Sad news for 80s fans: Guitarist Andy Taylor has parted ways with Duran Duran. The news is confirmed on the band's website. Billboard.com says the choice was Andy's, and the decision came from a "gulf" developing in their partnership.

The band is set to begin a leg of U.S. shows, starting with a stop tonight in Chicago, that will last until Nov. 11. Dom Brown will replace Andy for the shows. Brown, a London-based singer and songwriter, has worked with the band on previous tour dates. The band plans to return to the studio to produce a new album after the tour.

One of the founding members of the 80s lineup, Andy has left the band before. In 1986, he left the band and formed the Power Station with Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson and John Taylor. He rejoined Duran Duran in 2001.

A statement posted on the websites for Andy and Duran Duran is signed by the other four members of the band (John Taylor, Simon Lebon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor): "The past five years have been an incredible journey for us all - and having the original five back together was something that we had wanted to see happen for some time.  As of last weekend, however, the four of us have dissolved our partnership and will be continuing as Duran Duran without Andy."

[Click here to hear the special Stuck in the '80s podcast on Duran Duran, featuring an interview with former lead singer Andy Wickett.]