Q&A SIMON LEBON

By Rebecca Winters

Astronaut is the first studio album from Simon LeBon and the other four original members of Duran Duran in 21 years.

How has rock changed since you started out?

We were never considered a rock band 20 years ago. We were pop with a capital P.

You're an old family man now ...

I object to the word old.

O.K., you're a family man now. What do your daughters think of your old look?

They're mildly amused by it. But they also realize that there was something special going on for us guys then.

You've aged well. You all have your own hair.

We always had a very strong visual image. We try and maintain it. We're all in our 40s. That doesn't mean you've got to give up. My fashion guru is my wife. The best fashion advice she gives me is, "Simon, don't."

Any fashion regrets?

Nah. It's pathetic to have regrets about fashion. Things to do with my life, yes, I have regrets there. I would have had more sex. People should have as much sex as they possibly can, actually. And it doesn't have to be meaningful.

Maybe that's your antiaging tonic.

That I think about sex every two seconds? Quite possibly. We do a job that keeps a certain part of your psyche peeled and fresh. And we're hapy. We're useful. We provide a service that helps people get through their lives. There's a certain childish naivete about the band which we've protected and kept.

Is the entire band married to models?

Someone's got to keep the models happy.