Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor to quit band over tinnitus

Roger Taylor, the drummer of the pop group Duran Duran, has said he will leave the band because his tinnitus has steadily worsened. According to BBC News, the 66-year-old described the choice as one of the hardest he has ever had to make. The band and its members have since confirmed the news and said they support him.

Taylor has played drums in Duran Duran since the group was formed in Birmingham in 1978. In his own words, playing in the band has been the joy of his life. He said he has reached a point where he has to follow the advice of his doctors and look after his body first.

What the band has said

The remaining members, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, said the decision came after careful thought and medical guidance. They said the advice made clear that protecting his hearing and long-term health must come before anything else. They described him as a brother and said he would always be part of the group’s family.

The band also credited Taylor with shaping its sound. He played on ten hit albums and on the two group songs that reached number one, Is There Something I Should Know? and The Reflex. He also drummed on A View to a Kill, the band’s 1985 theme for the James Bond film of the same name.

A busy final run

Taylor said the timing had been difficult to settle on, but he is pleased to be leaving at a high point. He pointed to a successful tour of the UK and Europe, a second headline show at BST Hyde Park, and the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group also went back into the studio with the producer Nile Rodgers, who leads the band Chic.

The Guardian reported that Taylor spoke warmly about these moments and said he would treasure them. Taylor also expressed affection for Le Bon, Rhodes and John Taylor, and described the work they had done together with a sense of deep pride. The paper also noted that the band had recently recorded with Rodgers, with whom it had worked on earlier songs including Notorious.

Taylor’s earlier time with the band

Taylor was one of the first members of Duran Duran, alongside Nick Rhodes and John Taylor. Simon Le Bon and guitarist Andy Taylor joined later. According to The Guardian, Taylor played on the band’s first three albums, released between 1981 and 1983, which were hits on both sides of the Atlantic and helped popularise a glossy style of new wave pop.

He left the group in 1985, after performing at Live Aid, and said later that he needed time to understand himself outside the band. He returned briefly in 1994 and rejoined permanently in 2001. Since then he has played on six more studio albums, beginning with Astronaut in 2004 and ending with Danse Macabre in 2023.

Why the news matters

The announcement is a significant change for one of the best-known British pop bands of the past four decades. Taylor’s role in the band’s sound means his departure will be felt by fans and by the group itself. The sources do not say who will replace him or what the band’s next plans will be, beyond saying they will continue to explore new projects together.

The story also highlights the health concerns that can affect working musicians. Taylor has framed his decision around protecting his hearing, and the band has backed that choice. Reports from BBC News and The Guardian both confirm that the decision was made on medical advice and that Taylor is leaving on his own terms.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• BBC News: Duran Duran drummer quits band due to tinnitus
• The Guardian: Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor leaves band due to tinnitus

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