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Roger Taylor has revealed that he is leaving Duran Duran following a deterioration in his recently diagnosed tinnitus.
The 66-year-old described the move as “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.”
The announcement, shared through the band’s official social media channels, confirmed that Mr Taylor had taken the step after “careful consideration and medical advice.”
Mr Taylor and the band jointly decided that safeguarding his hearing and long-term wellbeing had to take priority.
In his statement, Mr Taylor 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.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better final chapter, with so many special moments that I’ll treasure forever,” Mr Taylor said.
“I move on with enormous pride, and with nothing but love for Simon, Nick and John.”
Mr Taylor was among the founding members of Duran Duran, having formed the Birmingham group in 1978 alongside keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor.
Singer Simon Le Bon and guitarist Andy Taylor subsequently completed the classic line-up.
He performed on the band’s first three albums – their 1981 debut, Rio, and Seven and the Ragged Tiger.
The group scored two number-one singles during that period, Is There Something I Should Know? and The Reflex, as well as the 1985 James Bond theme A View to a Kill.
Mr Taylor first departed in the mid-1980s before briefly returning in 1994, then permanently rejoining in 2001.
He went on to record six further albums, the last being 2023’s Danse Macabre.
His remaining bandmates issued a joint statement expressing their unwavering backing for the drummer’s choice.
“Roger is our brother,” they said. “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.”
The trio added: “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.”
The group has not yet indicated whether they’re going to recruit a replacement behind the kit.
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