Details:
TIGERTAILZ bassist Justin Smith has died at the age of 42.

JUSTIN Smith will be remembered by thousands of loyal fans for his colourful stage performances under the guise of bassist Pepsi Tate.

Born on March 10, 1965, in Dinas Powys, he went to Ysgol Gymraeg Penarth, then Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari, Llanharry, and St Cyres sixth form in Penarth.

He showed a talent for music and art throughout his education.

After leaving school, Justin studied at Cardiff's college of art where he formed a rock group and after meeting up with old school friend and drummer Ian Welsh and bringing in guitarist John Pepper, the glam metal group, Tigertailz, was born.

After recording demos and performing countless gigs, the band released their first record, Shoot To Kill, in 1986.

A year later they were featured in rock magazine Kerrang! and played sell-out shows at London's Marquee club, eventually signing a deal with Music For Nations (MFN) in 1987, with Metallica, Wasp and Poison all label-mates.

Their debut album Young and Crazy was released later that year.

Their next album, Bezerk, complete with an eye-catching cover conceived and created by Justin, was a UK top 40 hit.

Tigertailz released three further albums before splitting in 1995.

Justin then worked for Cardiff-based production company Pyramid, and went on to produce concert videos for Stereophonics, the Manic Street Preachers and Tom Jones.

In 2004 Tigertailz reformed and Bezerk 2.0 was released on Demolition Records in June 2006.

Justin fell ill in the latter part of 2006 but he and the band decided to continue at full pace, signing a new record deal, recorded a new album, Thrill Pistol, and performed in concerts throughout the summer.

He lost his battle with pancreatic cancer last Tuesday, with his wife, the opera singer Sian Cothi, and family at his side.

His funeral service will be held on Thursday at The Point, Cardiff Bay, at noon followed by a private interment.