Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor and other leading musicians will join forces to raise money for a cancer charity at a special concert next month.
The 62-year-old guitarist and singer was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in 2018 and has since sought to raise awareness of the condition.
He will join Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Andrew Ridgeley of Wham!, David Palmer of ABC and singer-songwriter Ella Henderson and guitarist Phil X, who will play some of their greatest hits to guests including philanthropists, musicians and two lucky fans.
The event, which will take place at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds on October 21, will also include a live auction featuring works by Banksy and Picasso, Katherine Ryan will perform a comedy set and Ridgeley will take to the decks as DJ.
Funds raised will go to the Cancer Awareness Trust, which is looking to develop a new platform where people with the condition can easily access information about the disease.
Taylor’s cancer journey was “transformed” by Professor Sir Chris Evans, who co-founded the charity and helped identify the “life-changing” treatment the musician is now receiving.
The star said: “Before Sir Chris and his team reached out, I felt lost and frustrated by my diagnosis.
“I was unclear on my options and what I should do. The kindness, knowledge and support Sir Chris and his team have given in abundance, has literally given me and the family my life back.
“Prostate cancer is one of the biggest killers of men despite there now existing multiple ways to get tested, easily, and then treated appropriately.
“People need to be able to find this information fast and easily. It exists, it’s just difficult to find.
“There also needs to be a revolution in men’s healthcare about prostate cancer, a breaking down of the stigmas associated with getting tested.
“The Cancer Awareness Trusts’ vision for a Cancer Platform is what we need and why I’m an ambassador.”
>Professor Evans said. “This event is a celebration of an incredible musician, collaborator, friend, and Ambassador – the iconic Andy Taylor.
“So many amazing people have come together to put this show together with Andy and I can’t wait to celebrate with them all on the night, but more importantly, I’m looking forward to putting the funds raised to the crucial and urgent work of transforming cancer outcomes.”
After forming in Birmingham in 1978, Duran Duran were one of the biggest acts of the 1980s – with hits including Rio, The Wild Boys and Bond theme A View To A Kill.
The group released their 15th studio album, Future Past, in 2021.