The British band Duran Duran got together for the first time in 1978. They were supposed to get back together on the night they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Even though the 37th annual ceremony at the Microsoft Theater was still a time to be proud of the band’s original members Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, and Simon Le Bon, the reunion with the band’s former guitarist Andy Taylor did not happen.
Rolling Stone says that during their induction speech, lead singer Le Bon told the crowd that Andy Taylor would not be able to attend because he had “a setback” in his treatment for stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer and would not be able to travel. Le Bon read the letter out loud for Andy Taylor.
The honor of putting Duran Duran into the Hall of Fame was given to a big name in Hollywood named Robert Downey Jr., who wore a lime-green suit for the event.
When the band’s singer went on stage to accept the award, he said that his former bandmate had wanted to be there but couldn’t because he was getting cancer treatment. The mood became more serious after this news came out.
Le Bon, wearing a black suit with a pattern, took over as leader and read a letter from Taylor, who was 61, on his behalf.
‘Just over four 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,’ Taylor began in his message to fans.
‘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.’
The man, who was born and raised in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England, went on to say that he had “a setback” despite receiving “world-class” care and that his condition is “not immediately life-threatening,” but that there is no cure.
‘Despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally, I would be pushing my boundaries, the letter continued. ‘However, none of this needs to or should detract from what this band (with or without me) has achieved and sustained for 44 years.’
After that, he talked about some of his favorite memories from when he was with the band and they were performing, recording, and traveling around the world.
‘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?’
Taylor also said in the letter that he planned to be on stage with the band when they accepted their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame award.
‘I’m massively disappointed I couldn’t make it, let there be no doubt I was stoked about the whole thing. Even bought a new guitar with the essential whammy,’ he confessed.
‘I’m so very proud of these four brothers. I’m amazed at their durability and I’m overjoyed at accepting this award.’
In closing, he shared how he ‘often doubted the day would come. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day.’
AFP says that Le Bon told reporters backstage at the ceremony that the news about their friend and former bandmate was “absolutely devastating.”
‘We love Andy dearly. I’m not gonna stand here and cry, I think that would be inappropriate, but that’s what it feels like,’ he added.
Andy Taylor had been in the band since its beginning in the late 1970s. He left in the mid-1980s when the band was at its most popular. He came back in 2001, but the band broke up with him in 2006, saying that he and the other guys in the band were too different to work together.
Warren Cuccurullo, the guitarist who replaced Taylor in 1986, was supposed to go to the induction ceremony, but he didn’t.
Duran Duran has had 21 top 40 singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, which means that they have always been popular. Some of these singles are “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Girls on Film,” “Rio,” “Save a Prayer,” “A View to a Kill,” “The Reflex,” “Ordinary World,” “Planet Earth,” “Is There Something I Should Know?,” “Notorious,” and “New Moon on Monday,” among many others.
Duran Duran is thought to be one of the most successful bands of all time because they have sold more than 100 million records.
