Original Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor was unable to attend tonight’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Los Angeles honoring the group, as the guitarist has been battling health issues related to Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer.
Duran Duran shared that Taylor was diagnosed with metastatic prostate carcinoma four years ago and that he had suffered a setback that prevented him from traveling to L.A., Spain from Ibiza. The band read portions of an acceptance letter to Taylor as a way to honor him.
“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 greatest fans a group could have and this exceptional accolade,”Taylor wrote his speech.
Only part of the letter was read during the acceptance speech, but a more detailed version was published on the group’s website, going into greater detail about his setback.
“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,”He stated. “Recently I was doing okay 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.”
Backstage in the press room, Simon LeBon elaborated on his feelings about Taylor’s condition, briefly.
“It is devastating news to find out that a colleague… not a colleague — a friend, one of our family — is not gonna be around for very long. It is absolutely devastating. We love Andy dearly. I’m not gonna stand here and cry or anything, that would be inappropriate, but that’s what I feel like.”
LeBon stopped further questioning Taylor. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, can we not go back to it, please,”The singer replied that he was too sad to talk about the subject.
Andy Taylor, Duran Duran
Getty Images
Duran Duran — named for a character in the Jane Fonda film “Barbarella” — was formed in Birmingham in 1978 by keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor, adding drummer Roger Taylor a year later. With the addition of Andy Taylor, guitarist, and Simon Le Bon as singers, the lineup was complete in 1980. The 1982 album by the group saw it achieve mainstream success. “Rio,”Then, a host of MTV video hits followed including “Planet Earth,” “Is There Something I Should Know”And “Hungry Like the Wolf”The music channel was a dominant force. Andy Taylor’s funky guitar work was a driving force behind the band’s popularity, with tens of millions of albums sold, including the Golden Globe-nominated song, “A View to A Kill,”The James Bond film with the same name.
The original five-piece group was reformed for a world tour sold-out and an album ‘Astronaut’The statement stated that it would have been their first concert together in 17 years in 2004 and tonight. It was to be a special treat for the band’s “Duranies”Duran Duran was able to win the support of its fanbase, which resulted in 934 880 votes in their first nomination.
Le Bon and John Taylor, the bassist, were present to induct Roxy Music into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. Andy Taylor wrote a letter acknowledging the influence of Roxy Music. “We all grew up on the same vinyl records and live gigs, from David Bowie to Roxy Music, rhe Sex Pistols and of course CHIC. I could go to all those places as a player and developed a hybrid guitar style that fitted this amazing concept OF A BAND…”
The 37th Annual induction ceremony will be held to honor Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo as well as Eminem and Eurythmics as well as Judas Priest, Jully Jam and Terry Lewis for Musical excellence, Harry Belafonte for Early Influence, Sylvia Robinson and Jimmy Iovine for the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Read Taylor’s letter in its entirety below:
Dear Simon, John Roger and Nick, my fellow countrymen and inductees
I wanted to send a personal note to pass along my sincerest respect to you all for what’s been an amazing career, and to also share what has happened to me.
First of all, it was an honor to be nominated for the RRHOF. There’s nothing that comes close to such recognition. I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved together and of the way you have continued. From the synth days in the early eighties, I was a guitar player for a progressive band. They appreciated the contributions of a loud, versatile Northern brat. All of us grew up listening to the same records and attending the same live gigs. I could go to all those places as a player and developed a hybrid guitar style that fitted this amazing concept OF A BAND…
I loved going into the studio to record our material. Nobody else sounds like us. We were ripe to absorb what was the art of analogue recording, but with some different kit, Nick’s artful obsession with synth technology was something I’d never seen before and I was introduced to lay-ers. We knew we were a good fit and developed very quickly. RIO became our second album. ‘Girls On Film’And ‘Planet Earth’ in-spired.
You can dream about what happened to us but to experience it, on one’s own terms, as mates, was beyond incredible.
I’d like to say thank you to each brother in this great band.
My family: my incredibly sane wife of 40 years – Tracey – my amazing children, Andy, Georgie, Bethy and Izzy, not forgetting my grandson Albie, who’s probably online listening or on Fort-nite!!!
Paul and Michael Berrows, Dave Ambroses, Terry Slaters, Rob Hallett were the original believers.
The Producers: Colin Thurston, Alex Sadkin, Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers – I’ve also real-ly dug the work with Mark Ronson – I particularly admire ‘All You Need Is Now’, that’s a DD melody if ever I heard one.
We are also grateful to Andrew, Merck, and Wendy.
The bad news is that there are no bad blood. It is just love and respect for all the things we have done together. What’s the point? There’s no stopping this 44-year thing called “Duran Duran”.
Now to the reason I’m not here:
My diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic prostate carcinoma was just over four years ago. Many families have suffered the slow burn of this disease, and we are no exception. I speak as a family man but with deep humility towards the band, the greatest fan a band could have and this extraordinary accolade.
I am blessed with the Rodgers & Edwards of doctors. My medical treatment has allowed me to continue living my life as normal until recently. My current condition is not life-threatening, but there is no cure. I was doing well after some highly advanced life-extending treatments. But, that was only until a week ago, when I experienced a setback that forced me to admit that I was pushing the boundaries both mentally and physically.
All of this should not detract or diminish from the success and longevity that this band has enjoyed for 44 years. We’ve had a privileged life, we were a bit naughty but really nice, a bit shirty but very well dressed, a bit full of ourselves, because we had a lot to give, but as I’ve said many times, when you feel that collective, instinctive, kindred spirit of creativity mixed with ambition, armed with an über cool bunch of fans, well what could possibly go wrong?
I’m truly sorry and massively disappointed I couldn’t make it. It’s not hard to believe that I was thrilled about everything and even bought a new guitar with all the necessary whammy!
I’m so very proud of these four brothers; I’m amazed at their durability, and I’m overjoyed at ac-cepting this award. The day was always in doubt for me. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day.
All My Love
AT