Longtime Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor announced on Thursday (Nov. 12) that he is stepping down from the legendary new wave group after 46 years due to a recent diagnosis of tinnitus. In a statement, Taylor said he’s both retiring from Duran Duran and from playing the drums after keeping time with the act for nearly half a century.
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“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Taylor, 66, said in a statement. “Playing drums in this band has been the joy of my life, and I’ll never be able to properly thank the fans for the love they’ve shown us over the years. But the truth is that my tinnitus has been getting steadily worse, and I’ve reached the point where I must now listen to my body and my doctors.”
Taylor said figuring out the timing of his retirement from playing has been challenging, but that he feels he’s going out on top. “We’ve just returned from a hugely successful U.K. and European tour, which followed our second headline show at BST Hyde Park, our induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a return to the studio with Nile Rodgers,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better final chapter, with so many special moments that I’ll treasure forever. I move on with enormous pride, and with nothing but love for [bandmates] Simon [Le Bon], Nick [Rhodes] and John [Taylor].”
According to the Mayo Clinic, tinnitus is a common condition that affects 15%-30% of people and is marked by a persistent ringing or noise inside one or both ears. It is often tied to age-related hearing loss, but can also result from an injury or the kind of regular exposure to loud sounds that are part of live performance and studio recording.
Taylor joined Duran Duran two years after the group was formed in Birmingham, England by original singer/bassist Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor; by 1980, the band’s lineup had switched up to include singer Simon Le Bon, guitarist Andy Taylor and drummer Taylor. The legendary New Romantic group’s early videos for songs including “Planet Earth,” “Girls on Film,” “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Rio” were staples of then-emerging video outlet MTV and stood out for their lush settings, occasional female nudity and high production values.
Taylor performed with the group from 1979-1985, then again when the original lineup got back together in 2001 through this year. He appeared on their crucial early albums, including 1981’s self-titled debut, 1982’s Rio and 1983’s Seven and the Ragged Tiger. He did not appear on the band’s late 1980s and early 1990s efforts, returning to play on a few tracks on their 1995 covers album Thank You and then officially rejoining in the studio for 2004’s Astronaut and five more LPs since, including 2023’s Danse Macabre.
Bandmates Le Bon, Rhodes and Taylor paid tribute to Taylor in a statement, which read: “Roger is our brother. His drumming helped define the sound of Duran Duran from the very beginning and having him back with us since 2001 has been incredibly important to us all. We completely support his decision and wish him health and happiness. He will always be part of this family, while we continue exploring new and exciting projects with the band.”
At press time the group had not announced Taylor’s replacement.
