It was 1983. These guys were at the height of it all. MTV launched and suddenly we could SEE all the UK had for us like Culture Club, Adam Ant and Duran Duran. The biggest thing in America at that time was Michael Jackson (Billie Jean, Beat It).
Michael reached out to founding member Nick Rhodes in 1983 at home. And by home I mean his mom's home where he was still living. Nick tells the story of how he thought it was a prank and what the band said when he relayed the phone call the next day.