Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor quits the band because of worsening tinnitus

One of the most recognisable drummers in British pop is hanging up his sticks. Roger Taylor, 66, has announced he is leaving Duran Duran because his tinnitus (a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears) is getting worse.

What happened?

Taylor said his condition has been getting "steadily worse" and that he has "reached the point where I must now listen to my body and my doctors". He called it one of the hardest decisions he has ever made.

The rest of the band, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, said the decision followed "careful consideration and medical advice". Protecting his hearing and long-term health, they said, "must now come first".

Taylor has been on the drum stool since the band formed in Birmingham in 1978, apart from a break between 1985 and 2001. He called playing in the band "the joy of my life".

Going out on a high

Taylor said the timing was difficult, but he is pleased to be "going out on a real high". The band has just come back from what he described as a hugely successful UK and European tour.

That followed their second headline show at BST Hyde Park (London's big summer concert series), their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a return to the studio with Nile Rodgers.

"I couldn't have asked for a better final chapter," he said. He added that he moves on "with nothing but love for Simon, Nick and John".

What did the band say?

The other three paid tribute to his sound. They said Taylor played on 10 hit albums, on their two number one singles, Is There Something I Should Know? and The Reflex, and on the 1985 James Bond theme A View To A Kill.

"His drumming helped define the sound of Duran Duran from the very beginning," they said. They added that having him back since 2001 had been "incredibly important to us all".

What's next?

The band say they completely support his decision and wish him "health and happiness". "He will always be part of this family," they said, while they continue "exploring new and exciting projects".

No replacement has been mentioned.