Taylor Hawkins was the drummer for Foo Fighters for 25 years and best friend to Dave Grohl. He died while on a South American tour. He was fifty.
Hawkins’ death was not immediately known, but the band released a statement Friday stating that it was a tragic and untimely loss.
Foo Fighters were scheduled to perform at a Bogota, Colombia festival on Friday night. Hawkins’ last concert was Sunday at a festival in San Isidro (Argentina).
A message posted on the band’s official Twitter page, which was also sent to reporters, stated that “His musical spirit & infectious laughter will live forever with us all.” His wife, children, and entire family are in our thoughts.
Saturday’s statement by the Bogota municipal government stated that an ambulance was sent to the hospital for a patient complaining of chest pain. However, a private ambulance had arrived at the Bogota hotel.
He was not revived by health workers. The cause of his death was being investigated, it said.
“It was a group I grew up in. Juan Sebastian Anchique (23), said that he was left empty as he grieved Hawkins’ passing outside the hotel.
In a tweet, the U.S Embassy in Bogota expressed its condolences.
Hawkins was second to Grohl in fame, often appearing in interviews alongside the lead singer and also playing prominent roles in their memorable videos and the horror-comedy film “Studio 666.”
Hawkins was Alanis Morissette’s touring drummer when he joined Foo fighters in 1997. He was a part of the biggest albums of Foo Fighters, including “One by One” & “In Your Honor”, and on hits singles like “My Hero” & “Best of You.”
Grohl calls Hawkins “brother” in his 2021 book, “The Storyteller”, and he describes him as “brother of another mother, my best buddy, a man I would take a bullet for.”
Grohl wrote that “our bond was instantaneous upon our first meeting.” He also noted that they grew closer with each day, every song and every note played together. “We were meant to be together, and I am thankful that we met in this life.”
Grohl is now grieving the loss of a bandmate. Grohl was Nirvana’s drummer when Kurt Cobain passed away in 1994.
Hawkins was the subject of many tributes on social media.
“God bless Taylor Hawkins,” Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello wrote on Twitter, along with a photo of Hawkins, Perry Farrell and Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell. “I loved your spirit, your unstoppable rock power and your incredible spirit.”
“What an amazing talent, who didn’t also have to be so kind, generous, and cool, but that too too anyway,” tweeted Finneas. Finneas is Billie Eilish’s brother, cowriter, and producer. “The world was so fortunate to have his talents for the time that they did.”
Diego Baez, a 33 year-old fan, stated that news of Foo Fighters’ death slowly leaked at the festival where they were scheduled to perform.
The concert organizer announced that the performance had been cancelled due to medical reasons. Fans learned of Hawkins’ passing via social media minutes later.
“Some cried. Others were moved, saddened, amazed, and moved. Baez stated that it was a powerful moment.
A screen displayed the words “Taylor Hawkins forever” while the song “My Hero” played.
Born Oliver Taylor Hawkins, Fort Worth, Texas in 1972, Hawkins was born in Laguna Beach, California. Before landing his first major gig, he was a drummer with Canadian singer Sass Jordan.
Hawkins stated to The Associated Press that his drumming influences were Roger Taylor from Queen and Stewart Copeland. He also said that Phil Collins was one of his favorite drummers. People forget that he was both a great drummer and a sweater-wearing, nice guy in the ’80s.
He was inspired by Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins’s playing when he spent two-years drumming with Morissette in the mid-1990s.
Hawkins said to the AP that his drums were set up exactly like him. I was still a bit of a copycat. It takes time and effort to establish your own style. Although I did not sound exactly like him, I do sound like me. He was a huge influence.
Grohl and Hawkins met backstage during a show that Grohl was performing at when Grohl was with Morissette. Grohl’s band would soon have an opening when William Goldsmith, the drummer, left. Grohl called Hawkins who was a big Foo Fighters fan, and accepted immediately.
Grohl stated in his book that “It was a chance meeting that resulted in a kind love at first sight,” which sparked a musical twin flame that continues to burn to this day.” We have been an unstoppable team, both on and off stage, and we are always looking for the next adventure.
Hawkins was first seen with the band in 1997’s video for “Everlong”, although he hadn’t joined the band when it was recorded. However, he would go on to perform epic versions of it hundreds more times as the highlight of Foo Fighters concerts.
Another highlight of the group’s live shows was Grohl’s move behind the drums, and Hawkins would take the mic to cover Queen’s “Somebody to Love.”
Hawkins stated that “The best thing about being the Foo Fighters lead singer for just one song” in an interview before the song at a March 18 concert held in Chile.
Grohl can often be heard telling Grohl to shut up.
Hawkins was also a star in Foo Fighters’ “Studio 666,” where a demonic force seizes Grohl from a house where they are staying and makes him a murderous killer. Hawkins is killed along with the rest of the band members one by one. This idea was born out of their work on their tenth studio album, recorded at their Los Angeles home.
He was also a drummer and singer for side-project Taylor Hawkins, and the Coattail Riders. In 2006, they released “Get the Money”, an album.
Hawkins’ wife Alison, along with their three children, are still living.
