Roger Taylor leaves Duran Duran as tinnitus worsens

Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor is leaving the band after his tinnitus worsened, he said in a statement on Instagram on Thursday. The 77-year-old said he had reached a point where he needed to listen to his body and his doctors.

Taylor described the decision as one of the hardest he had made, but said he was stepping away after the band’s recent UK and European tour, which he called a high point. He thanked fans and said he would leave with “nothing but love” for bandmates Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor.

The other members said they fully supported his decision. In a joint statement, they called Taylor “our brother” and said his drumming had helped shape the band’s sound from the beginning. They added that he would always be part of the Duran Duran family as they continued to explore new projects.

Taylor joined the band in 1979, left in 1986 after three albums and returned permanently in 2001. He remained its drummer until Thursday’s announcement.