And then there were three (again)
On the sudden announcement of Roger’s retirement on 12th November 2026…
Is this how it will end? With a pop up corporate message on social media? Did this have to feel like that all-company-notification work email letting us know Geoff from HR has decided to retire, thanking him for his hard work, and suggesting we discuss with our manager a possible secondment opportunity?
The most recent Cherry Lipstick article, about the Halloween show, said a topic of discussion was ‘have the band run out of road?’ 5 days later and, maybe, that question is less doom-laden that it appeared to many.
Simon and Nick have been here before, of course. Their official statement leant on their experiences of 1986, 1997 and 2001… Roger leaving changes nothing. Many will take comfort from this, but it might at least have been presented as giving them pause for thought.
Perhaps that is why Roger / the band (whatever they did or did not know) chose not to announce this before the recent Free To Love tour dates. A chance to for us all to say ‘goodbye’ might have been too on-the-nose for those left behind. The clammy hand of age crept just that bit closer for them all. The carefully constructed artifice of eternal youth took a nasty hit with this news. Presenting it for all to see on stage (with the knowledge of the cause ill health) might have made us all look around and be more aware of our sore legs and backs after a day travelling and standing.
Duran Duran (for which read Simon and Nick) have always been about forward momentum (even when that involves leaning ever more heavily on the past). The last six years have featured an eternal tour cycle that has (rightly) glorified the past, whilst achieving internal dynamism through Future Past and Danse Macabre. That said, Future Past did reach back to the, er, past, as has much of the whole Halloween escapade.
Within this, Roger was a key player. He was a crucial thread to the past, lending credibility and vitality to the ongoing venture.
His departure means we once again dust down that question we have been pondering for over 40 years: ‘What is ‘Duran Duran’ when it is not the Fab Five?’
More unkindly, this can be translated as ‘Who can Duran Duran do without?’
Keeping 80% of the Fab Five worked very well from a PR point of view. The fact the Simon-Nick-John-Roger ‘version’ of Duran Duran lasted 20 years is another achievement. But what we know is that Duran have managed before without Roger, and Duran intend to manage again. Simon, Nick and John have been clear – their show goes on.
How long for and in what shape are now the next questions.
The fact is, 2027 never looked like being a year of innovation. Momentum has not stalled with Roger's departure. There may be more shows, but there was never going to be a new album. As and when that happens has probably not been unduly affected by Roger's news. Most of what they did in 2025 and 2026 was announced at fairly short notice.
We can now, finally, bury the hopes and expectations of a Fab Five reunion. The time for that was at any point in the last four years since Andy's illness was announced.
OF COURSE the ghost (corpse?) of Reportage AGAIN pokes a decayed finger from its vault once again. Can this be the final victory over age? Cherry Lipstick has already documented the well-founded reasons for its failure to appear so far. Roger’s departure chucks more lead on that coffin of hope. Just let it go, folks.
Which brings us back to Roger. Without this intending to sound like an obituary, we can celebrate his essential contribution to Duran Duran.
Let’s go back to Birmingham, 48 years ago in 1978.
Roger was a kindred spirit of Duran Duran before he joined the band. He was part of the punk circuit in Birmingham. Like John and Nick, he was looking beyond his family home for a focus in life, and joined a punk band in 1977. With the Birmingham punk scene being a small world, he was interested in checking out the support act for Fashion. This is how he was there that fateful night in Barbarella’s on 5th April 1979 when Stephen Duffey and Simon Colley played their last show with John and Nick.
Crisis brings opportunity, and like found like. Roger became the bedrock of Duran as he embraced and enhanced their dance-funk-punk ethos, setting up their rhythm section to enable Andy to take things to the next level. He was held steady as Duran circled through various line-up changes, established a home at the Rum Runner, and got their record contract over the near 2-years before Planet Earth was released. Like all the band he suffered from the over-exposure and impact of the glory years, but only he had the strength to step back and care for his personal welfare. He watched as Simon, Nick and John chose their path through the music industry, and then made his own decision to return.
Incredibly – and happily – this has worked for him. Duran Duran since 2001 was far from a smooth journey for the first few years, featuring (amongst delirious reunion shows) contract issues, a flop record, a rejected album, and Andy leaving. Having worked through that, from 2010 Duran Duran have turned their lives into an extended lap of honour: performances at the Olympics (2012), NASA (2019), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2022), and, yes, more recordings with Nile Rogers (2015-26 with at least one too many to mention).
On a personal level, as I did not join #DuranLive until 1988, every time seeing Roger on stage since 2003 has been a thrill. The fact that he chose to come back – and stay back – never lost its wonder. He was also the face of the band in 2021 when he sent personal voice messages out to various fan groups (including Cherry Lipstick) which was touching and noted. Seeing him up close DJing to an ecstatic crowd (all on free tickets!) following the launch of the Hollywood High DVD in 2023, was another special moment (photo above).
Just like in 1985 Roger has chosen the time of his own departure. He is and has always been his own man. He is and will always be a member of Duran Duran. And, as we all know, he still has two hands.
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The ever-growing 'pick your fave' versions of Duran Duran
1. September 1978 – April 1979 - John-Nick-Stephen Duffy-Simon Colley
2. 1979 - John-Nick-Roger-Andy Wickett
3. 1979 - John-Nick-Roger-Wickett-Alan Curtis
4. 1980 - John-Nick-Roger-Jeff Thomas-Alan Curtis
5. July 1980 – 1985 - John-Nick-Roger-Simon-Andy
6. 1986 - John-Nick-Simon-Andy
7. 1986-1989 - John-Nick-Simon
8. 1989-1991 - John-Nick-Simon-Warren-Sterling
9. 1991-1997 - John-Nick-Simon-Warren
10. 1997-2001 - Nick-Simon-Warren
11. 2001-2006 - Nick-Simon-John-Roger-Andy
12. 2006-November 2026 - Nick-Simon-John-Roger
13. November 2026 – Nick-Simon-John
And...one more to add to the ‘goodbye’ shows
5th April 1979, Barbarella’s, Birmingham, UK - Stephen Duffy and Simon Colley
13th July 1985, Live Aid, Philadelphia, USA - Roger and Andy
13th August 1989, Smukfest, Aarhus, Denmark - Sterling Campbell
24th June 1995, Irvine, California, USA - John
22nd June 2001, Kobe, Japan - Warren
4th August 2006, Red Cross Ball, Monaco, France - Andy
6th November 2026, Movistar Arena, Madrid, Spain - Roger
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