Robert Taylor has died at the age of 74.
The legendary guitarist was a member of one of New Zealand’s most lauded rock bands, Dragon.
Taylor’s bandmate, Dragon drummer Kerry Jacobson, led the heartfelt tributes with a moving post on Facebook on Tuesday.
‘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,’ he began.
‘Many admired his songwriting and his musical talent and, after all these years people would still speak to me with great reverence of his talent and contribution 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.
Robert Taylor has died at the age of 74. The legendary guitarist was a member of one of New Zealand ‘s most lauded rock bands, Dragon. Pictured in his heyday
Taylor’s cause of death was not immediately revealed, but he is understood to have died on Monday, November 3, with family by his side. Pictured recently
‘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.’
Fellow New Zealand band Hello Sailor also shared a message on Facebook after learning the sad news.
‘So sad to hear we’ve lost Robert Taylor. A lovely man and such a tasty player. Rock on old chum,’ they wrote.
Several publications, including Noise11 and AudioCulture, likewise posted heartfelt tributes to the beloved songwriter.
Taylor’s cause of death was not immediately revealed, but he is understood to have died on Monday, November 3, with family by his side.
He leaves behind wife Carol and children Lesley and Alex.
Dragon was formed in Auckland in 1972, with Todd Hunter on bass, guitarist Ray Goodwin, drummer Neil Reynolds and keyboardist Ivan Thompson.
Taylor joined the band as their guitarist in 1974. Dragon are pictured
Dragon are best known for their biggest hits April Sun in Cuba, which hit number two on the Australian ARIA charts in 1977, and Are You Old Enough, which reached number one in 1978
By 1974 the band had undergone some changes, with Marc Hunter joining on vocals and Neil Storey on drums.
1974 was also the year that Taylor joined the band as their guitarist.
He went on to co-write several of the band’s fan-favourite tracks, including Body and the Beat, Magic, and Blacktown Boogie.
Dragon are best known for their biggest hits April Sun in Cuba, which hit number two on the Australian ARIA charts in 1977, and Are You Old Enough, which reached number one in 1978.
Other popular charting singles included Young Years, Rain and This Time.
The band split and reformed multiple times over the years, last reforming in 2006.
They remained a gigging band all the way into 2025, in May playing a special show to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their single April Sun in Cuba.
Dragon were next due to take the stage on November 29 for the Sunset Sounds concert at Lake Macquarie, NSW, and in New Zealand on December 31.
