Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor is stepping down from the band and retiring from playing the drums after his recently diagnosed tinnitus worsened. The band announced the decision on November 12, saying Taylor had acted after medical advice and had chosen to protect his hearing and long-term health.
Taylor, 66, said leaving was one of the hardest decisions he had made. He described playing drums with Duran Duran as the joy of his life and thanked fans for supporting the group across decades of recordings and tours.
Taylor Says His Tinnitus Has Been Getting Worse
Taylor said his condition had been steadily worsening and that he had reached a point where he needed to follow the advice of his doctors. Tinnitus involves hearing sounds that do not come from an outside source, often described as ringing, buzzing or roaring in the ears.
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says tinnitus can be associated with hearing loss and exposure to loud noise. The condition can improve for some people, while others experience persistent or worsening symptoms.
Taylor did not provide further medical details. His statement focused on the effect the condition had on his ability to continue drumming and his decision to prioritize his hearing.
He said choosing the timing was difficult, but he believed he was leaving at a strong point for the band. Duran Duran recently completed a UK and European tour, and Taylor also pointed to the group’s second headline performance at BST Hyde Park and its continuing studio work.
The drummer also mentioned the band’s return to the studio with Nile Rodgers, the producer and Chic co-founder who has a long history with Duran Duran. Rodgers previously worked with the group on major recordings including “The Reflex” and “Notorious.”
A Key Part of Duran Duran’s Classic Lineup
Taylor joined Duran Duran in 1979, during the band’s early development in Birmingham, England. By 1980, the best-known lineup included Taylor on drums, Simon Le Bon on vocals, Nick Rhodes on keyboards, John Taylor on bass and Andy Taylor on guitar.
The three Taylors in the lineup are not related.
Duran Duran became one of the most recognizable British bands of the 1980s. The group combined new wave, pop, rock and electronic music while also becoming closely associated with the rapid rise of music videos and MTV.
Roger Taylor played on the band’s first three studio albums, Duran Duran, Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger. Those records produced songs including “Girls on Film,” “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Rio,” “Save a Prayer” and “The Reflex.”
According to the Official Charts Company, “Is There Something I Should Know?” became Duran Duran’s first UK No. 1 single. “The Reflex” later gave the group a second UK chart-topper in 1984.
Taylor remained with the band through its early peak and appeared with Duran Duran at Live Aid in 1985. He then stepped away from the group, later explaining in interviews that he had struggled with the scale of the band’s fame and wanted distance from the intense public attention surrounding Duran Duran.
He made a brief return in the 1990s before rejoining the original lineup for a full reunion in 2001. That reunion brought Le Bon, Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor back together.
The reunited lineup released Astronaut in 2004, the first studio album featuring all five original members in more than two decades. Andy Taylor later left again, while Roger Taylor remained with Le Bon, Rhodes and John Taylor.
Six More Albums After His Return
After returning in 2001, Roger Taylor played on six additional Duran Duran studio albums. Those included Astronaut, Red Carpet Massacre, All You Need Is Now, Paper Gods, Future Past and Danse Macabre.
Danse Macabre, released in 2023, was the most recent Duran Duran studio album featuring Taylor before his retirement announcement.
His second period with Duran Duran lasted about 25 years, considerably longer than his original run with the group. During that time, the band continued touring internationally and releasing new music rather than limiting itself to nostalgia performances.
Duran Duran was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. The Hall of Fame recognized Roger Taylor alongside Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Andy Taylor and former guitarist Warren Cuccurullo.
Taylor referred to the induction as one of the milestones that made him feel he was leaving on a high. He also said he was proud of the band’s recent work and of the many experiences he had shared with his bandmates.
Bandmates Say They Support His Decision
Le Bon, Rhodes and John Taylor said they fully supported Taylor’s decision. In a joint statement, they called him their brother and credited his drumming with helping define Duran Duran’s sound from the beginning.
They also emphasized the importance of his return in 2001, when the original lineup reunited after years apart. The remaining members said Taylor would continue to be considered part of the Duran Duran family even though he is no longer playing drums with the group.
The band has not announced a permanent replacement for Taylor. Its statement said the remaining members plan to continue exploring new projects.
Taylor said he was leaving with pride and affection for Le Bon, Rhodes and John Taylor. His departure ends one of the longest-running partnerships in the band’s history while leaving Duran Duran active after more than four decades of recording and touring.