DURANIMO!
31 hit singles, 15 hit albums, sampled at every turn and they STILL have cute haircuts!
Duran Duran, bless them, just won't go away. Still recording, still touring despite the best efforts of the ageist police to lock them away in the nostalgia bins.
As Duran announce a major UK stadium tour in December, Nick Rhodes comes out shooting from the hip on Radio 1, the '80s and pop trash.
Nick, dear boy, how come you're still doing big arena shows
# I think people know that when they see us, they will get a decent show. We know how to do it now. If something goes wrong we can deal with it.
Oh yeah, what can possibly go wrong?
# Once, in America, the rigs were struck by lightning and all the lights went out. We found out what had happened and then explained it to the audience and it was fine. We've had babies born in the audience, all sorts of things!
You don't like the idea of Duran being associated with the '80s revivals, do you?
# I don't like the idea of '80s nostalgia. I lived through the '80s and I had a nice time but I don't want to go back there. Some people are stuck there but I'm not one of them.
Do people come just for the old songs?
# Some come for songs from the '80s, some for the '90s, some for the new stuff.
Aren't you sick of playing the old songs?
# No, we love playing them.
Puff Daddy used Notorious - what's your attitude to sampling?
# It's inevitable when you have a big catalogue. Imagine being James Brown!
You're not against it?
# I'm in favour of recycling. I'd like us to do an album using other things. They have to ask our permission.
Have you ever refused?
# Yes, a really horrible Wild Boys, I couldn't even bear to listen. It was a crime! No, it wasn't anyone famous.
Are you still proud of all the stuff you've done in the past?
# I don't think we've done any howlers. There are a few album tracks that might have been better, some lyrics are throwaway, but nothing's abominable.
How do you feel about the last album Pop Trash?
# It's one of our strongest studio records. But it's unusual, it doesn't feature in any of the genres. It's not dance, it's not boy band, it's more classic rock with a '70s influence.
Are you upset your new stuff doesn't get much airplay?
# I just think it's silly. Music should be judged by what it is, not by what's fashionable. Radio 1 is a closed shop, it's like Nazis.
So why don't you get airplay?
# It's just stupid politics. It's not just us, loads of good things don't get played. It's more like the fashion industry than music. But they'll get their comeuppance with internet radio and they'll leave Radio 1 in droves.
Gary Kemp was talking about the rivalry between Spandau and Duran Duran...
# Oh he's not still talking about that is he? That was all a figment of their imagination.
Do you listen to modern music?
# Yes. I like a lot of dance music. The Prodigy, Aphex Twin, Fat Boy Slim. I like a lot of ambient techno too.
What do you think of Aurora's cover of Ordinary World?
# She's got a nice voice and she sings in tune. It's okay.
