# Andy Taylor (guitarist)

**Andy Taylor** (Andrew Arthur Taylor, born 1961) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known as a guitarist for [Duran Duran](https://www.edgepedia.org/duran-duran) and a member of the supergroup [The Power Station](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-power-station-band).<sup>[5](https://duranduran.com/dd-timeline/1980/)</sup> He played with Duran Duran from 1980 to 1986 and again from 2001 to 2006, and has worked as a producer and session guitarist for artists including [Robert Palmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-palmer), Rod Stewart, The Almighty, and Thunder.<sup>[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Andy_Taylor/327823)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England<sup>[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Andy_Taylor/327823)</sup> |
| Duran Duran tenure | Guitar, 1980–1986 and 2001–2006<sup>[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Andy_Taylor/327823)</sup> |
| The Power Station | Guitar, 1984–1985 and 1995–1997<sup>[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Andy_Taylor/327823)</sup> |
| Solo albums | *Thunder* (1987), *Dangerous* (1990), *Man's A Wolf To A Man* (2023)<sup>[2](https://www.loudersound.com/features/andy-taylor-interview)</sup> |
| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Inducted with Duran Duran in 2022; absent from the ceremony due to illness<sup>[3](https://duranduran.com/2022/a-note-from-andy-taylor/)</sup> |
| Health | Diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer in 2018; treated with Lutetium-177<sup>[4](https://www.nme.com/news/music/duran-duran-say-former-guitarist-andy-taylor-fighting-as-hard-as-he-can-in-cancer-battle-3837980)</sup> |

## Joining Duran Duran

In April 1980, Duran Duran placed an advert in the *Melody Maker* music magazine for a "Live-Wire Guitarist." Taylor answered the ad, auditioned, and impressed [Nick Rhodes](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-rhodes), [John Taylor](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-taylor-bass-guitarist), and Roger Taylor with his talent and professional experience, having toured Europe as a teenager. He got the job and moved from his hometown of Newcastle to Birmingham, where the band was based.<sup>[5](https://duranduran.com/dd-timeline/1980/)</sup> The classic lineup was completed weeks later when [Simon Le Bon](https://www.edgepedia.org/simon-le-bon) joined as lead singer, and the band wrote its first song together, "Sound of Thunder," at the Rum Runner club.<sup>[5](https://duranduran.com/dd-timeline/1980/)</sup>

Taylor brought a rock grounding to a band otherwise built around synthesizers. The [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame)'s profile describes Duran Duran as combining pioneering synthesizers with distorted glam rock guitars, and notes that Taylor brought blues-influenced hard rock into the band's sound.<sup>[6](https://rockhall.com/inductees/duran-duran/)</sup> In his own account, he developed a hybrid guitar style drawing on [David Bowie](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-bowie), Roxy Music, The Sex Pistols, and Chic, and recalled that his bandmates "truly valued the contribution of a rather noisy, versatile Northern brat."<sup>[3](https://duranduran.com/2022/a-note-from-andy-taylor/)</sup> He also used a Roland guitar synthesizer on the band's first album, including throughout "Planet Earth."<sup>[7](https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/4-on-6s-andy-taylor/4695?theme=2)</sup>

The band's debut album appeared in 1981, and *Rio* followed in 1982; Taylor's riffs were central to hits such as "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Girls on Film," the latter helping the band achieve Platinum-selling success and a number 10 peak on the Billboard 200.<sup>[8](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/it-is-the-dream-job-duran-duran-star-andy-taylor-reflects-upon-his-life-as-a-guitarist)</sup>

## The Power Station and first departure

In 1984, while Duran Duran took a planned break, Andy Taylor and John Taylor (no relation) formed The Power Station with singer Robert Palmer and drummer [Tony Thompson](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-thompson-drummer) of Chic, with Chic's Bernard Edwards producing. The two Taylors wanted to branch out from Duran Duran's synthesizer-heavy pop and play rock and roll.<sup>[9](https://duranduran.fandom.com/wiki/Power_Station)</sup> The project began as a one-time backing band for model and would-be singer [Bebe Buell](https://www.edgepedia.org/bebe-buell), who wanted to record a cover of T. Rex's "Get It On."<sup>[9](https://duranduran.fandom.com/wiki/Power_Station)</sup>

Taylor also played guitar on Robert Palmer's 1986 album *Riptide*, including the hit "Addicted to Love."<sup>[10](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/the-groove-was-so-thick-and-what-am-i-playing-a-simple-boom-bop-tish-bop-boom-bop-it-was-unbelievable-the-making-of-robert-palmers-addicted-to-love)</sup> He played guitar on some tracks of Duran Duran's 1986 album *[Notorious](https://www.edgepedia.org/notorious-duran-duran-album)*, and he left the band that year.<sup>[11](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/bands/hes-fighting-as-hard-as-he-can-duran-durans-simon-le-bon-delivers-an-update-on-guitarist-andy-taylor)</sup>

## Solo career and production work

Taylor's debut solo album, *Thunder* (1987), was a guitar-driven rock record made with [Sex Pistols](https://www.edgepedia.org/sex-pistols) guitarist Steve Jones, who played on it, co-wrote all but one song, and co-produced it with Taylor.<sup>[12](https://earofnewt.com/2018/04/19/album-review-andy-taylor-thunder-1987/)</sup> Its lack of sales led him toward production work and a return to The Power Station.<sup>[13](https://www.allmusic.com/album/thunder-mw0000650872)</sup> His second solo album, *Dangerous*, followed in 1990.<sup>[2](https://www.loudersound.com/features/andy-taylor-interview)</sup>

As a producer, Taylor worked with [Rod Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/rod-stewart) on *Out of Order* (1988) and produced The Almighty's *Soul Destruction* (1991).<sup>[1](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Andy_Taylor/327823)</sup> He also produced the demo by the British rock band Thunder that won the group its deal with EMI.<sup>[14](https://www.loudersound.com/music/albums/thunder-best-albums)</sup>

Taylor rejoined Duran Duran's original lineup in 2001, and the band released *[Astronaut](https://www.edgepedia.org/astronaut-duran-duran-album)* in October 2004.<sup>[15](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0851976/bio/)</sup> He left the band again in 2006.<sup>[16](https://duranduran.com/2026/duran-duran-talk-vegas-shows-andy-taylors-health-and-why-the-band-still-matters/)</sup>

## Return, illness, and recent work

In November 2022, Duran Duran were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Los Angeles. Taylor, who had been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, could not attend because of a setback in his treatment, and the band read portions of a letter he had written for the occasion.<sup>[3](https://duranduran.com/2022/a-note-from-andy-taylor/)</sup> In 2023 he said he was taking [Lutetium-177](https://www.edgepedia.org/lutetium-177), a nuclear medicine he credited with extending his life by five years.<sup>[4](https://www.nme.com/news/music/duran-duran-say-former-guitarist-andy-taylor-fighting-as-hard-as-he-can-in-cancer-battle-3837980)</sup>

He returned to recording with the band on the 2023 album *Danse Macabre*, on which the original lineup gathered for a "Rio"-era sounding "Nightboat."<sup>[17](https://apnews.com/article/ea7b99103cdb5a2caa6b7b17212b581c)</sup> In 2023 he also announced *Man's A Wolf To A Man*, his first solo release in over 30 years, written and produced with The Almighty singer Ricky Warwick and Swedish electronica artist Mattias Lindblom.<sup>[2](https://www.loudersound.com/features/andy-taylor-interview)</sup> In interviews during his illness he has continued to play guitar on a new Duran Duran album and has spoken of his hopes of returning to the stage.<sup>[18](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/andy-taylor-interview/)</sup>

## References

1. [Andy Taylor, Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Andy_Taylor/327823)
2. [Andy Taylor interview: Duran Duran, the Power Station, and his battle with cancer, Louder / Classic Rock](https://www.loudersound.com/features/andy-taylor-interview)
3. [A Note from Andy Taylor, Duran Duran (5 November 2022)](https://duranduran.com/2022/a-note-from-andy-taylor/)
4. [Duran Duran say former guitarist Andy Taylor "fighting as hard as he can" in cancer battle, NME (14 February 2025)](https://www.nme.com/news/music/duran-duran-say-former-guitarist-andy-taylor-fighting-as-hard-as-he-can-in-cancer-battle-3837980)
5. [1980, Duran Duran Timeline](https://duranduran.com/dd-timeline/1980/)
6. [Duran Duran, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame](https://rockhall.com/inductees/duran-duran/)
7. [4 On 6's – Andy Taylor, One Two Testing, December 1982](https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/4-on-6s-andy-taylor/4695?theme=2)
8. ["It is the Dream Job": Duran Duran Star Andy Taylor Reflects Upon His Life as a Guitarist, Guitar Player (15 June 2022)](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/it-is-the-dream-job-duran-duran-star-andy-taylor-reflects-upon-his-life-as-a-guitarist)
9. [Power Station, Duran Duran Wiki](https://duranduran.fandom.com/wiki/Power_Station)
10. [The making of Robert Palmer's Addicted To Love, MusicRadar (2025)](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/the-groove-was-so-thick-and-what-am-i-playing-a-simple-boom-bop-tish-bop-boom-bop-it-was-unbelievable-the-making-of-robert-palmers-addicted-to-love)
11. ["He's fighting as hard as he can": Simon Le Bon delivers an update on guitarist Andy Taylor, MusicRadar (18 February 2025)](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/bands/hes-fighting-as-hard-as-he-can-duran-durans-simon-le-bon-delivers-an-update-on-guitarist-andy-taylor)
12. [Album review: Andy Taylor, Thunder (1987), earofnewt.com](https://earofnewt.com/2018/04/19/album-review-andy-taylor-thunder-1987/)
13. [Andy Taylor: Thunder review, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/thunder-mw0000650872)
14. [Nine Thunder albums to listen to and one to avoid, Louder](https://www.loudersound.com/music/albums/thunder-best-albums)
15. [Andy Taylor Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0851976/bio/)
16. [Duran Duran talk Vegas shows, Andy Taylor's health and why the band still matters, Duran Duran](https://duranduran.com/2026/duran-duran-talk-vegas-shows-andy-taylors-health-and-why-the-band-still-matters/)
17. [Music Review: Celebrate the spooky season with a Duran Duran album, 'Danse Macabre', AP News (2023)](https://apnews.com/article/ea7b99103cdb5a2caa6b7b17212b581c)
18. [Andy Taylor interview: "I've got more music to make", Classic Pop (6 May 2025)](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/andy-taylor-interview/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Post-punk and new wave › Instrumentalists and multi-instrument members*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license