If I called up Elton John, “Hey do you fancy a collaboration with Duran Duran?” and he said, “No,” I’d feel very rejected.
What is it about these younger artists that you gravitate towards to the point where you want to bring them into your world or be a part of their world? There have been some interesting collaborations on other Duran Duran albums, and that was no different with Future Past - a major one being that you had CHAI on “More Joy!” You also did a song with Charli XCX in 2014, and you’ve worked with Mark Ronson. The conversation spanned Bond themes and Pavarotti and side projects and many other twists and turns. Throughout, Le Bon was funny and animated - and also remarkably candid about certain high and low points in Duran Duran’s trajectory. On the occasion of Duran Duran’s new album, we called up Le Bon to talk about odds and ends and chapters from across the last 40 years. But now the group is back with Future Past, and like Paper Gods before it, the album not only finds Duran Duran managing to blend trademark elements of their classic sound with more contemporary dispositions, it also features a host of impressive and interesting collaborations.Īt the helm of Duran Duran has always, of course, been Simon Le Bon. It’s been a while between albums - their last, Paper Gods, arrived in 2015. Now over four decades into their career, the new wave greats Duran Duran are still going strong. We’ve Got A File On You features interviews in which artists share the stories behind the extracurricular activities that dot their careers: acting gigs, guest appearances, random internet ephemera, etc.