In the San Francisco Chronicle Datebook of October 15, there is a short one-page article, here's a smidgen of it.:

"Can Duran Duran Do It Again? Le Bon And Mates Pin Hopes On New CD"
by Aidin Vaziri.

"Painkillers are awful if you've got a broken leg, but they can be quite good fun in other cases," the vocalist, 38, said distractedly. "Same as sleeping pills; if you have to use them to fall asleep, they're a right pain in the a--, but otherwise they can be brilliant." Then he paused for a moment, caught himself and said, "I shouldn't say any more."

The admission may seem strange coming from a member of a band that built its career behind a facade of chastity. Duran Duran, however, which also includes keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, is coming to terms with the times. The group's bass player of 17 years, John Taylor, departed just before the completion of Medazzaland to finish a rehabilitation program for cocaine abuse. (Note: this is absolutely not the reason for John's departure from Duran, and I trust that everyone reading this knows that. This is some libelous stuff; the reporter will be lucky if John doesn't sue him -ed. note)

Comparing themselves to the success of U2 and R.E.M., Simon concludes, "There are a few of their songs that are beautiful and sublime and I wish I had written them. But on the whole, if it came to it, Duran Duran is much more a reflection of how I am."

To find the article: http://www.sfgate.com/whatsnew, Click Datebook under eGuide, Click Sunday Pink,Click the article pg. 46