Duran drummer Roger Taylor is stepping down from the band due to worsening tinnitus, according to The Guardian, ending a decades-long career with the glossy new wave pop pioneers.
- Roger Taylor leaves Duran due to worsening tinnitus, citing the need to listen to his doctors and body.
- The drummer exits on a high note following a recent UK and Europe tour, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and studio work with Nile Rodgers.
- He departs alongside original bandmates Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and John Taylor.
The decision marks a permanent shift for one of the foundational members of the 1980s synth-pop phenomenon. Taylor was joined by Nick Rhodes and John Taylor at the very inception of the group, later welcoming singer Simon Le Bon and guitarist Andy Taylor to complete the classic lineup.
Those early years yielded three sensationally popular transatlantic albums between 1981 and 1983 that defined an entire era of glossy pop aesthetics. Yet the intense spotlight took its toll early on, leading Taylor to step away following their landmark performance at Live Aid.
“It sounds like a cliche, but I needed to get to know myself. Because, when you’re in a band like that, you’re very much recognised for being part of the whole. You can lose yourself,” Taylor later explained of his initial departure.
After a brief return in 1994, Taylor rejoined the group permanently in 2001. That second tenure produced six more studio albums, beginning with 2004’s Astronaut and culminating in their 2023 release, Danse Macabre.
Reflecting on the timing of his departure, the drummer pointed to recent career milestones as the right moment to close this chapter. He spent his final run touring the UK and Europe, celebrating a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and reuniting in the studio with Chic bandleader Nile Rodgers.
“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. 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,” Taylor said.
“Figuring out the timing of all of this has not been easy, but I’m going out on a real high. I couldn’t have asked for a better final chapter, with so many special moments that I’ll treasure for ever. I move on with enormous pride,” Taylor told The Guardian, adding that he had “nothing but love” for his bandmates Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor.
