Duran Duran legend Roger Taylor, 77, retires from band amid declining health

Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor is retiring from the band due to the ringing in his ears growing “steadily worse.”

The 77-year-old released a statement Thursday about stepping down “after careful consideration and medical advice.”

The musician wrote that he has “reached the point” in his tinnitus battle “where [he] must now listen to [his] body and [his] doctors.”

Roger Taylor, pictured in Times Square for New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on Dec. 31, 2022, announced his retirement from Duran Duran on Thursday. GC Images
The drummer, pictured performing with Duran Duran during an “Austin City Limits” taping in Austin, Texas, in October 2021, explained that his tinnitus is getting “steadily worse.” Getty Images

Taylor confessed, “This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. Playing drums in this band has been the joy of my life, and I’ll never be able to properly thank the fans for the love they’ve shown us over the years.”

While “figuring out the timing” of his departure from the group “has not been easy,” Taylor gushed that he is “going out on a real high” and “couldn’t have asked for a better final chapter.”

He explained, “We’ve just returned from a hugely successful UK and European tour, which followed our second headline show at BST Hyde Park, our induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a return to the studio with Nile Rodgers.”

Taylor, pictured speaking at a press conference during the Sanremo Music Festival in Sanremo, Italy, in February 2025, opened up about the “hard” decision in a statement. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
The musician, pictured performing during Global Citizen Live in London in September 2021, celebrated “going out on a real high.” Getty Images for Global Citizen

Noting the “special moments” that he’ll “treasure forever,” the Grammy winner added that he is leaving Duran Duran with “enormous pride.”

Taylor concluded that he has “nothing but love” for his bandmates — singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bass guitarist John Taylor.

Roger, notably, joined Duran Duran in 1979 and drummed on their first four albums before stepping down in 1986.

Taylor, pictured attending a Duran Duran fragrance launch event in London in March 2025, “couldn’t have asked for a better final chapter.” Dave Benett/Getty Images for Xerjoff and Duran Duran
Roger, pictured with John Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and Andy Taylor in 1983, joined the band in 1979. TV Times/Future Publishing via Getty Images

By 2001, he was back with the band.

Le Bon, 68, Rhodes, 64, and John, 66, released a joint statement on Thursday honoring their “brother.”

The remaining members highlighted how “his drumming helped define the sound of Duran Duran from the very beginning.”

In 1986, he left the band, pictured in Harelbeke, Belgium, in September 1981. Getty Images
Taylor returned to Duran Duran, pictured at a band event in London in March 2025, in 2001. Dave Benett/Getty Images for Xerjoff and Duran Duran

The trio wrote, “Having him back with us since 2001 has been incredibly important to us all. We completely support his decision and wish him health and happiness. He will always be part of this family, while we continue exploring new and exciting projects with the band.”

Last year, Roger chatted with XS Noize about how “lucky” he felt to be “in a band who really wanted to make the drums a feature.”

“Everybody in the band really loved drums,” he told the outlet. “Everybody came from a background where they really wanted the drums to be prominent.”

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