Jim Stringer
An auction house employee handles "La Inedita", a legendary Spanish guitar made by highly prestigious luthier Santos Hernandez (1874-1943) for maestro Andres Segovia but which never reached his hands, which will be auctioned by Bonham Cornette de Saint Cyr auction house next May 19 after being in the possession of a Mexican millionaire for decades, in Paris on May 7, 2025. The proceeds of the sale will go to a foundation fighting against childhood cancer. (Photo by LEO VIGNAL / AFP) (Photo by LEO VIGNAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Music

70s Rock Star and Legendary Guitarist Dead at 74

Robert Taylor, the guitarist for New Zealand rock band Dragon has passed away at age 74, just months after the bands last live show.

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Guitarist Robert Taylor has passed away at 74. The cause of his death has not yet been released to the public. However, he passed away with family by his side on Monday, Nov. 3. Taylor was a key part of Dragon's rise to fame, with the rock band establishing itself as one of the most celebrated bands to come out of New Zealand.

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Following the news of Taylor's death, bandmate and drummer Kerry Jacobson shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook.

'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. "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."

Fans and artists alike shared many posts across multiple social media platforms, including Jacobson's tribute.

Dragon Still Performs Live Shows

Despite the advanced age of the band members, Dragon has continued to perform, with their most recent concert taking place in May 2025. The Daily Mail reported that the band scheduled their next live performance for November 29 in New South Wales, New Zealand. However, it is worth noting that over the band's 50-year life span, they have disbanded and reformed on multiple occasions,

Dragon rose to fame in the late 70s with their hit singles "April Sun In Cuba" and "Are You Old Enough." Taylor, who joined the band in 1974, two years after its inception, co-wrote multiple tracks, including "Body And The Beat."

Spotify has Dragon receiving over 700,000 monthly listeners, with "Rain" being their most-streamed song, amassing over 65 million hits to date.

Following the loss of Taylor, it's unclear whether Dragon will honor their booking for later this month or whether they will continue to play live shows in his absence. Nevertheless, his passing is a blow for fans of the band and rock music in general.