Producer Don Gilmore has spent quite some time in the Studio recently with Duran Duran. Don was kind enough to let us ask some questions about what it's like to work with the band.

YOU'VE WORKED WITH GOOD CHARLOTTE, AVRIL LAVIGNE, LINKIN PARK, LIT  AND ON A TON OF SOUNDTRACKS. HOW DID YOU COME TO WORK WITH DURAN  DURAN?

I worked with David Massey at Sony, on Good Charlotte.  When he called  and asked if I was interested in working with Duran Duran, I almost  fell out of my chair.  A phone call was set up with the band, and the  rest is history.

SINCE YOU'VE WORKED WITH MANY HARD ROCK ACTS, DO YOU FIND  INTERESTING THAT ARTISTS SUCH AS LOST PROPHETS, KORN AND LIMP BIZKIT  SITE DURAN DURAN AS  AN INFLUENCE?

Not really.  Duran Duran was the first band to blend two very different   musical styles, disco and punk.  Bands like the ones you mention do  the same sort of thing.

WHAT IS THEIR STYLE LIKE IN THE STUDIO?

They really like to experiment.  Not doing things the conventional way.

WHAT ROLE DOES EACH BAND MEMBER PLAY?

Each guy really has a strong sense of what's right for the song.

DO YOU WORK WITH EACH BAND MEMBER INDIVIDUALLY OR DO THEY ALL COME  IN TO THE STUDIO TOGETHER?

At the start of each song we're all together.  Then as the week goes by  i would get each guy individually to touch up there parts.  Simon at  the end for vocals.

DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT THE BAND THAT SURPRISED YOU?

They are real historians of rock music.  Names, dates, songs, the whole  bit.

LOOKING OVER THE BAND'S VAST CATALOGUE, WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SONG  BY DURAN DURAN? AND WHICH SONG THAT YOU'VE WORKED ON WITH THEM DO YOU  FEEL IS A STAND OUT TRACK?

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 vane and  it's amazing.

[Photo of Don Gilmore and Nick Rhodes courtesey of Gavin Elder. Photo may not be used without permission from duranduran.com]