Farewell event for rock musician

Long-term partners Justin Smith and Shan Cothi married last month

The friends and family of a Cardiff rock musician who has died of cancer are preparing an all-day farewell event for fans to pay their respects.

Justin Smith, 42, was known as Pepsi Tate, the bassist in "glam metal" band, Tigertailz, who made the UK top 40 album charts in the early 1990s.

A funeral tribute held at the Point in Cardiff Bay on Thursday is followed by a "celebration" that is a public event.

He married his long-term partner, opera singer Shan Cothi, last month.

She was at his side with other close members of his family when he passed away at a cancer hospice in Penarth last Tuesday. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

His band mates in the Tigertailz current line-up Jay Pepper, Kim Hooker and Matt Blackout, issued a statement on their website saying they were "absolutely devastated".

Justin Smith also had a career in TV as a producer and director.

The statement read: "Goodnight Boy - we'll see you again soon fella. You mean the world to us. xxx - Jay, Kim and Matt."

Tigertailz was formed in the early 1980s and had their first chart success in 1990 with the album Bezerk, containing the single Love Bomb Baby.

The album sold more than a quarter of a million copies and reached No 36 in the UK charts. As well as playing bass, Mr Smith provided backing vocals.

He later pursued a career in television as a producer and director.

His work for BBC Wales included directing the weekly politics programme, Dragon's Eye, presented by former BBC Wales political editor David Williams.

Jay, Kim and Matt will return to the Point and raise many a glass in Pepsi's memory and I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity to share many 'Boy' stories throughout the evening Tigertailz website

Mr Williams said: "Justin was my first director on Dragon's Eye - a rock singer directing a political programme... wow!

"His inventiveness, his daring to be different and willingness to bring a novel perspective to politics was just what was needed to make the programme a bit dangerous and unconventional.

"It was hugely enjoyable working with him, if a little bit frightening. His smile and cheeky sense of humour will stay with me always."

Cameraman Mike Smith said: "Justin was always an unflappable character. He was an extremely likeable guy who had his own dress style, which didn't fit the BBC 'jacket-and -tie' image."

Mr Williams said Thursday's no-dress-code event at the Point was meant to be a "joyous rather than a sad occasion".

After the midday ceremony at the Mount Stuart Square venue, a private burial is to take place at a cemetery in the Vale of Glamorgan.

In a statement on Tigertailz' website, drummer Matt Blackout said: "Jay, Kim and Matt will return to the Point and raise many a glass in Pepsi's memory and I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity to share many 'Boy' stories throughout the evening."