Duran Duran's Andy Taylor claims 'music and family' kept him afloat during his cancer diagnosis in 2018

Two things kept Andy Taylor of Duran Duran afloat when he received his stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis in 2018: music and family. Taylor, 61, tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's issue of his marriage to wife Tracey Wilson, "I've been married for 40,000 years. I'm old school. Maybe I've just seen so many of my friends have four divorces that I kind of always thought it was worth working it out." Furthermore, Taylor claims that she first met Wilson at The Rum Runner Club in Birmingham on the year of her 20th birthday in 1981, and they have been together ever since. He remarks, "I think if there was a tolerance meter for a lady who's lived right in the thick of it since 1980... Yeah, there should be an award for women who've survived rock and roll." "She's always been there. In a way, through everything in Duran," he continues, mentioning the band's ascent to stardom as well as his ups and downs with them. For those unaware, Taylor, who joined the group in 1981 and departed in 1986 to pursue a solo career, returned in 2001 for a further five-year run. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] Image credit: People.com[/caption] Additionally, Taylor and Wilson have four children together: Izzy, Bethy, Andy, and Georgie. In December, the family celebrated a "Disney Christmas" in Ibiza, where Wilson currently stays, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. About his grandson Albie, he says, "We're a very, very close family. And I've got a grandson now, which I didn't know if I'd live to see his 10th birthday, but I'm pretty sure I'm good." Also read: Penn Badgley claims his Gossip Girl co-star and ex Blake Lively “saved” him after his rise in fame "We had new puppies and new cats. What a lovely temperament in the house with all those animals running around," Taylor includes. "But yeah, I actually had a really nice Christmas with my family and a few friends. And I can't do the big stuff no more, so a couple of the iconic clubs were open here at Christmas, but I see it out now."

What's more

It hasn't been easy for Andy Taylor to live with his illness, but he is well aware of the "hell of an effect it can have on your kids." He says, "I'm glad I've got a strong marriage. The real support you get is from your family. They're the people who have to live with [the diagnosis] daily." [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] Image credit: People.com[/caption]However, Taylor's best piece of advice for someone with stage 4 prostate cancer is to talk to your family. It makes all the difference, he adds, "If [they] understand it, and understand not to ask that question, try to stay optimistic in general and not to hide life from you, but just to have a birthday pie. Don't talk politics. Just be happy that you're all here still." Taylor remarks, "I had to sit down with them and say, 'Guess what? My dad had it, and I didn't talk to myself about it.' I think I had a PSA test when I was about 46 or 47, and then I left it for 10 years. Too late." This way, "you won't have to have any therapy, or any terrifying hospital visits" — including the times when you're "getting scans done where you've got face masks on" and being asked 'What choice of music would you like, Andy?'" To which, he jokingly requests, "Anything but Duran Duran, please."