When Duran Duran was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday, guitarist Andy Taylor was absent. However, his bandmates read a letter on stage, in which Taylor revealed to the Los Angeles audience that he had stage 4 prostate cancer.
“A little over 4 years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer,” Taylor wrote in the letter, which has since been posted on Duran Duran’s website. “Many families have dealt with the slow burn of this disease, and we are certainly no different.”
The 61-year-old added that Duran Duran have “the biggest fans any band can have” and called the induction an “exceptional compliment”. While Taylor explained that his diagnosis is not “immediately” life-threatening, he reminded everyone that “there is no cure.”
“Recently I was doing well after a very sophisticated life-prolonging treatment, that is, until a week ago when I suffered a setback,” he wrote, “and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest both physically , as well as physically. mentally, I would push my limits.”
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Singer Simon Le Bon read the heartbreaking letter after opening the ceremony with a medley of Duran Duran hits including ‘Girls on Film’, ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’ and ‘Ordinary World’, alongside bandmates Nick Rhodes, Roger and John Taylor, according to Rolling. Calculation.
Andy Taylor joined the group in 1980 only to leave in 1986 — and rejoined the band in 2001, only to leave again in 2006, according to Entertainment Weekly. In the letter, he gushed about what he had “achieved and supported the group for 44 years” and said he had “had a privileged life”.
“I was definitely pleased with everything, I even bought a new guitar with essential noise!” Taylor wrote. “I am very proud of these four brothers. I am amazed at their durability and delighted to have accepted this award.”
“I often doubted the day would come,” Taylor added. “I’m sure happy to be around to see the day.”
The inauguration ceremony will be available to stream on HBO Max on November 19.
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