DURAN DURAN: BAND CURRENTLY IN LONDON STUDIO WITH HIT MAKER DALLAS AUSTIN

New York, NY--  The five original members of Duran Duran are putting the finishing touches on their first studio album together in 21 years, due out on Epic Records worldwide in early October 2004. Simon LeBon (vocals), Andy Taylor (guitar), John Taylor (bass), Roger Taylor (drums) and Nick Rhodes (keyboards) are currently working in London’s Sphere Studios with Grammy-award winning music and film producer Dallas Austin (Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Pink) on songs for their new album. "This is an incredible experience, you can't pay for the history. I am a word for word, lyric for lyric fan. They are all super musicians! And we're all Astronauts"-  raved Austin. (“Astronaut” is the title of one of the tracks the band is working on with Austin.)

The new album also features the work of Don Gilmore, who has produced albums for multi-platinum acts such as Good Charlotte and Linkin Park. “Duran Duran really like to experiment,” explained Gilmore. “They don’t like to do things
the conventional way.” Asked about his favorite song on the forthcoming album, Gilmore admitted “I'm a sucker for the moodier stuff - ’Save A Prayer,’ ’The Chauffeur,’ etc.- There's a new song called ’Still Breathing’ that's in that same vein and- it's amazing.”

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Simon LeBon reflected on how he and his fellow band members "inspire each other musically....Nobody else does it for me. It's just very special.”