"Then Jerico" Guitarist Scott Taylor Passed Away Reportedly Due to Brain Tumor

Scott Taylor, guitarist for 80s alt-rock band Then Jerico, has died, according to a post on the band's Instagram page Monday evening, April 27.

Then Jerico frontman and founder Mark Shaw wrote on IG, "I've just heard the devastatingly sad news of the passing of (David) Scott Taylor." He shared how their former guitarist had been "gravely ill for the last couple of years," noting that while Taylor was also hospitalized earlier this year, he was discharged.

Shaw confessed to being unsure of the exact details surround his bandmate's death and asked people not to ask, and extended his condolences to Scott Taylor's family. Taylor is survived by his wife Miranda and both of their daughters.

Describing the guitarist as a "powerhouse of creativity, inspiration and musical innovation," Mark Shaw remembers Taylor as "probably the best guitarist" he has ever heard.

While there has been no official statement regarding the British musician's death, the online portal for UK media outlet Mirror reported that Scott Taylor passed away due to a brain tumor. The guitarist had been engaged in a years-long battle against poor health, being hospitalized a couple of times.

"He made us laugh and cry for many reasons and I'll miss him more than I ever had the chance to tell him," Shaw wrote.

Carol Decker, English musician and frontwoman to 1980s hit band T'Pau, wrote on Twitter to express her grief at the loss of a fellow musician. She remembered writing two "fabulous songs" with Taylor, referring to T'Pau hits "Say You Will" and "Now That You're Gone," bidding her friend to "sleep well."

Then Jerico was a pop and rock band formed by Mark Shaw in 1983, together with Jasper Stainthorpe on bass, Steve Wren on drums, and Scott Taylor on guitars. The band started playing in New York before signing to London Records, a British label distributing in the Americas in 1984.

By 1987, the band was enjoying moderate success with charting songs "Muscle Deep" and "The Motive." Then Jerico scored a massive hit with the 1989 "Big Area," which peaked at the 13th spot on the UK charts.

Their debut studio album, "First (The Sound of Music)," peaked at the 35th spot on the UK Albums Chart while their sophomore release, "The Big Area," achieved even greater success with a gold certification and fourth spot on the albums chart.

In the early 90s, the original quartet broke up, with Shaw pursuing a solo career while working together with other acts such as the SAS band and Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley. Shaw got Then Jerico back again in 1998 to work on the self-financed "Orgasmaphobia."

Then Jerico fans would see the original lineup, including Scott Taylor, back again in 2012, performing on shows and headlining a reunion tour. In 2013, it was followed by their "Reprise Tour," in support of the band's compilation album, making stops at "Henley's Rewind the 80s Music" and "Let's Rock Bristol" music events. However, the original lineup would not last long and again disbanded in 2014, which left Shaw to form a new line up and fulfill prior appearances.