After a grundle of memorable hits in the first half of the 1980s, Duran Duran somehow slipped into the background during the second half, relinquishing their crown to the likes of U2 and R.E.M.

Many people - this writer included - wondered whether Duran Duran would ever come back.Well, they have. In a big way.

Ask any of the 6,500 or so people who braved the World's Worst Parking Lot at ParkWest Saturday night to see one of the hottest bands on the run.

Without a doubt, Duran Duran - the notorious modern Fab Four from Britain making their first stop ever in Utah - are ready to play in the Big League again.

They have lost absolutely nothing but time in the 10 years since "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Rio" catapulted them to stardom at home and in the United States. In fact, Duran Duran have gained diversity and a certain maturity that enable them to appeal to a variety of fans, who turned out in all age groups Saturday night.

Teenage girls, some of whom were still in diapers when Duran Duran first released "Planet Earth" and "Hungry Like the Wolf," went semiberserk when D2 opened their show with those songs. Perhaps it was the sight of Simon Le Bon surveying his less-than-ordinary world like a king from atop one of the three inclined, multileveled platforms that enclosed the set on three sides.

A lanky swaggering sort in tight black pants and white silk shirt, Le Bon seems less cocky today but just as raw. His energy and antics kept the 100-minute show in fifth gear. One moment, he was leaping from the platforms or leading the band up them like a pied piper; in another moment, he was angrily kicking the TV set; in yet another, he was flirting naughtily with roaming vocalist Lamya Al'Mugheiry, an exotic beauty with matching voice, who more than once upstaged Le Bon.

On "Come Undone," one of the best cuts from Duran Duran's self-titled new album," she not only provided a strong vocal backup, but, flanked by bass guitarist John Taylor and lead guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, literally "came undone" herself during a rhythm and blues deviation, leaving no doubt that D2 - despite the classical string trio over there in the shadows - are all about sex and rock 'n' roll.

The crowd was on its feet nonstop as Duran Duran weaved their "old" material, including "A View to a Kill" and "Girls on Film," with four new album cuts, "Ordinary World," "Come Undone," "UMF" and "Too Much Information," which trashes the television industry.

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Most of the songs were well executed, with the notable exception of "Hungry Like the Wolf," which, tempo retarded, could have been named more aptly "Hungry Like the Lounge Lizard."

Just before the encore, however, D2 left the crowd breathless with a triple barrage of "Notorious," "Reflex" (punctuated by keyboardist Nick Rhodes playful laughter) and "Rio," which featured Al'Mugheiry in a traditional Mexican dancer gown and Le Bon trying to be "Le Dylan" on harmonica.

For the encore, Duran Duran delivered "Save a Prayer," "Too Much Info" and "Wild Boys," during which a topless Le Bon emerged from a blast furnace prop, on top of which was perched guest drummer Fergus Gerrand.

A blast furnace? Or refiner's fire. Whatever these wild boys have been through in the past few years, it's a pleasure to see they've survived.

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