ARE THEY STILL HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF?
Tuesday, October 28, 1997

By Rod Pocowatchit, The Wichita Eagle

Duran Duran was the Marilyn Manson of the '80s. OK, maybe without all that satanic worship stuff, and with a lot less
bloodshed. But there were equal amounts of eyeliner involved.

Manson entered '90s pop culture in much the same way that Duran Duran did in the '80s: with mainstream America not knowing how to process them.

They had similarly outlandish ways of getting attention - Manson with his horrific impurities and Duran Duran with its horrific perfection. The guys were so clean-cut and pretty, it was just as garish as Manson's devilish facade.

But while Manson stuck out like a pit bull at a cat show, Duran Duran blended into popular society - and helped shape it. The British imports were at the brink of the New Wave "revolution" that would come to define the '80s.

And their model good looks only helped. Duran Duran was practically made for the video age of MTV. Did video kill the radio star? Probably not, but it sure made it wear matching socks.

Nevertheless, Duran Duran set a standard for the music industry, that A) Bands had to not only sound good but look good, and B) OK, they didn't have to really sound that good, either.

Not to say that Duran Duran's music was shallow _ it was catchy as all get-out. And as a product of the '80s, I can embarrassingly admit that I've bought a few Duran Duran albums in my time (the shame!). But "Girls on Film" is hardly a commentary on world peace.

Duran Duran was undeniably one of the hottest acts of the decade. They were even called "The Fab Five" in reference to those other English rockers, the Beatles. But their success would subside with the rise of the grunge '90s. Bands were suddenly sporting scraggy beards and ripped plaid shirts. Duran Duran's matching blue suits and skinny ties were passe. America had turned a cold shoulder.

The guys didn't cry over spilled mascara. They rebounded in 1993 with "Duran Duran," which earned critical praise and put the band back on the charts with "Come Undone" and "Ordinary World."

Then they disappeared.

Now, four years later, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who readily admits to having owned anything by Duran Duran. Hey, someone had to buy all those albums.

Hopefully, that someone is still out there. With only two remaining founding members, Duran Duran is back, freshly pressed, with its new release, "Medazzaland." And, just at the same time, Mojo Records has released a tribute album of obscure alternative acts covering Duran Duran's most popular hits. Really.

It's a sure sign that Duran Duran has a stall in the pop culture bathroom. And with the new album, they refuse to be flushed down the toilet. We can bash Duran Duran all we want, and keep calling it a joke. But singer Simon Le Bon is still making a living as a musician while he pushes age 40.

Maybe that is the last laugh.

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