Here's the transcript from Duran's October 10 Internet chat on AOL:

Question: So, you guys planning a concert anytime soon? Looking forward to hearing some new stuff......

Warren: Yes, we are. We're playing 17 shows across America between the 2nd week of November and the 2nd week of December. It'll be major markets to start with, and then we'll possibly be back in the late spring doing more intensive touring.

Question: Did other bands inspire your music?

Nick: Yes, absolutely. We were all great music fans, and certainly artists from the '70s such as Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and David Bowie were a great inspiration to become a musician.

Question: What does Duran Duran think of their newer fans as opposed to their older fans?

Warren: Anybody who enjoys the music we put out, we don't have any kind of special preference. They're all welcome, but it's interesting what some of the older fans who have turned up at the various events that we've done. They've become very familiar. It's like seeing an old friend.

Nick: I'm always thrilled when I know that we've turned somebody new onto Duran Duran. But I also love the fact that we have over the history of the band kept many loyal fans from the very beginning.

Question: How did you guys get started?

Nick: Duran Duran started in 1978 in England when John and I left school. We had a concept for the band which was to crossover dance music, electronic music and rock music to form a new sound which became Duran Duran.

Question: Loved you on Leno! Will that be your current stage set?

Warren: That set was based on the video for "Electric Barbarella". The crew used elements from different parts of the video. Our stage set will be probably as minimal and low tech as that for the first part of the Nov/Dec dates. There won't be any 1993-type extravaganzas.

Question: What factor do you believe has attributed to your overall ability to remain popular with today's pop culture?

Nick: I think songs have been the most important thing in Duran Duran's longevity, coupled with a great desire to continue making music and a belief in what we do, being very relevant to our times. I also think that Duran Duran is a very honest band who have avoided the pitfalls of jumping on bandwagons and trends. We've managed to stay true to our original ideals that Duran Duran must be unique, not fear change and always move forward and try to innovate.

Question: Hi guys, What influenced the song "Michael (You've Got A Lot To Answer For)"?

Warren: This was a piece that I started working on in Sweden in 1993. Simon liked the guitar part and after a year, he asked me to teach it to him because he wanted to write the rest of the song. He came up with a line that had something to do with a friend of his (Michael). By having that line, it enabled him to write the lines to the chorus because he already had the existing melody from my part. It was basically finished very quickly.

Question: Is "Out of My Mind" going to be on this album?

Nick: Yes, "Out of My Mind" is going to be on the album. It was only licensed to the movie The Saint. It was not written specifically for the movie. It's always been part of our album.

Question: Where do you see yourselves 20 years from now?

Warren: Hopefully alive. That's way too far in the future.

Nick: Genetically enhanced.

Question: How can we get official autographs from the band of Duran Duran?

Warren: I hear there's a lot of forgeries around. Be careful!

Nick: We don't have an official fan club at the moment. However, we are launching the official Duran Duran website by the end of October this year. The address will be www.duranduran.com. This, we will use a very direct link with our audience. We can't always promise to sign everything. However, the site should give us a better opportunity to make more direct contact. That is, with our fans.

Question: After 16 years you have yet to disappoint me! The new album is great! Nick - I was wondering what made you decide to "sing" "Medazzaland"?

Nick: "Medazzaland" was originally an instrumental track, but one day Warren and I were in the studio and Simon hadn't arrived yet. We were talking about the track -- we were just about to send it to get mixed -- and I said to Warren, "I think this would sound great with a voice over on it. Some kind of introduction to would make a great intro on the album. Something slightly surreal that set the tone for the record." So I quickly scribbled down some words about fear and paranoia, and spoke them. Once it was came in and heard it and at first was a little surprised. But then we all decided that it really worked with the track and really helped the album.

Question: Do making videos mean a lot to the group today, as they did in the '80s( if they ever did), even though there is a lack of exposure and respect for your classic videos?

Nick: Videos are important to us today and, in fact, the video that we made for the 1st single off the album "Electric Barbarella", we believe is one of the best that we've done for a long time. It was shot by a director called Ellen Von Unwerth. She is a fashion photographer who we have worked with on many occasions, the first being the photographs for the Liberty album. It is a very kitsch tongue and cheek video which pretty much follows the story of the song. Video now seems to have found its place within the music industry and whilst we do enjoy making videos, none of them work without a great song.

Warren: Videos especially don't work if no one wants to play them.

Nick: We have met with some resistance to the "Electric Barbarella" video, and also censorship, which we are a little disturbed by because we feel that it is a stylish, light-hearted look at future cybersex with many ironies.

Question: I have to know......Where was your favorite place to hold a concert? Stephanie, NJ

Nick: One of the best memories I have for a concert is Sao Paolo in Brazil, possibly because it's one of the biggest crowds we played to. I think it was 120,000 people, and I remember it being an incredible atmosphere. But then, many small clubs that we have played have also been very special.

Warren: We once played in ancient ruins in Frejus, France. There's an old amphitheater which is partially in ruins, and that was an amazing place to play.

Nick: I always had a soft spot for Madison Square Garden, too.

Warren: Yeah, we love that.

Question: How do you feel you have grown the most since the beginning of the band? Musically, personally, or other?

Warren: All of the above.

Nick: Yeah. There is obviously a huge transition that takes place between your teenage years into your mid-'30s in all of the categories you have stated. But I think everyone in the band now is feeling more in control of their lives in general and we are all very happy with what we have been able to create being so fresh after almost 20 years together.

Question: Hi guys - How much material didn't make it onto the final version of Medazzaland?

Warren: There's probably about 7 songs that were discarded for various reasons. Completed ones. Some of them were written too early in the phase of the writing process and didn't stand the test of time. Other ones we felt just weren't good enough.

Nick: However, Warren and I have written approximately 40 other songs for the TV Mania project that we are also working on during the writing period of the Duran Duran album.

Question: Nick, have you always contributed to the lyrics, or was this your first go at it?

Nick: I have always contributed something to the lyrics in varying degrees on different albums. Sometimes titles, other times choruses or just concepts for the songs. On The Wedding Album, I wrote my first complete lyric but this album, the way it worked out, I actually wrote half of the lyrics on the album, which was a challenge. I think the way I see the world is very different than Simon and it has given the album a different slant that it would have had had he written all the lyrics. I cannot see in the future with Duran Duran albums that I would not write some of the lyrics.

Question: Please what do you do when you are not singing or recording?

Nick: Taping. Movies.

Warren: Reading.

Nick: Museums.

Nick: Internet.

Warren: Long, boring business phone calls.

Warren: Lots of shopping.

Nick: Watch The Simpsons repeatedly.

Warren: Yeah.

Question: Nick - any plans to produce for bands like you did with Kaja?? Jessica Moffett, Denver, Colorado

Nick: Warren and I have formed an entity together called TV Mania. We produced the Duran Duran album but we have also produced an album for ourselves which is the first of a trilogy forming a complete cybersoap rock opera entitled Bored With Prozac and the Internet? I am very excited about this and we are hoping to release it on our own label, Lo-Fi Records, sometime next year.

Warren: We've also, as TV Mania, written and produced 2 songs for Blondie who have re-formed. The project for the moment is on hold, but something should be happening within the next few months.

Nick: Yes, we would love to produce some new artists and we're always looking for something special and something exciting.

Question: Do you guys have any say in what singles gets released. If so what will be? I favor "Big Bang Generation"!

Nick: Yes, we do have control over what is released. However, it s important that a record company is behind your decisions. Fortunately, with the Medazzaland album, we are all in total agreement that the first single which is now being released in the US was "Electric Barbarella". "Big Bang Generation" is definitely a contender for a second or third single at the moment.

Question: Is it true that you will be performing on Saturday Night Live this season?

Warren: We haven't been officially booked on SNL so there is no definite date or there might not even be a glimmer of hope left.

Nick: But by all means, do call them. Fax them.

Warren: E-mail them.

Nick and Warren: And generally harass them!

Nick: We do think that it would be a fun show to perform on.

Warren: Anything to get us to New York for a long period. Also, go to the website at www.NBC.com and write to them there!

Question: What is your view regarding the paparazzi in light of recent events being in the spotlight yourselves as well? Our deepest sympathy to you all in the death of your Princess.

Warren: Paparazzi are not murderers. They're more like rodents. People who are flashing photos when you walk out of restaurants or hotels is no big deal. But people who try to invade your every private moment are true rodents.

Nick: Obviously, we were deeply saddened by the death of Princess Diana. And it was incredible thing in England seeing how deep she had got into people's conscious. We hope to be involved with the Diana Tribute Album pending being able to tie it all together logistically.

Question: Although I think every DD song is great, what is the worst song you have ever recorded in your opinion? Anyone can answer!

Warren: There's a lot of them.

Nick: Pick one, Warren.

Warren: As time goes on, you grow and hit upon a few things that were great in that period and some things didn't have the right direction or were put together in the wrong way.

Nick: I think the biggest waste of a song was "UMF" on The Wedding Album because it really had something special, but actually the lyric just didn't make it.

Question: Is it true that you will be performing at the opening of the Andy Warhol retrospective at The Whitney?

Nick: Yes, it is true that we will be performing at an Andy Warhol opening on November 6 in NYC at the Whitney Museum. The show is about Warhol and fashion and style. We were invited to play and the proceeds from that evening are going to charity. So unfortunately, the tables are very expensive, but however it is for a great cause.

Question: Are any of the members married. And if not what kind of girls do they like?

Warren: Simon is married and he has 3 children. Nick is divorced and has 1 child. He's in a very happy relationship. And I am attached, but not married and have one child.

Nick: But we like all sorts of girls. Every flavor.

Question: What advice can you give for young children pursuing the lifestyle of a rock band?

Nick: I don't really think that young children pursue the life of rock bands. Potentially when you get into your teens, it's a career that many think about and for those who want to take it seriously, they could have a lot of fun. But it is extremely hard work and something that you have to be completely devoted to in order to make it work. I think many people have total misconceptions about what the life of a rock star is really about. In fact, most people who are successful in the music industry have unbelievably busy schedules which usually last from very early in the morning until very late at night. You really have to be totally together at all times to make that happen and to put over what you want people to understand about the band and your music.

Question: Do you guys ever read the Duran Duran Lives/Vh1 boards on America Online?

Warren: No.

Nick: No, never seen them.

Warren: Should we read them?

Question: When you first appeared on MTV I was 6 years old. My mom wouldn't let me watch MTV. I remember hiding the TV remote so I could watch your "Hungry Like A Wolf" video. Thanx for the memories!!!!! Will you be making more classic videos like these?

Nick: Video is still very important to us and as I said a little earlier this evening, harks back to some of our earlier videos and it's certainly the best for awhile. It shows the Duran Duran sense of humor, which is something that I think disappeared for awhile.

Question: Do you think the video for "Electric Barbarella" might give people the wrong idea of how deep and complex and rich Medazzaland is?

Warren: I think the video for "Electric Barbarella" conjures up the same feelings as the song does. It makes you laugh, it makes you smile. It's one song off a 12-song album, but it was the perfect visual representation for that piece of music. The rest of the videos for the singles we put out for this album will be very different. But a couple will be directed by the same director.

Nick: It's always hard to put out one song or one video which sets the tone for a project, particularly for Duran Duran because we tend to be quite diverse even within one album. But I hope that by now, people who are familiar with our music understand that there are many layers to the band and to our records. "Electric Barbarella" is an optimistic song and sometimes you need music that makes you smile as well as all the dark pieces that we're all so familiar with from the last five years, particularly.

Question: I am a big fan. With the commercial success of your last album what were the major influences in creating this album in such a different matter?

Warren: The last album was a commercial failure. The one before it was a success. That's probably what you're referring to. This album is a progression from The Wedding Album. It's the first original material we've put out since 1993, and we've learned a lot over those 4 years and our standards have been raised even higher because of songs like "Ordinary World" and we feel that in Medazzaland, we've succeeded in reaching that level by making a complete album as each song is relevant to the context of the music. We'll be performing practically the entire album on our dates at the end of this year along with some older stuff that people haven't heard played in a long time, and they all work really well together.

Question: Nick, as we enter the 21st century, do you think fashion will continue to have such an impact on music (and vice versa) or do you think technology will be more important on the music being made?

Nick: I've always thought that fashion and music were very closely related. For us, technology has also been incredibly important in Duran Duran. We continue to try and remain on the cutting edge where new things become available. For example, we were very proud to become the first band to actually sell music directly through the Internet a few weeks ago whereby you could actually and still can download our single "Electric Barbarella" from the Liquid Audio site into your own hard disk for $.99. We will be doing a lot more with the Internet in the future and many other areas of technology. My personal keyboard rig now includes an Apple laptop computer, which I actually play using samples from the keyboard. We intend to utilize music, fashion, technology, movies and all other pop culture within the Duran Duran strata for the future.

Question: Who were the dudes playing bass and drums with you guys on Leno last night?

Warren: The drummer is the drummer who played with us on the promotion tour for the Thank You album. His name is Steve Alexander. He's from England. The bass player someone named Wes Wehmiller who had done some shows with me for my solo stuff in 1996. He's American.

Question: Which fans are better -- European fans or American?

Nick: We really don't differentiate between nationalities or even continents. We're always happy to be able to get through to people. It's very important to Duran Duran that we do touch our audience and keep making people smile. We have taken a long time to make the last record, and now it is finally coming out next Tuesday. We feel that it has been worthwhile, and we hope that over the next few months, we will be getting through to all the people who have supported Duran Duran over the years and hopefully a whole lot of new people.

Warren: But we do prefer living in Europe. and when we come and play in your city, we'll be onstage and it'll be those magical moments that happen with live music with a band you love, and we hope you love the album. We're sorry it took so long, but we hope you feel it was worth the wait. Thanks for logging on and hanging in there.

AOLiveMC9: Thank you so much for joining us this evening, Nick and Warren.

Nick: Sorry we couldn't stay on here for 24 hours solid, but I'm working on it. I'm sure that throughout the duration of the album's cycle, we will be doing more online chats. As you all know, this is the future. We are really very excited about the Duran Duran site and I hope that when it's up, you will come and visit it because we are trying to make it something that leaps ahead a little bit further.