Tyler Despres, a noted local guitarist and co-founder of the popular Denver cover band , died on Tuesday. The band confirmed the news in a Facebook post Wednesday morning.
Despres (pronounced DAY-pray) died of an aortic aneurysm, according to friend and Gin Doctors bandmate James Morrison, who said Despres went to the hospital for an examination after experiencing chest pain two months ago. He was 34.
In light of Despres passing, Morrison said the Gin Doctors will go on indefinite hiatus.
Denver’s Syntax Physic Opera a celebration of Despres’ life tonight. No formal memorial service plans have been announced at this time.
Despres was an eleven-year veteran guitarist in Denver’s music scene, having played in bands like and before co-founding retro cover band Gin Doctors — a portmanteau of ’90s bands Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors — with fellow frontman Tyler Briskie in 2012. The band is known for raucously nostalgic concerts, covering bands like Pearl Jam, Weezer and Sum 41 with faithful gusto.
Gin Doctors last performed on Oct. 29 for a Halloween party at Stoney’s Bar & Grill. They were scheduled to play Infinite Monkey Theorem on Thursday, Nov. 3.
Despres was a part of the open mic scene at Denver’s Meadowlark circa 2009-10, a scene that launched prominent Denver bands like the Lumineers and Churchill. Jonathan Bitz, current co-owner of Syntax and former talent buyer at the Meadowlark, noticed potential in Despres right away.
“He was a supremely talented human being,” Bitz said. “He had this power and magnitude that people don’t typically have here.”
Friend and Maria Kohler, who played in Science Partner with Despres, was also a part of Meadowlark’s halcyon years, and echoed Bitz’s sentiment.
“Tyler just had such a genuine spirit that he put into his humor and music and how he treated his friends,” Kohler, who used to organize Meadowlark’s open mic with Despres, said. “He had new music coming that was really beautiful. I wish he were here to play it.”
Read our story on Denver cover bands, featuring insights by Despres, .
