Roger Taylor is stepping down as Duran Duran’s drummer to protect his hearing and long-term health as his tinnitus worsens, the band announced on Facebook.
Taylor described the decision as one of the most difficult he has faced in his life. His departure comes after medical advice and careful consideration of his health needs.
“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Roger Taylor said. “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. But the truth is that my tinnitus has been getting steadily worse, and I’ve reached the point where I must now listen to my body and my doctors.”
“I couldn’t have asked for a better final chapter, with so many special moments that I’ll treasure forever,” he continued. “I move on with enormous pride, and with nothing but love for Simon, Nick and John.”
The band released a statement about Taylor’s long history with the group. “Roger has been at the heart of Duran Duran’s sound across two remarkable chapters. He played on the band’s era-defining early records, then returned for the celebrated reunion of the original lineup in 2001, writing and playing on six additional chart-topping albums and performing with them to millions of fans around the world.”
“After careful consideration and medical advice, he has decided that protecting his hearing and long-term health must now come first,” the statement added.
His bandmates expressed their full support for the decision. “Roger is our brother. 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.”
Taylor’s announcement came through Duran Duran’s social media, where the band confirmed his departure and explained the medical reasons behind it.
Taylor joined Duran Duran at the group’s start in 1978 and remained until 1985, when he left citing burnout from the music industry. He rejoined the band in 2001 for a reunion of the classic lineup that led to a number of highly successful concert tours and six new studio albums. In November 2022, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Duran Duran alongside his bandmates.
More than 40 percent of musicians experience tinnitus, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. The condition can result from an injury or from regular exposure to loud sounds that come with live performance and studio recording. Taylor previously battled an ear infection, which led to Duran Duran canceling shows in 2008.
The band’s most recent album, “Danse Macabre,” came out in 2023. On 23 April 2026, the band released “Free to Love” featuring Nile Rodgers. The band played a second headline show at BST Hyde Park in London on 5 July 2026, which came before Taylor’s departure announcement.
With Roger Taylor’s departure, Duran Duran continues as a trio of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor. The band has new material already underway in the studio with Nile Rodgers. Rodgers posted on social media expressing his affection for Roger, writing that he wished him “love, happiness and a peaceful life.”
