Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor says he is stepping down from the band because his tinnitus has been getting steadily worse.
In a statement reported by the Guardian, Taylor called the decision one of the hardest he has made. He said playing drums in Duran Duran had been “the joy of my life”, but added: “I’ve reached the point where I must now listen to my body and my doctors.”
That is a clear personal decision, and it deserves to be treated as such. Taylor has explained why he is leaving; his statement should not be turned into a dramatic mystery or a prompt for unsupported predictions about the band.
The Guardian’s supplied report does not give an effective date for his departure or set out plans for performances, recordings or another drummer. Those practical questions may matter to fans, but they are separate from the decision Taylor has announced.
There is sadness in the statement as well as clarity. Taylor thanked fans for their support and described drumming with the band as the joy of his life. His departure is news of a musician drawing a health boundary, not an invitation to write the band’s next chapter before it is announced.
Sources
- The Guardian · UK · Source date: 2026-11-12
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-13