Duran Duran – Roger Taylor Steps Down

The end of an era for one of synthpop’s defining bands. Duran Duran announced on 12 November 2026 that drummer Roger Taylor is stepping down from the group and retiring from playing drums, after a worsening of his recently diagnosed tinnitus.

Taylor was there from the start. He joined in 1979 as the band’s founding drummer and played on the era-defining early records, then came back for the reunion of the original line-up in 2001. Since then he has written and played on six more albums with the band. According to the band’s statement, after careful consideration and medical advice he decided that protecting his hearing and long-term health had to come first.

Speaking from his home in the U.S., he called it “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. Playing drums in this band has been the joy of my life, and I’ll never be able to properly thank the fans for the love they’ve shown us over the years.”

He also says he is “going out on a real high”: the band have just come back from a UK and European tour, which followed their second headline show at BST Hyde Park, their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a return to the studio with Nile Rodgers. “I move on with enormous pride, and with nothing but love for Simon, Nick and John.”

Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor answered with a joint statement: “Roger is our brother. His drumming helped define the sound of Duran Duran from the very beginning and having him back with us since 2001 has been incredibly important to us all.” They add that he will always be part of the family, while they carry on exploring new projects with the band.

Official statement – https://x.com/duranduran/status/2120902504955146414

Side-Line – https://www.side-line.com/duran-duran-roger-taylor-steps-down/