When Duran Duran rose to pop superstars in the early 1980s, guitarist Andy Taylor was also there. Although he is no longer a member of the group, he and the band remain close. The announcement that he has cancer is all the more moving.
Actually, it was a moment of joy and celebration: Over the weekend, the pop legends of Duran Duran were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But in their acceptance speech, the group had to make a shocking announcement: Their former guitarist Andy Taylor, who was part of the formation at the time of the band’s greatest successes in the early 80s, has advanced prostate cancer.
Due to his poor health, the 61-year-old was also unable to attend the ceremony inducting Duran Duran into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Los Angeles. As a representative, singer Simon Le Bon addressed words from a letter from Taylor to the fans.
“Just over a year ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer,” Le Bon said on behalf of Taylor. In recordings of the acceptance speech on YouTube, a horrified murmur can be heard going through the audience. “Many families have experienced the insidious process of this disease and ours is no different,” Taylor said.
From the bottom of his heart, he thanks the fans, his former Duran-Duran colleagues and the decision-makers of the Hall of Fame for the “extraordinary recognition” of being able to be part of the Hall of Fame. “I’m really sorry and deeply disappointed that I can’t be here. Don’t doubt that I’m excited about the whole thing. (…) I’m immensely proud of these four brothers. I’m over them perseverance and overjoyed to receive this honor,” said Taylor. He was “damn happy to have experienced this day”.
The full shocking extent of Taylor’s cancer diagnosis, however, only becomes clear in his full explanation, which can be viewed on the band’s homepage. “Although my current state of health is not immediately life-threatening, there is no cure,” it reads. A trip to the ceremony in Los Angeles was “physically and mentally” impossible for him, according to the Briton.
Duran Duran were formed in Birmingham in 1978. In 1980 Andy Taylor joined the group, which soon had their big break, achieving superstar status with hits like “The Reflex”, “The Wild Boys” and the James Bond song “A View to a Kill”. When the success waned, Andy Taylor left the band in 1986. In addition, he was also part of the short-lived formation Power Station in the mid-80s, in which Robert Palmer acted as frontman. From 2001 to 2006 Taylor was again part of Duran Duran, who are still active and only released their last album “Future Past” a year ago.
Although the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held in Los Angeles, the Hall of Fame is actually located in Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to Duran Duran, Eminem, Harry Belafonte, Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton have also been officially inducted since the weekend. In addition to artists and experts, fans also decide on the admission. The basic condition is that the release of the first album was at least 25 years ago.
