London CNN —
Andy Taylor, guitarist for British New Romantic group Duran Duran at the height of their fame, is battling stage four prostate cancer.
The band made the announcement Saturday when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Taylor, who was unable to join his former bandmates John Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes for the Class of 2022 celebrations due to ongoing treatment, wrote a letter to mark the occasion.
In the note, read in part by frontman Le Bon, Taylor revealed that he had received his diagnosis four years ago and spoke of his joy at being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“Nothing comes close to such recognition. You can dream about what happened to us, but experiencing it on your own terms as a pal was beyond incredible,” Taylor wrote in the message conveyed by Le Bon.
Referring to his health issues, Taylor, 61, added: “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 deep humility towards the band, the biggest fans a group can have and this extraordinary award.”
Taylor joined Duran Duran in April 1980 and left in 1986 to pursue a solo career. He returned in 2001 for a string of successful concerts and their 2004 album Astronaut before retiring in 2006.
Taylor said he was “massively disappointed” to miss the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame show, which would be his first performance with the group in 16 years, and that he “bought a new guitar” for the occasion.
“I’m so proud of these four brothers, I’m amazed at their consistency and I’m thrilled to accept this award,” said Taylor. “I often doubted that the day would come. Damn glad I’m here to see the day.”
In the letter, which was later published in full on the band’s website, Taylor said his condition was terminal but that he was receiving “sophisticated life-prolonging treatment” that allowed him to “just keep rocking” until recently having a “setback ” suffered.”
“Although my current condition is not immediately life-threatening, there is no cure,” he said.
According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Responding to Taylor’s health update on Saturday, Le Bon said, “It’s devastating news to know and to find out that a colleague … not a colleague, a mate, a friend, one of our family will not be around much longer. It’s absolutely devastating. We love Andy very much and you know I’m not going to stand here and cry. I don’t think that would be very appropriate, but that’s how I feel.”
Duran Duran was formed in 1978 and topped the US singles chart in the 1980s with their hits “The Reflex” and “A View to a Kill.”