Roger Taylor

Roger Andrew Taylor, born on April 26, 1960, in Nechelles, Birmingham, England, developed an early passion for drumming, teaching himself by playing along to records. Before joining Duran Duran, he performed with local bands, including the new wave/punk outfit Scent Organs. His drumming career took a significant turn in 1979 when he joined Duran Duran, quickly rising to international stardom in the early 1980s. He performed on the band’s first three studio albums: “Duran Duran” (1981), “Rio” (1982), and “Seven and the Ragged Tiger” (1983). The video for their debut single, “Planet Earth,” notably opens with a shot of Taylor.

In 1985, Taylor contributed to the theme song for the James Bond film “A View to a Kill,” which became a number one hit in the US. The intense demands of touring and fame led him to temporarily step away from Duran Duran after their Live Aid performance in July 1985. During this hiatus, he collaborated with bandmates Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes on the Arcadia project, releasing the album “So Red the Rose” in 1985. Roger Taylor also contributed percussion to The Power Station’s song “Some Like It Hot.” After a period of retreat, Taylor rejoined Duran Duran in 1994 to record tracks for their album “Thank You” and officially returned to the band in 2001.

Since his return, Duran Duran released the successful album “Astronaut” in 2004, which featured the hit single “(Reach Up for The) Sunrise.” The band embarked on an extensive two-year world tour and received prestigious awards, including from Q magazine, MTV, and a Brit Award. In 2010, they released “All You Need Is Now,” which topped the iTunes pop chart in 15 countries. Subsequent albums include “Paper Gods” (2015), “Future Past” (2021), and “Danse Macabre” (2023). Taylor has also developed a reputation as a DJ, holding residencies at venues like London’s Met Bar and performing at Cielo New York and Pacha Ibiza. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022 as a member of Duran Duran.