Biography

John Du Prez is a musician and composer best known as a past member of 1980's multi-hit New Wave Salsa group Modern Romance (1981-83). The band achieved eight top-forty hits and two hit albums and John - who played trumpet with Modern Romance - even had a song named after him: 'Who Is John Du Prez?', the b-side to the group's hit 'Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White'.

John quit the band in 1984 and concentrated on composing music scores for films like the Rob Lowe vehicle, Oxford Blues (1984), A Fish Called Wanda (1988), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). He has since collaborated with ex- Modern Romance frontman David Jaymes a number of times, most notably on the feature film Fascination (2004), and their single 'Best Years of Our Lives' featured in Shrek (2001).

John is friend to Eric Idle and has worked with him on numerous Monty Python projects including Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) and Monty Python's the Meaning of Life (1983). He and Eric wrote and performed the song 'Really Nice Day' in the animated movie The Wild (2006).
- IMDb mini biography by: Matt Lee-Williams

He and Eric Idle were awarded the 2010 Musical Score for "Monty Python's Spamalot" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

At one time he weighed almost 29 stones, but managed to lose 11, following a knee problem caused by the weight.

His musical, "Spamalot," at the Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for the 2011 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Production of a Musical-Large.

Whilst a member of 1980s pop band Modern Romance, John Du Prez shared in the following hit singles: 'Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White' b/w 'Who Is John Du Prez?' (1982) UK #15; 'Best Years of Our Lives' b/w 'We've Got Them Running (The Counting Song) (1982) UK #4; 'High Life' b/w 'You Just Can't Kill The Beat' (1983) #8; 'Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm' b/w 'I Can't Help Myself' (1983) UK #14; 'Walking in the Rain' b/w 'Walking in the Rain (Blues)' (1983) UK #7 Thailand #1; 'Good Friday' b/w 'Good Feelings' (1983) UK #96; 'Best Mix of Our Lives' b/w 'Best Years of Our Lives' (1985) UK #81. He also shared in the hit albums 'Adventures in Clubland' (1982) Venezuala #1 (Certified Gold, South America); 'Trick of the Light' (1983) UK #53; 'Party Tonight' (1983) UK #45. John left Modern Romance in 1984 - he features posthumously on the bands final single, 'Best Mix of Our Lives', which showcases Modern Romance's biggest hits.

Eric Idle and his musical, "Monty Python's Spamalot" at the Nightblue Performing Arts Theatre in Chicago, Illinois was nominated for a 2014 Joseph Jefferson Non-Equity Award for Musical Production.