Spencer Patterson

Wed, Jul 16, 2003 (8:20 a.m.)

Eighteen years ago, music fans around the world rejoiced as the Live Aid benefit concert raised money to help famine-stricken Ethiopians.

For Duran Duran fans, however, July 13, 1985, marked a bittersweet occasion: the final live appearance of the British New Wavers' original five-member lineup.

Until now, that is. The recently reunited founding Duranies -- Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, Roger Taylor and John Taylor -- are touring together for the first time since 1984, celebrating the band's 25th anniversary with a limited set of dates.

Duran Duran stops by The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel for a pair of shows Thursday and Saturday nights. The Saturday concert reportedly sold out in six minutes, prompting the band to add a second gig, though TicketMaster was still offering tickets to both shows as recently as last weekend.

The quintet reconvened in June 2001 to write and record tracks for a new album, which is due late this year or early in 2004. Before that, LeBon and Rhodes toured as Duran Duran with Warren Cuccurullo, who left in 2001 to re-form Missing Persons.

Duran Duran also marked its 25th anniversary with the release of its first boxed set, "The Singles 81-85," in April. The 13-disc package presents the band's first 13 singles, which contained rare gems such as "Late Bar" and a cover of David Bowie's "Fame," along with remixed versions of such hits as "Girls on Film" and "Is There Something I Should Know?"

Also on tap: remastered editions of classic albums "Duran Duran" and "Seven and the Ragged Tiger" later this year and a full-scale tour next year. The band is also offering official bootleg sets of its five recent Japanese gigs through website themusic.com.

This week's concerts will mark Duran Duran's first Hard Rock appearances since 1997. The band also performed at the hotel-casino's grand opening, on March 10, 1995.

Who: Duran Duran.

Where: The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Saturday.

Tickets: $75.

Call: 693-5066.

Opening act: None.

Personnel: Simon LeBon (vocals), Nick Rhodes (keyboard), Andy Talor (guitar), John Taylor (bass), Roger Taylor (drums).

Latest release: "The Singles 81-95" (EMI, 2003) (13-disc box set)

Album feedback: "There's plenty for the old fanatics to reminisce over, from the often superior 'Night Version' remixes, to the endearingly silly acoustic version of 'The Chauffeur,' to scarce tracks like 'Khanada,' 'Faster Than Light' and 'Secret Oktober." (allmusic.com, 4 stars).

Essential releases: "Duran Duran" (1981), "Rio" (1982), "Seven and the Ragged Tiger" (1983).

What to expect: If last week's five Japanese concerts are any indication, the band should bring out most of its greatest hits from its '80s heyday, along with a few favored album cuts and some newer material. In Japan, Duran Duran also introduced five cuts expected to be on its upcoming album: "What Happens Tomorrow," "Virus," "Still Breathing" and "Sunrise."

Recent set list: Budokan, Tokyo, Monday: "Friends of Mine," "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Planet Earth," "Come Undone," "What Happens Tomorrow," "New Religion," "Virus," "White Lines," "Waiting for the Night Boat," "Still Breathing," "Is There Something I Should Know," "Save a Prayer," "Ordinary World," "A View to a Kill," "Sunrise," "Notorious," "Wild Boys," "Careless Memories," "Rio." Encore: "The Reflex," "Girls on Film." (from fansite durandurantimeline.com)

Previous Las Vegas appearances: Aug. 24, 1993 (Bally's); Mar. 10, 1995 (The Joint); Dec. 10, 1997 (The Joint); Sept. 4, 1997 (The Joint); Aug. 25, 2000 (House of Blues); Aug. 26, 2000 (House of Blues); Mar. 30, 2001 (House of Blues); Mar. 31, 2001 (House of Blues).

Says LeBon: "We wrote songs which were massively catchy. I challenge anybody to deny that. We were the right age to catch video, because video was about looking great as well as sounding great. And we were very lucky because one way or another we ended up looking bloody fantastic in our videos." (Rolling Stone, March).