Duran Duran Drummer Roger Taylor Retires, Citing Worsening Tinnitus

Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor announced Thursday that he is retiring from the band because his recently diagnosed tinnitus, a hearing condition, has worsened. In a statement, he called it one of the hardest decisions he had ever made and said he had reached the point where he must listen to his body and his doctors. He said the band had just finished a successful UK and European tour, which followed a second headline show at BST Hyde Park, its induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a studio return with Nile Rodgers. He said he was leaving with enormous pride and love for bandmates Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor.

The right-leaning New York Post leads with declining health, headlining 77-year-old Taylor as a “legend” retiring “amid declining health,” and stresses his tinnitus getting “steadily worse.” It adds his 1979 arrival, his drumming on four albums, a 1986 departure, a Grammy win and the bandmates’ joint statement, and it uses words like “confessed” and “gushed.” The left-leaning Rolling Stone, the only left outlet here, leads with the retirement and puts “Worsening” in its headline, sticking closely to Taylor’s statement with no age or band history. Alternative Stereogum calls him the founding drummer, gives his age as 66, and adds the Madrid final show. All three agree on the retirement, tinnitus, statement and tour; they differ on age and on whether declining health is central.