Andy Taylor – who served as Duran Duran's guitarist during the peak of their popularity in the 1980s, and then again when the band's classic lineup reunited in the early 2000s – has announced that he is suffering from stage 4 prostate cancer.
The announcement was precipitated by the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this past weekend (November 5).
Taylor was supposed to perform with the band, for the first time in 17 years, at the ceremony, but could not attend due to a "setback" in his treatment for the disease.
In his honor, a note from the guitarist was read out to the audience as part of the band's induction speeches.
"Just over 4 years ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer," read part of Taylor's note, which was subsequently shared in its entirety by his representatives. "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.
"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.
"Recently," Taylor continued, "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.
"However, none of this needs to 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 bit naughty but really nice, a bit shirty but very well dressed, a bit full of ourselves, because we had a lot to give, but as I’ve said many times, when you feel that collective, instinctive, kindred spirit of creativity mixed with ambition, armed with an über cool bunch of fans, well, what could possibly go wrong?
"I'm truly sorry and massively disappointed I couldn’t make it," the note went on. "Let there be no doubt I was stoked about the whole thing, even bought a new guitar with the essential whammy!
"I'm so very proud of these four brothers; I'm amazed at their durability, and I'm overjoyed at accepting this award. I often doubted the day would come. I'm sure as hell glad I'm around to see the day."
Eminem, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, Judas Priest, Carly Simon, Eurythmics, and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis joined Duran Duran in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the institution's induction ceremony on November 5.
Held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the ceremony featured performances from many of the inductees, including a highly-anticipated reunion of Judas Priest with their long-estranged co-founding guitarist, K.K. Downing.
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