Andy Taylor, the band’s founding guitarist, has been identified as having stage 4 prostate cancer. The performer shared his diagnosis in a letter that was read by his former band members on Saturday during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The band’s classic lineup hadn’t performed together since 2006, therefore the occasion was intended to serve as a reunion.
Taylor stated that he had “purchased a new guitar” for the occasion and was “massively disappointed” to have missed the performance.
Taylor’s letter was read aloud to the crowd by singer Simon Le Bon “I gave a stage four metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis a little over four years ago.
I speak from the perspective of a family guy, but with profound humility to the band, the finest fans a group could have, and this incredible honor. “Many families have endured the slow burn of this cancer and course we are no different,” he said.
Born in Tynemouth, Taylor claimed that he was receiving “advanced life-extending treatment” but was unable to attend the ceremony in Los Angeles due to a recent “setback.”
Although my disease is not immediately life-threatening, he continued, “there is no cure.”
One of the largest pop groups of the 1980s, Duran Duran was founded in Birmingham and was well-known for its extravagant music videos and upbeat, synthetic pop songs.
They opened the evening with a hit-filled medley that included Girls On Film, Hungry Like The Wolf, and Ordinary World because they were the first band to be honored at this year’s Hall of Fame concert.
Along with Judas Priest, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Eurythmics, Pat Benatar, Carly Simon, Eminem, and Harry Belafonte were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Her nomination was initially rejected by Dolly Parton, whose successes include Jolene, I Will Always Love You, and 9 to 5, who then changed her mind.
During her acceptance speech, she said,
“I’m a rock star now!”
“I didn’t really believe I had done enough to merit being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back when they first announced they would do so. I was unable to comprehend at the moment. But for me, tonight is a very, very special occasion.”
The singer then performed a star-studded rendition of Jolene with Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics, Simon Le Bon, Brandi Carlile, and Rob Halford of Judas Priest.
Dr. Dre gave the induction speech for Eminem and mentioned that practically everyone he knew had tried to talk him out of working with a white rapper.
But Dre claimed,
“I realized that his skills were evident.” I was willing to stake my entire career on the idea that each of us was exactly what the other needed.
Using his speech, Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, paid tribute to the rappers who had impacted him, including early pioneers like Tupac, Chuck D, Outkast, and Snoop Dogg as well as more obscure artists like Lord Finesse and JJ Fad.
He did so in part to draw attention to how little hip-hop is honored in the Hall of Fame (he is only the ninth rap act to be inducted alongside Run DMC, NWA, Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Biggie Smalls, Tupac Shakur, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and Grandmaster Flash).
The guitarist declared, “Man, those were my rock stars.” “And I simply want to add that they are only a handful of the names I hope will be taken into consideration for induction in the future. Because many of us wouldn’t be here without them. I for one would not.”
Then, Eminem performed his singles My Name Is, Rap God, and Sing for the Moment, the latter of which featured Steven Tyler from Aerosmith, whose voice was sampled in the original song.
Then he introduced Ed Sheeran, who performed Stan live.
Eminem declared, “I’m not supposed to be here tonight,” after his performance. “I’m a rapper, I nearly died from an overdose, and I had to fight to survive, to name a few things. I studied hip-hop after dropping out of high school.”
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, two of Janet Jackson’s longtime collaborators, were inducted.
Before becoming one of America’s most well-known production teams, the duo began as members of Prince’s side project The Time. They wrote nearly all of Jackson’s singles, including What Have You Done For Me Lately, Rhythm Nation, That’s The Way Love Goes, and Together Again, as well as hits for the SOS Band, Mary J. Blige, Usher, and Mary J. Blige.
Jackson remarked, “I feel like we made it in the music business together.” “I learned a lot from them, and I d a good job applying their lessons.
“There was pressure when I started working on what would eventually become Control in their hometown of Minneapolis. We had sandbox vibes like we were kids again. There were times when it didn’t feel like we were recording a record because of how much we joked and talked.”
In 2011, the British metal band Judas Priest performed songs including You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’, Breaking The Law, and Living After Midnight live with estranged guitarist KK Downing.
Frontman Rob Halford said that he was the band’s only gay member.
“No matter your sexual orientation, physical appearance, or your beliefs or lack thereof, we refer to ourselves as the heavy metal community. Anyone is welcome.”
The Edge of U2 inducted the Eurythmics, Lenny Kravitz inducted Lionel Richie, and Sara Bareilles inducted Carly Simon.
Simon, who had lost both of her two younger sisters, declined to sing; in her place, Bareilles sang Nobody Does It Better. Olivia Rodrigo then sang a strutting rendition of You’re So Vain.
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