Musician Mike Taylor dies

Mike Taylor, from Canadian indie pop band Walk Off The Earth, died in his sleep on Saturday (29Dec18).
The band posted a statement on social media on Sunday in which they revealed that the keyboardist and vocalist, who was known as the band’s “Beard Guy”, had passed away. His age is not known.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved brother and band member, Mike ‘Beard Guy’ Taylor,” the message read. “Mike had a love for life that was unmatched and a willingness to give that went beyond ordinary means. He passed peacefully from natural causes last night in his sleep.
“Our deepest sympathies are with his two children, whom he adored more than anything else in the world. We ask for privacy for his family in this trying time.”
As a member of the five-piece indie group, Taylor, who also played piano, organ and the glockenspiel, shot to fame in 2012 with their cover of Gotye’s Somebody I Used To Know. The YouTube video featured all five musicians playing a single guitar and was watched more than 185 million times, making it one the most popular clips of that year.
They subsequently signed to Columbia Records and released the albums R.E.V.O. in 2013 and Sing It All Away in 2015.
The band, who hail from Ontario, were due to perform in Niagara Falls on Monday night as part of TV channel CBC’s New Year’s Eve special. The event will still take place but the group will not perform.