Christchurch Music Legend Darryl Monteith Passes Away

Darryl Monteith, a music industry mogul from Christchurch, New Zealand, has passed away. He was 59 years old.

The news of his passing was posted on Facebook. According to one of Monteith’s close friends, Kevin Webb, Monteith passed away at his Gisborne home in New Zealand on Monday (5 August).

“It is with heavy heart that I inform you of the sudden and unexpected passing of Darryl Monteith, a true friend, proud family man, and the creative driving force behind many great bands,” Webb wrote on social media, offering condolences to Monteith’s family: his wife Kerry, three children, and two grandchildren.

“Darryl was called to the great gig in the sky on Monday afternoon while going about his day, mowing the lawns,” Webb continued. “Unforgettable. In every way. And forevermore. That's how you'll stay.”

Monteith, a singer, songwriter, and musician well-known in the Christchurch music scene, took over the music venue Smash Palace in 2015. The NZ Herald reports that a year later, the venue was named Best Music Entertainment Venue at the Hospitality NZ Awards For Excellence.

Before he took over the Smash Palace, Monteith was the manager of Radio Network in Gisborne, commercial manager at Tourism Eastland, and was a former candidate for East Coast of the Green Party of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

After learning to play music in his early teens, Monteith went on to perform in bands in his hometown of Hamilton in the ‘80s and ‘90s, including better-known bands like Joe 90 and Whisperscream.

A fundraising campaign on Give A Little has been launched to help Monteith’s family after the sudden loss.

The creator of the campaign, a friend of the family named Rach Young, wrote in the description:

A wonderful husband, father, grandad and talented musician, a legend taken too soon - a great totara has fallen. Our deepest condolences to Kerry, his mum Nora and his whanau.

He had still so much to offer - to the music community in Tairawhiti and beyond, to the patrons of Smash Palace, to Pub Choir, to Build a Band, to all the visiting bands who played at Smash - he touched many people from all walks of life - he will be remembered, loved and missed by all.

He was a man of integrity, full of life and fun, always ready to listen and have a laugh and always surrounded by music - his legacy will live on....

At the time of writing, over $6,700 has been raised.