Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor quits after 47 years: What is the health condition forcing him to retire?

Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor has announced that he will be retiring from the band after more than four decades due to worsening tinnitus. The 66-year-old musician said the condition had progressively affected him, leaving him with little choice but to prioritise his hearing and long-term health over continuing with the group.

The band confirmed this through an announcement on its official Instagram account. "This is one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make," Taylor said while announcing his departure. He added that playing drums with Duran Duran had been the joy of his life but acknowledged that his tinnitus had reached a stage where he needed to listen to his body and doctors.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Duran Duran (@duranduran)

What is tinnitus, the condition behind Roger Taylor's retirement?

Tinnitus is a condition in which a person hears ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing or whistling sounds even though there is no external source that is making them. The sounds can be persistent and affect a person's everyday life.


Despite the difficult decision, Taylor said he was proud of the way his journey with the band was ending. Duran Duran had recently completed a successful UK and European tour, following its second headline performance at London's BST Hyde Park.

The group had also been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 and returned to the recording studio with musician and producer Nile Rodgers.

"I couldn't have asked for a better final chapter, with so many special moments that I'll treasure forever," Taylor said, adding that he was moving on with enormous pride and love for his bandmates.

Roger Taylor's 47-year journey with Duran Duran

Formed in Birmingham in 1978, Duran Duran became one of the leading bands of the British New Romantic movement. Its popular songs, including 'Girls on Film', 'Rio' and 'Hungry Like the Wolf', helped establish its place in 1980s pop music.

Taylor was part of the original line-up alongside singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor. He left the group in 1985 before returning in 2001 for the reunion of the original line-up.

According to the band's statement, he subsequently contributed to six more albums and performed for millions of fans worldwide.

The remaining members, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, expressed their support for his decision. "Roger is our brother. His drumming helped define the sound of Duran Duran from the very beginning," they said.