Simon Le Bon’s agony as it emerges Duran Duran bandmate Andy Taylor is dying of cancer 

Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor is suffering from cancer and won’t be around for long, his bandmate Simon Le Bon has revealed.

The 61-year-old is being treated for stage four metastatic prostate cancer after contracting the disease four years ago.

The band broke the news when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

The guitarist was due to reunite with vocalist Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor, but suffered “a setback” that prevented him from traveling from his home in Ibiza.

Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor is suffering from cancer and won’t be around for long, his bandmate Simon Le Bon has revealed.

The weekend ceremony would mark the first time the five-piece band from Birmingham have played together in 17 years, having last reformed for a world tour and the album Astronaut in 2004.

The band read a letter from Taylor revealing that he had undergone “very sophisticated” life-prolonging treatment. “Just over four years ago, I was diagnosed with stage four metastatic prostate cancer,” the letter said.

‘Many families have experienced the slow burn of this disease and of course we are no different; so I speak from a family man’s perspective, but with deep humility to the band, the biggest fans a group could have and this exceptional award. I have the ‘Rodgers and Edwards’ of doctors and medical treatments that until recently allowed me to just keep going.

Formed in 1978, the group performed three songs: Girls On Film, Hungry Like A Wolf and Ordinary World.

The band read a letter from Taylor revealing that he had undergone “very sophisticated” life-prolonging treatment. “Just over four years ago, I was diagnosed with stage four metastatic prostate cancer,” the letter read

“Although my current condition is not immediately life-threatening, there is no cure.”

Rodgers and Edwards refers to Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, the producers who have worked with Duran Duran throughout their careers.

Taylor added: “Recently I was doing well after very advanced life-extending treatment, that was until a week or so ago when I had a setback, and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally I would push my limits.’

He said he was “really sorry and deeply disappointed” that he was unable to attend the ceremony, adding: “I often doubted the day would come. I am certainly very happy to be there to see the day.’

Le Bon, 64, said: ‘It is absolutely devastating news to find that a colleague, no not a colleague, a buddy, a friend, one of our family, will not be there long. We love Andy very much and I’m not going to stand here crying. I think that would be inappropriate, but that’s how I feel.’

Formed in 1978, the group performed three songs: Girls On Film, Hungry Like A Wolf and Ordinary World.