It’s been almost 20 years since the five original band members of Duran Duran worked together. But listeners can enter a time-slip courtesy ‘Astronaut,’ their comeback CD released this month.
MORE INFO MORE INFO ‘Astronaut’ Duran Duran Epic Records $18.95
MOST VIEWED Local: A Beatle in Piedmont Park National News: Obama cheered at Pride celebration Local: Judge: Trans lawsuit against Ga. lawmakers can continue Feature: Tough as nails National News: Gay groups back suit against marriage ban

HOME > SOVO SCENE > FEATURE

Oct 29, 2004  |  By: Lawrence Ferber  | COMMENTS |   |  

The Fab Five are back to make people’s lives better, more groovy — and of course more metrosexual. No, not the fairy dust-sprinkling “Queer Eye” cast on Bravo.

The men originally dubbed the Fab Five way back in the 1980s are the band Duran Duran, and the original members return this month with a comeback tour and a new CD, “Astronaut.”

“Someone told us one day that these five queens had stolen our moniker,” says Nick Rhodes, keyboard player for the band. “So we were properly cross with them. Right, we’ll getcha.”

A mix of musicians that included different mixes of original members and newcomers went under the name Duran Duran and have put out albums steadily since the band’s eponymous 1981 debut.

But the band’s original Fab Five lineup — vocalist Simon LeBon, keyboardist Rhodes, bassist John Taylor, guitarist Andy Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor — has not worked together since 1985. After 20 years apart, the Duran Duran gay fans came to know, love and emulate during the ‘80s returns full force on “Astronaut,” an irresistibly catchy disc containing all of the band’s trademark pop goodness.

“It’s got energy, grooves, it’s uplifting, optimistic,” offers former heartthrob Rhodes, who is still man-of-many-haircuts, hair colors and bright eye shadows.
“It’s funky, it’s edgy and boy, has it got a great package,” he boasts.

As Duran Duran’s 20th anniversary approached in 2001, a reunion tour seemed apt, and band members began calling each other.

“When the phone calls were first made, it took 24 hours before everybody had agreed in principle that they wanted to do it,” Rhodes recalls. “The next stage was getting in a room and looking at each other over a table and discussing how.”

The resulting tour is on the road now. An Atlanta stop is scheduled for Dec. 2.

But minutes into the first meeting, the band was discussing more than just a tour, Rhodes says.

“We were discussing how we were going to make a record,” he remembers.

Self-financing this effort, the band rented a house in San Tropez, shipped down a hefty load of gear, and holed up by 2001, pumping out some 35 songs, a dozen of which make up “Astronaut.”

The infectiously danceable, driving single “(Reach Up For The) Sunrise” is already familiar to many gay ears thanks to Jason Nevins’ club-ready remix on the “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy” soundtrack.

Yes, the Fab Fives of yore and of today are connected in a way. But of course Rhodes was joking about a catfight. In fact, a member of the “Queer Eye” cast told Rhodes Duran Duran doesn’t need any help from them because the pretty boys of the band may have been the first to embrace their gay sensibilities despite being straight.

“Because we’re already perfect,” Rhodes says. “That’s absolutely true, that’s what one of them said. Somebody accused us when I was in New York of being wholly responsible for metrosexuality. And I asked, ‘Is that an accusation or a compliment?’

“We’re all for male grooming, honey,” he winks.

The titular track on “Astronaut” is a fun, spacey number about going “out there” as far as you can go, while also celebrating the band’s love of sci-fi.

“I always saw myself as Barbarella’s Pygar, the flying angel, carrying Jane Fonda around in my arms,” lead singer LeBon muses.

“Finest Hour,” which takes its name from a Winston Churchill WWII speech, is about holding on to identity. And the most playful track is surely “Bedroom Toys,” a slinky, tingly, seductive number.

I saw the bedroom toys/ now I’m crawling/ I’ve learned to improvise/ You want it, you got it,/ now what you gonna do with it?

“Toys” was one of the first songs the band wrote when reunited, and it apparently contains a personal resonance for at least one of Duran Duran’s members.
“Nick, oh god yes he does have a lot of bedroom toys,” LeBon cracks. “Unfortunately he keeps running out of batteries.”

“Oh, bedroom toys are essential,” Rhodes responds. “A blindfold is a bedroom toy. It might be the tie I was wearing that eve. It didn’t have a battery in it, my tie, but I’m all for any kind of toys.”

Sexuality and sexual orientation are topics the band members have no hang-ups discussing.

The pro-gay ...