Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon has said he is 'devastated' his bandmate Andy Taylor is battling stage 4 prostate cancer.
The band announced guitarist Andy, 61, had been diagnosed four years ago and had recently suffered a setback which left him unable to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles this weekend.
In a letter, read out by Duran Duran, Andy said he had felt the "slow burn of the disease" and while it is not immediately life-threatening, there is no cure.
Now, a heartbroken Simon, 64, has spoken out following the news and says he is close to tears to see Andy's declining health.
The lead singer said: "It is absolutely devastating news to find out that a colleague, no not a colleague, a mate, a friend, one of our family, is not going to be around for very long.
"We love Andy dearly and I'm not going to stand here and cry. I think that would be inappropriate but that's what I feel like," Simon added, according to The Daily Mail.
It was a bittersweet moment for the band when they were admitted into the Hall of Fame as Andy was absent for the special performance of some of their biggest hits at the ceremony.
Simon read a letter from Andy to fans, which read: "There’s nothing that comes close to such recognition. You can dream about what happened to us but to experience it, on one’s own terms, as mates, was beyond incredible.
"Many families have experienced the slow burn of this disease, and of course, we are no different, so I speak from the perspective of a family man, but with profound humility to the band, the greatest fans a group could have, and this exceptional accolade.
"I’m truly sorry and massively disappointed I couldn’t make it. Let there be no doubt I was stoked about the whole thing — even bought a new guitar with the essential whammy!
"I’m so very proud of these four brothers, I’m amazed at their durability, and I’m overjoyed at accepting this award. I often doubted the day would come. I’m sure as hell glad I’m around to see the day."
In a full statement on the band's website, Taylor added that "medical treatment" had allowed him to "just rock on" until very recently.
"Although my current condition is not immediately life threatening there is no cure," he said.
"Recently I was doing okay after some very sophisticated life extending treatment, that was until a week or so ago when I suffered a setback, and despite the exceptional efforts of my team, I had to be honest in that both physically and mentally, I would be pushing my boundaries."
Reflecting on Duran Duran's career he added: "We've had a privileged life, we were a bit naughty but really nice, a bit shirty but very well dressed, a bit full of ourselves, because we had a lot to give, but as I’ve said many times, when you feel that collective, instinctive, kindred spirit of creativity mixed with ambition, armed with an über cool bunch of fans, well what could possibly go wrong?"
Guitarist Andy joined the band in 1980, two years after they formed. He joined Duran Duran alongside lead singer Simon.
Andy and drummer Roger Taylor left Duran Duran before the recording of their fourth album, Notorious, in 1986 before coming back for a full reunion in 2001.
This led to a number of successful tours and the 2004 album Astronaut, which reached number three in the UK album charts.
Andy left the band again in 2006.
As well as gaining global success with Duran Duran, Andy and bassist John Taylor joined with former Chic member Tony Thompson and Robert Palmer to form the band Power Station in 1985.
Their eponymous album reached the top 20 in the UK and the top 10 in the US.
