DURAN DURAN ACTS ITS AGE GROUP BRINGS REFINED SOUND TO ASU CONCERT
Published on FRIDAY, February 3, 1989

Byline: By Andrew Means , The Arizona Republic


In pop music, as in life, acclaim and achievement don't necessarily coincide. So it isn't unprecedented that Duran Duran, six years after a short- lived phase as the new Beatles, is just now producing its best work.

That's the result, in part, of the maturing of its three remaining founding members -- singer Simon LeBon, bassist John Taylor and keyboardist Nick Rhodes. Guitarist Andy Taylor, it may be remembered, went solo while drummer Roger Taylor apparently dropped out of the music business altogether.

LeBon's personal growth is particularly apparent. Gone is the annoying nasal whine in his voice, even when he sings the group's early hits. His rapport with audiences has improved, too.

Musical development is really making the difference, though. The group's current album, Big Thing, is laced with the influence of Britain's latest musical fad, Acid House. With its strong dance rhythms and neo-psychedelic instrumentation, it is a style with great impact and spontaneity on stage. Duran is the first major act to show its potential to Valley audiences.

In doing so, the trio drew heavily upon supporting musicians. Drummer Stirling Campbell helped Taylor keep up a concussive rhythm, while ex-Missing Persons guitarist Warren Cuccurullo played blistering free-form fills. Along with Rhodes, Cuccurullo and a two-man horn section provided the disorienting juxtaposition of sounds and instruments that is another hallmark of Acid House.

Capping off the music were some effective visual effects featuring the group's two female harmony singers, Jacqui Copland and Melanie Redmond. For the group's 1983 hit Is There Something I Should Know?, the two women's silhouettes were projected onto a screen as they did a striptease. Earlier they were involved in a dance sequence in which they caressed LeBon, Taylor and Campbell. For a group that has lacked spontaneity, these musical and sexual pairings contained much dramatic tension.

About 6,000 attended this show -- less than half the number Duran might have expected five or six years ago. It was an older, less hysterical audience, too. But musically, the rewards were so much more stimulating.

Even if the sound quality wasn't always as pristine as it could have been, the stage show complemented the Big Thing album. The only thing one wonders now is whether Duran should drop the pretense of being a trio and give official recognition to the drummer and guitarist who are so integral to the group's music.

If LeBon ever feels he needs guidance on writing memorable and meaningful lyrics -- and he does whether he knows it or not -- he could do worse than listening to his opening act, the Pursuit of Happiness. The Toronto group's singer-guitarist, Moe Berg, has a talent for wry verse. He backs it up with some effective guitar riffs, too. I'm an Adult Now is perhaps the best of his work.

Unfortunately, he has much to learn about stagecraft. This set didn't do justice to the material, partly because the sound quality was poor and partly because Berg seemed out of his depth. Perhaps a club setting would be more effective for this band at present. At any rate, we'll soon know. Berg and his four colleagues will be at Chuy's Feb. 15.

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