Former Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor revealed on Saturday that he is battling cancer.
The 61-year-old English musician, who played in the band from 1980 to 1986 and again from 2001 to 2006, was absent as Duran Duran was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“Just over 4 years ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer,” Taylor explained, in a statement. “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 said he has received excellent medical care and his condition is not “immediately life threatening” but he noted that there is no cure.
A recent setback kept him from reuniting with Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor at the ceremony in Los Angeles. “I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally, I would be pushing my boundaries,” he explained.
“I’m truly sorry and massively disappointed I couldn’t make it … I often doubted the day would come. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day.”
In the press room at the 37th annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony, Le Bon said: “It is devastating news to find out that a colleague — not a colleague... a mate, a friend — is not going to be around for very long. It is absolutely devasting.
"We love Andy dearly. I’m not going to stand here and cry. It wouldn’t be appropriate, but that’s what I feel like."
Duran Duran's Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Simon Le Bon. Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
Taylor played on Duran Duran’s hit studio albums but left after recording their fourth, 1986’s Notorious. He was also part of The Power Station with Robert Palmer, Duran Duran’s John Taylor and Chic's Tony Thompson. The band had success with “Some Like It Hot” and a cover of “Get It On (Bang a Gong).”
Taylor then focused on music production before reuniting with his Duran Duran to record 2004’s Astronaut. While recording a follow-up, the band announced it “will be continuing as Duran Duran without Andy, as we have reached a point in our relationship with him where there is an unworkable gulf between us and we can no longer effectively function together.”
In his statement on Saturday, Taylor insisted there was no bad blood – " just pure love and respect for everything we wrote, recorded and achieved together."
He added: "We’ve had a privileged life, we were a bit naughty but really nice, a bit shirty but very well dressed, a bit full of ourselves, because we had a lot to give, but as I’ve said many times, when you feel that collective, instinctive, kindred spirit of creativity mixed with ambition, armed with an über cool bunch of fans, well what could possibly go wrong?"