Andy Taylor, the founding guitarist for Duran Duran, has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, the band announced at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which Taylor had to skip due to ongoing treatment.
According to the legendary British new wave group, Taylor was diagnosed four years ago while reading a letter to the crowd during the Hall of Fame event at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Taylor was supposed to rejoin with his former bandmates – vocalist Simon Le Bon, pianist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor, and drummer Roger Taylor – but they reported he had a setback that would prevent him from traveling to Los Angeles from his residence in Ibiza.
The Birmingham-based five-piece band had not performed together in 17 years, having reassembled in 2004 for a global tour and releasing their album Astronaut.
The trio was the first act honored during Saturday’s event, and they entered the stage with their 1981 breakout song, Girls On Film.
They performed Hungry Like the Wolf and Ordinary World before addressing Taylor’s absence by reading the letter.
Taylor wrote: “Just over four years ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. Many families have experienced the slow burn of this disease, and of course, we are no different; so I speak from the perspective of a family man but with profound humility to the band, the most incredible fans a group could have and this exceptional accolade.
“I have the ‘Rodgers and Edwards’ of doctors and medical treatment that until very recently allowed me to just rock on. Although my current condition is not immediately life-threatening there is no cure.”
Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, the pop producers and creators of Chic, who worked with Duran Duran throughout their careers, are referred to as Rodgers and Edwards.
“Recently I was doing OK after some very sophisticated life-extending treatment, that was until a week or so ago when I suffered a setback, and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally, I would be pushing my boundaries,” Taylor continued.
“However, none of this needs to or should detract from what this band (with or without me) has achieved and sustained for 44 years.”
Taylor added that he was “truly sorry and massively disappointed” he could not attend the ceremony, noting he had even bought a new guitar for the occasion, but that he was “very proud of these four brothers” and “overjoyed” they were accepting this award.
“I often doubted the day would come. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day,” he added.
Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, Eminem, Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Harry Belafonte, Judas Priest, and Dolly Parton were also admitted at the event.
Duran Duran began in Birmingham in 1978 and went on to become one of the 1980s’ greatest performers, with successes like Rio, Wild Boys, and the Bond theme A View to a Kill.
The three Taylors are unrelated to one another.
The band recently rose to popularity again after releasing its 15th studio album, Future Past, last year and embarking on a 40th-anniversary celebration tour, including a headline slot at the British Summer Time event in London’s Hyde Park this year.
They also appeared at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee performance at Buckingham Palace.