Andy Taylor, a guitarist for the renowned British New Romantic band Duran Duran, is battling stage four prostate cancer.
In a ceremony held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday, the band made the announcement as they were honored with induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Taylor, who was unable to attend the Class of 2022 ceremonies with his old bandmates John Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor, and Nick Rhodes because of ongoing medical treatment, wrote a letter to celebrate the occasion.
Taylor confessed that he had learned his diagnosis four years prior and expressed his joy at being inducted into the hall of fame in the letter, some of which were read out by vocalist Le Bon.
Nothing comes close to such recognition, in my opinion. You can imagine what occurred to us, but experiencing it as a couple, on one’s own terms, was beyond fantastic, Taylor wrote in the message that Le Bon forwarded.
The 61-year-old Taylor addressed his health issues by saying, “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 began performing with Duran Duran in April 1980 and left the band in 1986 to focus on a solo career. After that, he returned in 2001 for a number of well-received performances and their “Astronaut” album in 2004 before leaving once more in 2006.
Taylor claimed that he had “purchased a new guitar” specifically for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance and that he was “massively sad” to have missed the opportunity to play with the band for the first time in 16 years.
Taylor commented, “I’m so extremely proud of these four boys, astounded at their toughness, and happy to accept this award.” “I frequently doubted that the day would arrive. I’m overjoyed to have survived to witness the day.”
In the letter later shared in full on the band’s website, Taylor said his condition was incurable, but that he was receiving “sophisticated life-extending treatment” that had allowed him to “just rock on” until recent times when he suffered a “setback.”
“There is no remedy, even though my current situation isn’t immediately life-threatening,” he stated.
Prostate cancer will be discovered in around one in eight men during their lives, according to the American Cancer Society.
Le Bon responded to the health update about Taylor on Saturday, saying: “It is heartbreaking news to know and find out that a colleague… Not a coworker, a mate, a friend, one of our family is not going to be around for very long. It’s devastating beyond belief. We adore Andy very much, but I’m not going to sit here and sob. Although I don’t believe that would be particularly suitable, that is how I feel.
