'80s Favorite Duran Duran Grabs Spotlight Again
Published: 10/16/97

Byline: BY MAURICIO MINOTTA

Duran Duran couldn't have asked for more attention. Not only is the British pop band's 11th CD, ``Medazzaland,'' on store shelves this week, but a compilation disc was also released last week, featuring their best songs from the '80s and '90s. Some of today's ska and punk bands appear on ``The Duran Duran Tribute Album,'' each giving a whole new twist to songs like ``Rio'' (Goldfinger), ``The Reflex'' (Less Than Jake), ``Girls On Film'' (Bjorn Again) and ``Ordinary World'' (River Fenix). Eve's Plumb's cover of ``Save A Prayer'' doesn't stray too far from the original version, but others like Reel Big Fish's swing remake of ``Hungry Like the Wolf'' is flat out wacky.

And if you ask Duran Duran's vocalist Simon LeBon what he thinks of it, he'll tell you it's one of his favorites. ``I like the sense of humor in it,'' say LeBon by telephone in Los Angeles. ``It reminds me of us actually. We always have a tongue-in-cheek approach to things. I love the spoken intro. It's so non-politically correct. (Scott Klopfenstein) trying to explain the song really makes me laugh. It's like he puts his foot in his mouth.'' In fact, the 38-year-old singer says the more different ways bands can redo old Duran Duran songs the better.

``Medazzaland'' is the band's first album since bassist John Taylor quit earlier this year. Now officially a trio -- featuring original keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, who joined in 1990 -- the group explored darker sonic shades on the record and, like U2 and David Bowie, also incorporate heavy electronica. Their first single, ``Electric Barbarella,'' is a prime example of Duran Duran's dive into the techno pool.

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