The Teardrop Explodes drummer Gary Dwyer has died after a two-year battle with leukaemia. The founding member of the pioneering post-punk band passed away on Sunday, August 9, as announced by his bandmate David Balfe.
Bandmate's tribute
Balfe, the band's keyboard player, shared the news on Facebook, writing: "It is with enormous sadness that I must pass on the news that my wonderful friend of nearly fifty years, Gary Dwyer, Teardrop Explodes drummer and very special man, passed away last night. He'd been fighting Leukaemia for nearly two years."
He added: "We'd stayed in touch and met often over the decades. I saw him last in Liverpool just a few weeks ago, over breakfast in Bold St. He was going through a good patch in his roller-coaster medical battle. We laughed often. Even when I spoke to him last on the phone about ten days ago, he was still in high spirits. Though his body was slowly giving up and he knew he was approaching the end."
Balfe continued: "One advantage of the last couple of years was that it had allowed him the time to come to peaceful terms with the inevitable outcome. I could write about his extraordinary personality and sense of humour for hours, but I'm too sad to do so now. Maybe soon."
Career highlights
The British Music Experience also paid tribute, stating: "Sad news today that former Teardrop Explodes drummer Gary Dwyer, a much-loved figure on the Liverpool music scene, has passed away. He was an integral part of the band that burst onto the scene in the early 1980s with hits like Reward and Treason, and while the band went through numerous line-up changes, it was always Dwyer behind the kit."
After The Teardrop Explodes split, Dwyer drummed on Julian Cope's debut solo album and also played for Terry Hall's outfit The Colour Field.
Fans and friends remember
Family, friends, and music fans shared their memories. His sister Laney Dwyer said: "My amazing brother, who I'm going to miss with all my heart. No more suffering Gaz and back with Mum and Dad."
Daniel Jones commented: "Exiled in Germany, I missed the blossoming of the eighties, the local bands coming good again, another Mersey revival, so lost touch with everyone, sorry for the loss of another mate."
Mike Black wrote: "Very sad to hear that, I was watching an interview with Gary only two nights ago and remembering how sound he was. Inspirational player and ace flat-top. Always smiling and laughing."
Paul Gigsy said: "Very sad news. I didn’t know Gary personally, but I’ve seen nothing but great things said about him across social media today. I remember this Adrian Thrills NME article, as The Teardrop Explodes hurtled across the USA in May 81. Gary talks about dealing with the bands success and keeping his feet on the ground."
David Bates added: "Such a loveable giant of a man. The easy going ever smiling sweet person that was our Gary." Jim Gorman summed it up: "Great drummer and an even better man. Rest In Peace. Condolences to his family."
