Duran Duran have revealed their former guitarist Andy Taylor is battling prostate cancer.
The band made the sad announcement in a speech as they were admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday.
The 61-year-old was absent as the band produced a special performance of some of their biggest hits at the ceremony.
The British new wave band, once dubbed the Fab Five by Rolling Stone magazine, were inducted as part of the Class of 2022. Duran Duran received the most public votes, tallying 934,880 in their first-ever nomination.
They join the likes of Carly Simon, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie and Eminem in being admitted to the Hall of Fame this year.
Taylor, who is four years into a fight with advanced prostate cancer, was not present but Simon LeBon read out a letter from him on stage.
"There’s nothing that comes close to such recognition. You can dream about what happened to us but to experience it, on one’s own terms, as mates, was beyond incredible,” Taylor wrote.
"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’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."
In a full statement on the band's website, Taylor added that "medical treatment" had allowed him to "just rock on" until very recently.
"Although my current condition is not immediately life threatening there is no cure," he said.
"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."
Reflecting on Duran Duran's career he added: "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?"
LeBon added in an interview with cleveland.com : "I was blown away by the dedication and the application and the sheer determination of our fans and everybody else who voted for us, keeping us in that number one slot for almost the entirety of the public vote.
"I am so grateful to all those people for doing that because it’s shone a light on us and it’s shone a light catches in the mind of all the people who are voting."
Guitarist Andy joined the band in 1980, two years after they formed. He joined Duran Duran alongside lead singer Simon.
Andy and drummer Roger Taylor left Duran Duran before the recording of their fourth album, Notorious, in 1986 before coming back for a full reunion in 2001.
This led to a number of successful tours and the 2004 album Astronaut, which reached number three in the UK album charts.
Andy left the band again in 2006.
As well as gaining global success with Duran Duran, Andy and bassist John Taylor joined with former Chic member Tony Thompson and Robert Palmer to form the band Power Station in 1985.
Their eponymous album reached the top 20 in the UK and the top 10 in the US
Andy has also embarked on a solo career, recording the hit single Take It Easy, which was used as the theme song to the film American Anthem.
He also contributed to the Miami Vice II soundtrack with the song When The Rain Comes Down.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.
