Duran Duran's Andy Taylor Unable to Attend Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Due to Health Setback

Original Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor is unable to the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony as the guitarist has been diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer.

Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor Unable to Attend Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Due to Health Setback

Original Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor is unable to attend tonight’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony (Nov. 5) in Los Angeles honoring the group, as the guitarist has been battling health issues related to Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer.

During their induction into the Rock Hall at the Microsoft Theater, Duran Duran revealed that Taylor, diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer 4 years ago, suffered a setback from the diagnosis that would not allow him to travel to L.A. from Ibiza, Spain. The band honored Taylor during the ceremony reading portions of an acceptance speech letter.

“Just over four years ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. 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 wrote in his speech.

“I have the Rodgers and Edwards of doctors and medical treatment that until very recently allowed me to just rock on. Although my current condition is not immediately life threatening there is no cure,” he said. “Recently I was doing okay after some very sophisticated life extending treatment, that was until a week or so ago when I suffered a setback, and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally, I would be pushing my boundaries.”

Duran Duran — named for a character in the Jane Fonda film “Barbarella” — was formed in Birmingham in 1978 by keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor, adding drummer Roger Taylor a year later. The lineup, completed in 1980 with the addition of guitarist Andy Taylor and singer Simon Le Bon, went on to mainstream success with its 1982 album, “Rio,” followed by a slew of MTV video hits including “Planet Earth,” “Is There Something I Should Know” and “Hungry Like the Wolf” dominating the music channel. Andy Taylor’s funky guitar work was a driving force behind the band’s popularity, with tens of millions of albums sold, including the Golden Globe-nominated song, “A View to A Kill,” from the James Bond film of the same name.

The original five-piece band reformed for a sold-out world tour and album ‘Astronaut’ in 2004 and tonight would have been the first time that they would have played together in 17 years, the statement read. It was to be a special treat for the band’s “Duranies” fanbase, responsible for Duran Duran earning its spot as the top vote-getter in the public vote, tallying 934,880 in its first-ever nomination.

In 2019, Le Bon and bassist John Taylor were on hand to induct Roxy Music into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In his letter, Andy Taylor acknowledged the influence of Roxy Music, writing, “We all grew up on the same vinyl records and live gigs, from David Bowie to Roxy Music, rhe Sex Pistols and of course CHIC. I could go to all those places as a player and developed a hybrid guitar style that fitted this amazing concept OF A BAND…”

The 37th Annual induction ceremony is honoring Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Eminem, Eurythmics, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon along with Judas Priest and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for Musical Excellence, Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotten for Early Influence, as well as Alan Grubman, Ji