Former QUARTZ Vocalist Mike “Taffy” Taylor Dies
September 27th, 2016
Mike “Taffy” Taylor, former vocalist for Birmingham, England-based heavy metal band Quartz, died on September 27th, 2016.
Quartz issued the following statement: “It is with heavy hearts, much sadness, sorrow and regret that we announce the passing of our very dear dear friend and original founder band member Mike “Taffy” Taylor earlier today. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies and condolences go out to his family and to all who were lucky enough to have met and known him. LEGEND.”
A memorial service was held for Mike Taylor on Friday October 21st, 2016 at Weymouth Crematorium in Weymouth, Dorset.
Mike Taylor was born in 1948 and first made his mark on the music world in the late 60s as lead singer of the Birmingham-based beat group Lemon Tree. In 1973 Taylor co-founded Bandylegs with Mick Hopkins (guitar), Derek Arnold (bass) and Malcolm Cope (drums). Bandylegs secured a recording deal with Jet Records in 1976, but changed their name to Quartz prior to releasing their self-titled debut album in May 1977. A live album Live Quartz arrived in 1980, before the band earned a major contract with MCA Records, who released their second full-length studio album Stand Up And Fight later that same year.
In the summer of 1981 Taylor left Quartz to focus on his own project Taffy Taylor’s Big Roll Band. Quartz released a third album Against All Odds via Heavy Metal Records in 1983, before disbanding the following year.
Quartz reformed without Mike Taylor in 2011, and released their fourth full-length studio album Fear No Evil on October 28th, 2016 through High Roller Records.
