best of Birmingham

Best of Birmingham is a list published by the Birmingham Mail newspaper in May 2011 that features Duran Duran.

About the list
The list was compiled by the Birmingham Mail, a tabloid newspaper based in Birmingham, UK but distributed around Birmingham, The Black Country, Solihull, Warwickshire and parts of Worcestershire and Staffordshire. It is one of the biggest selling local newspapers in the UK with a circulation of around 67,000, published Monday to Saturday.

Published with artwork featuring a photograph of Duran Duran from the early 1980s, the list is an opinion of a newpaper of what is the best 100 thing about Birmingham. Featured are personalities, musicians, landmarks, sports clubs and links to the city's proud industrial past and present. Duran Duran are included at no.39.

Newspaper notes:

39. Duran Duran - An indication of the popularity of Duran Duran is the way the Rum Runner club on Birmingham’s Broad Street has gone down in musical history, due to the group being resident band there during the late ‘70s. Early incarnations included Stephen Duffy and Andy Wickett but the classic line-up of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and the Taylors, Roger, Andy and John (all unrelated) came together in 1980. Coinciding with the New Romantic movement and the launch of MTV, the band’s timing was perfect and they made the most of their pretty boy image and the public’s appetite for lavish videos, selling more than 80 million records worldwide.

Top 100
100. Jamelia - R&B singer, model, TV presenter, actress.

99. The Bull - Tourist attraction standing at 2.2m and weighing six tonnes.

98. Carl Chinn MBE - Birmingham historian.

97. Birmingham Science Museum - Museum On Newhall Street from 1951 to 1997

96. King Kong - Statue in the 1970s

95. The Birmingham Outer Circle bus route - The number 11 bus. Hosts the BRMB 27-mile Walkathon.

94. Birmingham City University - began life in 1971 as Birmingham Polytechnic.

93. Steve Winwood - Musician in bands including Blind Faith, plus Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech.

92. Les Ross MBE - Local radio DJ.

91. Birmingham pubs - Brummies love their beer – fact.

90. John Salt - Artist who paints precision-perfect portraits of cars.

89. Mike Gayle - Novelist.

88. Snobs Nightclub - underground club on the corner of Paradise Circus and Queensway.

87. Ian Lavender - Actor who played Private Pike in Dad’s Army.

86. The Glee Club - Now a small chain of club across the country.

85. Thinktank - Birmingham’s new science museum.

84. Toyah Willcox - Singer, actress, writer and television presenter.

83. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts - Art gallery

82. Cat Deeley - TV presenter.

81. Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre - Hosts touring theatre, music and comedy.

80. Trevor Eve - Actor.

79. Birmingham clubs - Includes the former Rum Runner nightclub that is synonymous with Duran Duran.

78. Charlie Hall - Carpenter turned actor was born in 1899.

77. Library of Birmingham - Designed by Dutch architects Mecanoo.

76. Mike Skinner - Rapper from West Heath.

75. Judas Priest - Rock band

74. The Lickey Hills -Cover 524 acres and provide a rich habitat for wildlife.

73. China Town - Based around Hurst Street and Pershore Street.

72. Moseley Folk Festival - Mix of traditional, contemporary and experimental folk and acoustic music.

71. Martin Shaw - Actor.

70. BRMB Walkathon - A 26-mile sponsored walk for charity.

69. Birmingham Pride - A when the city's gay and lesbian community takes to the streets.

68. BSA - Small Arms Company that also produced motorbikes.

67. Bill Oddie - Comedian, actor and writer.

66. The Belfry - Golf course.

65. National Sea Life Centre - Boasts a million litre underwater tank, 4D cinema and over 1,000 creatures.

64. Birmingham Half Marathon - 13-mile race around the streets of Birmingham.

63. Alfred Bird / The Custard Factory - Inventor of egg-free custard in 1837.

62. Brindleyplace - 17 acre site home to shops, bars, restaurants and offices.

61. Sutton Park - 2,400 acres with a seven-mile perimeter.

60. The Chamberlain Family - Dynasty with businessman, politician, and statesman Joseph.

59. Glynn Purnell - Chef 58. Spaghetti Junction - Major motorway intersection, Birmingham’s is believed to be the first.

57. Ocean Colour Scene - Rock band.

56. The Rotunda - Cylindrical high rise landmark.

55. Electric Light Orchestra - Rock band.

54. The Ikon Gallery - Contemporary art gallery.

53. Birmingham Botanical Gardens - Offers more than ‘175 years of plants.

52. Birmingham Repertory Theatre - Theatre with 100 history.

51. The Iron Man - Public piece of art.

50. Pre-Raphaelite Collection at BM&AG - Art collection.

49. Benjamin Zephaniah - Poet.

48. Cannon Hill Park - A source of healthful recreation.

47. Murray Walker - Voice of motor racing for the best part of 50 years.

46. The Mailbox and The Cube - Shopping center.

45. The markets - 140 stalls, six million visitors a year.

44. Birchfield Harriers AC / Alexandra Stadium - Athletic venue.

43. The accent - makes Brummies unique.

42. TISWAS - 1970s children Saturday morning TV.

41. Pebble Mill - BBC Edgbaston studios.

40. James Brindley - Canal engineer.

39. Duran Duran - Resident band during the late 70s/Early 80s. sold more than 80 million records worldwide.

38. Fort Dunlop - Former Dunlop Rubber tyre factory and main offices.

37. Aston University - Founded in 1895.

36. Aston Hall - Grade I listed Jacobean Mansion.

35. Edgbaston Cricket Ground / Warwickshire CCC - Cricket Club.

34. Birmingham Royal Ballet - Internationally recognised for classics such as The Sleeping Beauty.

33. Oscar Deutsch - Founded metals firm Deutsch and Brenner in Harford Street, Hockley.

32. Jasper Carrott OBE - Comedian.

31. The canals - At its peak the city canals totalled about 160 miles.

30. The Bullring - Shopping center.

29. MG cars - Car manufactures.

28. University of Birmingham - Founded in Edgbaston in 1900.

27. The Electric Cinema - Britain’s oldest working cinema.

26. The Archers - Radio show with more than five million fans.

25. JRR Tolkien - poet, author, philologist and university prof, writer of The Lord Of The Rings.

24. Birmingham Hippodrome - venue for touring shows.

23. West Bromwich Albion - Football Club.

22. HP Sauce - Sauce that remains an icon of the Great British dinner table.

21. The Spitfire - Second World War plane designed by RJ Mitchell.

20. The Golden Mile - Area of bars and nightclubs.

19. The Staffordshire Hoard - Largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork.

18. Matthew Bolton - Key figure in the Industrial Revolution.

17. Frankfurt Christmas Market - Market located in Chamberlain Square.

16. Tony Hancock - Actor, comedian.

15. Selfridges Birmingham - Landmark building.

14. The LG Arena at the N.E.C. - Host of concerts and sporting events.

13. CBSO / Symphony Hall - Renowned 90-piece ensemble.

12. Jaguar Land Rover - Car manufactures.

11. St. Patrick's Day Parade - 80,000 turn out to line the streets.

10. Town Hall - Modelled on the Temple of Castor.

09. Jewellery Quarter - Center for Jewellery.

08. UB40 - Pop group.

07. Birmingham City F.C. - Football Club.

06. The Mini - Motor car.

05. Aston Villa - Football Club.

04. Cadbury - Chocolate factory (place where Andy Wickett worked).

03. Ozzy Osbourne / Black Sabbath - Rock band.

02. The Balti - An Asian meal invented in Birmingham.

01. The People - The residents of Birmingham.