Dragon Guitarist Robert Taylor Passes Away, Aged 74

Robert Taylor, the former lead guitarist of the New Zealand rock band Dragon, has passed away. He was 74 and one of the last remaining members of the group’s classic 1970s line-up.

The tragic news was confirmed by the group’s former drummer, Kerry Jacobson, in a post on social media. No cause of death has been confirmed.

“I’m writing to share the unexpected and devastating news of the passing of my mentor, my partner in crime for some of the best times, my musical comrade through the hardest of times and my dear friend of decades…the irreplaceable Robert Taylor,” Jacobson wrote.

Adding that many musicians admired Taylor’s songwriting and musical talent and still mention his name “with great reverence” regarding his abilities and contributions to Australian music, Jacobson continued, “I admired his loyalty, I treasured his mateship, I valued his consistency, and I absolutely loved it when often the phone would ring and he was up for a chat.”

Sending condolences to Taylor’s family, Jacobson concluded: “He had a dry wit, was a keen observer and had a memory like a razor, but mostly he was just one of the good ones. That’s what has stuck in my head today, ‘he was one of the good ones,’ and I think that sums it up. I will miss him terribly. My love and condolences to Carol, Lesley and Alex.”

Robert Taylor joined Dragon in 1974 after departing the band Mammal.

Between 1977 and 1979, Taylor contributed to hit singles such as April Sun In Cuba, Are You Old Enough, and Still In Love With You, and played on the albums Sunshine (February 1977), Running Free (November 1977), and O Zambezi (September 1978).

In 1979, Dragon disbanded for the first time and reunited in August 1982. They enjoyed a few years of additional success following the hit single Rain and the release of singer Marc Hunter’s first solo album, Communication.

However, following key member Paul Hewson’s departure in late 1984 and passing in January 1985, Taylor and Terry Chambers left the band sometime after.

Taylor later rejoined Dragon for their 1995 acoustic album, Incarnations, which also welcomed special guests Tommy Emmanuel and Renée Geyer. He also reunited with the group’s surviving band members when Dragon were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2008 and was honoured with the band’s induction into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2011.