Make Page Six a Preferred Source Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor is retiring from the band due to the ringing in his ears growing “steadily worse.”
The 77-year-old released a statement Thursday about stepping down “after careful consideration and medical advice.”
The musician wrote that he has “reached the point” in his tinnitus battle “where [he] must now listen to [his] body and [his] doctors.”
Taylor confessed, “This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. 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.”
While “figuring out the timing” of his departure from the group “has not been easy,” Taylor gushed that he is “going out on a real high” and “couldn’t have asked for a better final chapter.”
He explained, “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.”
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Noting the “special moments” that he’ll “treasure forever,” the Grammy winner added that he is leaving Duran Duran with “enormous pride.”
Taylor concluded that he has “nothing but love” for his bandmates — singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bass guitarist John Taylor.
Roger, notably, joined Duran Duran in 1979 and drummed on their first four albums before stepping down in 1986.
Le Bon, 68, Rhodes, 64, and John, 66, released a joint statement on Thursday honoring their “brother.”
The remaining members highlighted how “his drumming helped define the sound of Duran Duran from the very beginning.”
The trio wrote, “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.”
Last year, Roger chatted with XS Noize about how “lucky” he felt to be “in a band who really wanted to make the drums a feature.”
“Everybody in the band really loved drums,” he told the outlet. “Everybody came from a background where they really wanted the drums to be prominent.”
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