Roger Taylor hangs up his drumsticks: Duran Duran drummer retires over tinnitus

London, Nov 13 - Drummer Roger Taylor of Duran Duran is announcing his retirement from the band due to worsening tinnitus, the group announced on Instagram on Thursday. Formed in Birmingham, England in 1978, Duran Duran played a pivotal role in the UK "New Romantic" movement of the 1980s, with hits like Girls on Film, Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf.

The band, consisting of Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Andy Taylor, is credited with defining the decade's music. In a statement, the band said Taylor had been "at the heart of Duran Duran's sound across two remarkable chapters". He played on their early records and returned for their 2001 reunion tour, contributing to six more chart-topping albums.

Taylor, who now resides in the US, described his decision as "one of the hardest" he's ever faced. "Playing drums in this band has been the joy of my life," he said, adding that his tinnitus had worsened to the point where he must listen to his body and doctors. His bandmates Le Bon, Rhodes and John Taylor paid tribute to him, describing him as "our brother" and expressing their support for his decision.

The band, pioneers in early music videos, received the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in the US in 2022.