\n<\/p>\n
“Playing drums in this band has been the joy of my life,” drummer says in statement. “I\u2019ve reached the point where I must now listen to my body and my doctors”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\tLongtime Duran Duran<\/a> drummer Roger Taylor<\/a> announced Thursday that he is retiring from the band due to \u201ca worsening of his recently diagnosed tinnitus,\u201d a hearing condition.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThis is one of the hardest decisions I\u2019ve ever had to make,\u201d Taylor said in a statement. \u201cPlaying drums in this band has been the joy of my life, and I\u2019ll never be able to properly thank the fans for the love they\u2019ve shown us over the years. But the truth is that my tinnitus has been getting steadily worse, and I\u2019ve reached the point where I must now listen to my body and my doctors.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe Rock Hall-inducted Taylor continued, \u201cFiguring out the timing of all of this has not been easy, but I\u2019m going out on a real high.\u00a0 We\u2019ve just returned from a hugely successful UK and European tour, which followed our second headline show at BST Hyde Park, our induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a return to the studio with Nile Rodgers.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t have asked for a better final chapter, with so many special moments that I\u2019ll treasure forever. I move on with enormous pride, and with nothing but love for Simon, Nick and John.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tRoger Taylor joined longtime bandmates Nick Rhodes and John Taylor (no relation) in Duran Duran in 1979, taking over for original drummer and singer Stephen Duffy. A year later, that trio was joined by singer Simon Le Bon and guitarist Andy Taylor (again, no relation) to form Duran Duran\u2019s classic Rio<\/em> lineup.<\/p>\n