Duran Duran loses guitarist Taylor

CHICAGO, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Guitarist Andy Taylor reportedly left Duran Duran just as the British pop band was set to launch its U.S. tour.

Duran Duran was scheduled to play Chicago Thursday night and vowed in a statement to carry on with Dom Brown replacing Taylor, Billboard reported.

The remaining members said their relationship with Taylor had degenerated to the point they could "no longer effectively function together."

Taylor was a founding member of Duran Duran and played with the group through much of its heyday in the 1980s. He left in 1986 but came back aboard in 2001.