Roger Taylor, a founding member of the English pop-rock band Duran Duran, announced on Thursday that he is retiring from playing drums, citing a diagnosis of tinnitus that has progressively worsened. Taylor, 66, shared the decision in a statement posted on the band’s website and social media platforms.
Taylor stated that the condition, which causes persistent phantom noises such as ringing or hissing, has become increasingly severe. “This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” he said. “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.”
The announcement follows a period of significant milestones for Duran Duran, including a successful UK and European tour, a second headline performance at BST Hyde Park, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a recent return to the studio with producer Nile Rodgers. Taylor described the timing as ideal, emphasizing that he is departing “on a real high” with “so many special moments that I’ll treasure forever.”
Taylor joined Duran Duran in 1980, alongside vocalist Simon Le Bon, guitarist Andy Taylor, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and bassist John Taylor. The band, founded in Birmingham in 1978 by Rhodes and John Taylor, became a defining act of the 1980s “New Romantic” movement. Their discography includes chart-topping hits such as “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Rio,” “The Reflex,” and the James Bond theme “A View to a Kill.” Taylor’s departure marks the end of his second tenure with the band, which began after the original lineup reunited in 2001.
In his statement, Taylor expressed deep gratitude toward his bandmates, saying, “I move on with enormous pride, and with nothing but love for Simon, Nick and John.” The band has not yet announced plans for a replacement drummer. Duran Duran’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.