Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor opens up about prostate cancer diagnosis

Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor, 61, has opened up about his cancer diagnosis. When the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last November, his bandmates announced that Taylor was unable to attend due to his health.

Taylor, who was born in Tynemouth but moved to Birmingham in the 1980s, is one of the co-founders of the band - which will perform in Birmingham in May 2023.

He previously said in a letter: “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; 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.”

Since the public announcement, he has received love and support from fans across the world, and he now uses his platform to spread awareness. In an interview with Channel 5 on January 12, the father-of-four said that when he was 56 he felt an “arthritic sort of pain” when he went jogging.

Taylor, who is married to Tracey Wilson, said: “I never thought more of it than that.” Then, he started having symptoms, which he didn’t recognise them for what they could be. “I noticed on my neck what felt like tumors 4.5 years ago. So, I went and had biopsy done,” he said. “No one can be prepared for ... that this day,” he added.

His consultant told him he had Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer - which the musician describes as a “death sentence”. Taylor added that his father also had prostate cancer. He was due to rejoin Duran Duran when they attended the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles but he didn’t feel he could.

“You know you lose all the testosterone in the treatment... most men don’t have a clue,” he said. He now uses his platform to raise awareness and urges female fans to ask their partners, fathers, friends to go get tested.

The 61-year-old said after the pandemic his family threw him a big birthday bash since he missed out on his 60th and he intends to make the most out of life. “I have been very fortunate, I have had so much in terms of living with the dream,” he said, adding that music has helped him live with “the pessimism”.