The model from Duran Duran’s ‘Rio’ cover has finally been identified

The model from Duran Duran‘s ‘Rio’ cover has finally been identified.

• READ MORE: Duran Duran: “We’d love to do Glastonbury – we just need the right slot”

The iconic artwork was originally painted by American artist and illustrator Patrick Nagel, and then designed by Malcolm Garrett to resemble classic ’50s cigar packaging. However, despite becoming one of the most memorable album covers of all time, the subject has remained a mystery – until now.

An Instagram account called @nagel_angel has spent “countless hours” in search of the original reference photo used by Nagel. They have now identified model Marcie Hunt (now known as Marcie Dinkel) as the subject of the renowned portrait.

Though Nagel passed away two years after making the illustration, his assistant Barry Hahn reportedly confirmed that Hunt was the original inspiration.

Duran Duran themselves took to social media to repost @nagel_angel’s discovery, upon which Hunt herself commented below. “This is so cool! I absolutely did not know until now that this photo of me was used for the Rio cover,” she wrote. “Very exciting! Love Duran Duran, and danced to their music often in the ’80s… and later at my wedding.”

Take a look at the two photos below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Duran Duran (@duranduran)

NME caught up with Duran Duran last year, where they spoke about their eagerness to play Glastonbury Festival. The band have surprisingly never played the huge festival at Worthy Farm, which will be returning this year from June 26-30.

Speaking to NME, frontman Simon Le Bon said: “I’d love to [do it] – we just need to get the right slot, that’s all.

“We have had the chance to do it before, but it wasn’t playing the main stage and I think we’d like to be doing that for sure. I’m sure we’re in negotiations [with Glastonbury], and if not, we will be.”

However, they are due to headline Latitude Festival this year, along with Cruel World Festival in California alongside Blondie and Interpol.

They are also set to feature at Montreux’s Jazz Festival along with a slate of other names, including Kraftwerk, The National, Raye, The Smashing Pumpkins, Alice Cooper, PJ Harvey, Justice, Jessie Ware, Massive Attack, Air, Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Janelle Monáe, Michael Kiwanuka, Paolo Nutini, Soft Cell and more.

In other news, Duran Duran have deleted a photo with a Tesla Cybertruck after online backlash.

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