Andy Taylor was set to join his former bandmates on November 5 at Duran Duran’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Los Angeles. However, after performing a medley of their hits, current members Simon LeBon, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor took the stage and explained his absence.
“Four years ago, Andy was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer,” LeBon said, breaking the news. He read part of a letter from Taylor, who had hoped to join the band on stage for the first time in 17 years, but his health did not allow him to travel from Ibiza.
Taylor left the band in 1986. He rejoined the band in 2001 and played guitar in 2004 Astronaut before leaving again in 2006.
Below is his full letter.
Dear Simon, John, Roger, Nick, my fellow inductees and compatriots
I wanted to send a personal message to convey to you my sincere respect for what has been a great career, and also to share what has happened to me.
First off, may I say what an absolute honor it was to be nominated, let alone to be included in the RRHOF. There is nothing that comes close to such recognition. I am proud of everything we have achieved together and the way you have continued. As a guitarist in a progressive band from the synth days of the early eighties, literally from the day I met Nick, John, Simon and Roger, they really appreciated the contribution of a rather boisterous, versatile Northerner. We all grew up with the same vinyl records and live performances, from David Bowie to Roxy Music, The Sex Pistols and of course CHIC. I was able to go to all those places as a player and develop a hybrid guitar style that suited this great concept OF A BAND…
I loved going into the studio and recording our material; no one else sounded like us. We were ripe to take in the art of analog recording, but with a different kit, Nick’s artistic obsession with synth technology was something I’d never seen before and introduced me to layers. Being instinctively the right match, we evolved very quickly and wrote RIO as our second album with the confidence that inspired our very early success with ‘Girls On Film’ and ‘Planet Earth’.
You can dream about what happened to us, but to experience it, on your own terms, as friends, was beyond incredible.
I want to thank all my brothers in this great band.
My family: my incredibly healthy wife of 40 years – Tracey – my wonderful children, Andy, Georgie, Bethy and Izzy, not to mention my grandson Albie, who is probably listening online or on Fortnite!!!
The Original Believers: Paul and Michael Berrow, Dave Ambrose, Terry Slater, Rob Hallett.
The producers: Colin Thurston, Alex Sadkin, Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers – I really dug the job with Mark Ronson too – I especially admire ‘All You Need Is Now’ which is a DD tune if I’ve ever heard one .
Thanks also to Merck, Andrew and Wendy.
Now for the bad blood, the good news is there is none, just pure love and respect for all that we have written, recorded and accomplished together. What’s the point? This 44-year-old thing called “Duran Duran” is unstoppable.
Now the reason I’m not here:
Just over 4 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 a family man’s perspective, but with deep humility to the band, the biggest fans a group could have and this exceptional award.
I have the Rodgers and Edwards of doctors and medical treatments that until recently allowed me to just keep going. Although my current condition is not immediately life-threatening, there is no cure. Recently I was doing well after very advanced life extending treatment, that was until a week or so ago when I had a setback, and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest that I would be pushing my limits both physically and mentally .
None of this should or should detract from what this band (with or without me) has achieved and sustained for 44 years. We’ve had a privileged life, we were a little naughty but very nice, a little shirty but very well dressed, a little full of ourselves, because we had a lot to give, but as I’ve said many times, when you feel that collective , instinctive, like-minded spirit of creativity mixed with ambition, armed with an übercool bunch of fans, well, what could go wrong?
I’m really sorry and extremely disappointed that I couldn’t be there. Let there be no doubt that I was excited about the whole thing, I even bought a new guitar with the essential slap!
I am so very proud of these four brothers; I am amazed at their durability and I am delighted to receive this award. I often doubted whether the day would come. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day.
All my Love
BEE
