Last Updated on 1 week ago by Vijay Kumar
Robert Taylor, the celebrated New Zealand guitarist best-known for his work with the rock band Dragon, passed away in early November 2025 at the age of 74.
His death news was shared by AudioCulture on Facebook, describing him as “one of New Zealand’s best-known lead guitarists.” While the precise date and circumstances of his death were not widely detailed, multiple sources confirm his demise and many in the music community have paid tribute to his legacy. 
Born in Waipukurau, New Zealand, Taylor came from humble beginnings as “the son of an ice-cream manufacturer and a house-wife,” and he combined early interests in rugby and blues guitar licks with Māori musical influences. He originally enrolled in English studies at Victoria University of Wellington via a scholarship, but pivoted to music after being influenced by a lecturer who was also a rock musician.
Taylor’s early band work included joining the progressive-rock outfit Mammal before becoming a pivotal member of Dragon in late 1974. His guitar work helped define Dragon’s shift toward mainstream rock/pop success in Australasia. Notably, Taylor played the distinctive two-chord riff on the band’s 1977 hit “April Sun in Cuba,” a song written by band-mate Paul Hewson.
During his tenure, Dragon released major albums such as Sunshine (1977), Running Free (1977) and O Zambezi (1978), producing iconic tracks like “Are You Old Enough?” and “Still In Love With You”. Taylor also rejoined Dragon during their 1982 reunion, contributing to the hit “Rain” and the acclaimed album Body and the Beat (1984).
After his major years with Dragon, Taylor remained engaged in music, appearing on projects and supporting the band’s various recognitions — including their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2008 and the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in 2011.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
