Over the holidays, Juno-winning band Walk Off The Earth confirmed the devestating news that band member Mike “Beard Guy” Taylor passed away from natural causes on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018.
“Mike had a love for life that was unmatched and a willingness to give that went beyond ordinary means,” the band says. “Our deepest sympathies are with his two children, whom he adored more than anything else in the world.”
A founding member of Walk Off The Earth, multi-instrumentalist Mike Taylor gained massive public attention alongside his bandmates when their interpretation of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" went viral on YouTube in 2012. Since then, they have released a string of successful original songs, sold out venues across the globe and collaborated with some of the biggest artists in the world.
The band was scheduled to play a New Year's Eve show in Niagara Falls, ON, but understandbly cancelled the appearance. The flags at city hall in the band's hometown of Burlington, ON were lowered to half-mast on Jan. 1 in Taylor's honour.
The band and Taylor’s family ask for privacy in this trying time.
Canadian Musician sends our deepest condolences to Mike Taylor's family, friends, and bandmates.