Duran Duran's Andy Taylor Diagnosed With Stage 4 Prostate Cancer

Duran Duran were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame over the weekend. During their acceptance speech, Duran Duran vocalist Simon Le Bon shared that former guitarist Andy Taylor has been quietly battling Stage 4 prostate cancer.

Taylor left the band in 2006 and has not performed with them since. While he had planned to attend the ceremony, he opted out due to his condition. Le Bon read a letter from Taylor as part of the group's acceptance speech, which you can read:

"Now to the reason I'm not here:

"Just over 4-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.

"I have the Rodgers and Edwards of doctors and medical treatment that until very recently allowed me to just rock on. Although my current condition is not immediately life threatening there is no cure. Recently I was doing okay after some very sophisticated life extending treatment, that was until a week or so ago when I suffered a setback, and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally, I would be pushing my boundaries.

"However, none of this needs to or should detract from what this band (with or without me) has achieved and sustained for 44 years. 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?

"I'm truly sorry and 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!

"I'm so very proud of these four brothers; I'm amazed at their durability, and I'm overjoyed at accepting this award. I often doubted the day would come. I'm sure as hell glad I'm around to see the day.

"All My Love

AT"

Under the performer category, Duran Duran's fellow inductees are Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Eurythmics, Eminem, Carly Simon, Dolly Parton, and Lionel Richie. Meanwhile, Judas Priest and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis won the Musical Excellence Award. Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotten received the Early Influence Award. At the same time, Jimmy Iovine, Allen Grubman, and Sylvia Robinson won the Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performing musical professionals who influenced rock and roll music.

Read the remainder of Andy Taylor's letter here.