Roger Taylor has left Duran Duran due to the worsening of his recently diagnosed tinnitus.
The band’s recent Hallowe’en show at The O2, London appears to be the last to feature the drummer (pictured far left), who featured in the line-up from 1979 – 1985, and later rejoined the group in 2001.
“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” he 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.
Admitting his decision to step back “has not been easy”, Taylor elaborated: “But I’m going out on a real high. We’ve just returned from a hugely successful UK 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.
“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 Simon, Nick and John.”
His bandmates Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor added: “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.”
