Leaving their flyaway hair and hedonistic lifestyle in the 1980s was the best thing the sensational English synthpop band Duran Duran could have done. Instead of becoming a fixture on something like Strictly Come Dancing, the wild boys — once dubbed the “prettiest boys in rock” — pushed their music inch by inch, making each of their 13 albums a lesson in musical exploration. And their 14th, Paper Gods (set to release in September on Sony Music) is no different. Duran Duran fanboy Mark Ronson is in the producer’s chair and he is joined by Chic man Nile Rodgers.

Group members Simon Le Bon, 56, and Nick Rhodes, 53, took five questions from t2 over email.

There’s a cool mix of styles on Paper Gods. What sets the 14th album apart from the Duran Duran biggies of the 1980s?

Simon Le Bon: It is very important for us to keep the flame of inspiration and experiment burning. It’s an album about our obsession with money, with material things. Paper Gods is definitely the angriest song on the album. Usually Rhodes tends to be much less specific when it comes to lyrics, because we like it when people hear our songs and create their own stories around them. This album is definitely one of the strangest things we’ve done in a long, long time, in that it’s a real journey, strong lyrics — we don’t often get into social commentary with songs, but this one felt like it needed that. And I do love the fact that it’s so unpredictable.

You have Janelle Monae, Nile Rodgers, John Frusciante and Lindsay Lohan on the album. How did you manage that?

Nick Rhodes: It is amazing to have them all together. Mark Ronson and Nile Rodgers are long-time comrades. Paper Gods also saw the band team up with Janelle Monae for the single Pressure Off. John (Frusciante), who is an ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, recreated his magic on this album. Le Bon had met Lohan a decade earlier, after she approached him to say she had once gone to a party in costume as him! She wanted to be a part of the song, texting Simon, and we thought, actually, there is one spot, Danceophobia, where we needed someone to do a little role play for us. Lohan agreed and we are happy to have her as part of it.
 
Mark Ronson has produced the album. What does he bring to it?

Le Bon: Mark is known for successful collaborations. Back in 1983, Nile remixed The Reflex and gave us one of the biggest hits of our career. We believe it was a great decision made by Mark Ronson to get Nile and we are back together for our new single. I guess what he brought to us is only the probability of great success with a highly creative team.
 
Generations have been drawn to the Duran Duran sound. What’s the secret?

Le Bon: There are bands which love to have people sit down and listen to them and get stoned, until they’re flat on their backs. But we like to have people get up and dance. People talk about us being a party band, but honestly it is fun. I believe that is what people love about us too.

Finally, what keeps Duran Duran going after 37 years in the music business?

Le Bon: We didn’t think about being here till today, when we started. When you’re that young, thinking about what you’ll be in your 50s is not an attractive prospect! Some parts of the job have become harder because now we’re older and not so naive. Writing and inspiration come from naivety. But there’s a way in which we are more careful with our energy now and how we use it for maximum impact. The key is to get inspired and try new things always.

Duran Duran to me means.... Tell t2@abp.in
Duran Duran — Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor — will release Paper Gods (Sony Music), on September 11