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Duran Duran drummer quits band due to tinnitus
Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor is leaving the band because his tinnitus has steadily worsened. The 66-year-old said he needs to follow medical advice and prioritise his hearing and long-term health, ending a career with the group that began when it formed in Birmingham in 1978.
Taylor described playing with Duran Duran as the joy of his life and said he was proud to leave after a successful UK and European tour, a headline show at BST Hyde Park, the band’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction and studio work with Nile Rodgers. He left in 1985 and returned in 2001; his drumming featured on 10 hit albums, two number one singles and the 1985 James Bond theme “A View to a Kill”. His bandmates said they support his decision and will continue with new projects.
In short
- Roger Taylor is leaving Duran Duran as his tinnitus worsens.
- The 66-year-old says medical advice prompted the decision.
- He played on 10 hit albums and returned to the band in 2001.
Explained simply
Duran Duran are a British pop band formed in Birmingham in 1978. They became known internationally in the 1980s for songs including “Rio” and “Hungry Like the Wolf”, and for music videos that helped define the era’s pop culture.
Roger Taylor is the band’s drummer, though he left in 1985 and rejoined in 2001. Tinnitus causes a person to hear sounds such as ringing or buzzing without an outside source; it can affect hearing and everyday life, and there is no single cure.
Taylor’s departure matters because he has been part of the group across much of its history and played on many of its recordings. His situation also highlights the health pressures musicians can face when years of loud sound affect their hearing.