Duran Duran Drummer Roger Taylor Retires Over Worsening Tinnitus

Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor has announced that he is retiring from the band because his tinnitus has grown worse. Tinnitus is a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears. Taylor was diagnosed with the condition only recently. The announcement was reported by Rolling Stone on 12 November 2026.

Taylor said his tinnitus has been getting steadily worse. He said he has to listen to his body and to his doctors, and that his decision follows from that.

Taylor's time with the group has been long and not always continuous. He joined Duran Duran in 1979, alongside Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, taking over from original drummer Stephen Duffy. In 1980, singer Simon Le Bon and guitarist Andy Taylor joined, forming the lineup often called the classic Rio lineup.

Roger Taylor left the band in 1986. He rejoined briefly in 1994, then reunited with the group in 2001. He stayed on as drummer right up to this announcement.

Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor issued a joint statement backing his decision. Their statement supports Taylor's choice to step away, and it came from the three bandmates who have worked with him through most of the group's history.

For fans, the news means a familiar name will no longer be behind the drum kit. Health decisions of this kind are often personal, and Taylor's own words put his doctors and his body first. The band has not been reported as naming a replacement in the announcement.

The change is a reminder that touring and recording depend on the people who can keep playing. Hearing loss and tinnitus affect many musicians, and a drummer's career can be shaped by what happens to their ears. Taylor's decision is one that he made for his own health.