In unbelievably tragic news, Taylor Hawkins, the longtime drummer for the rock band Foo Fighters, has died. He was 50 and had one of the best jobs in the world having taken Foo Fighters to one of the biggest rock bands in the world status with Dave Grohl.
There were no immediate details about how Hawkins died, though the band said in a statement Friday that his death was a “tragic and untimely loss.”
Foo Fighters were on tour in South America. They played a festival in San Isidro, Argentina on Sunday and had been scheduled to play at another in Bogotá, Colombia on Friday night.
“His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever,” said a message on the band’s official Twitter account that was also emailed to reporters.
“Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time.”
Of course, at this early stage, there is no news on whether the Foo Fighters will continue with the remainder of their 2022 itinerary, but knowing especially how tight Dave Grohl and Hawkins were — in Grohl’s excellent 2021 memoir, The Storyteller, he calls Taylor his “best friend and partner in crime” — it would be more than understandable in this instance of the show did not go on.
Grohl now has had the unique experience of being a drummer and losing his frontman and being a frontman and losing his drummer.
There has been an outpouring of grief on social media by people from many walks of life and professions following the news, demonstrating the Foo Fighters’ reach and cultural impact.
Liam Gallagher, who recently released the song “Everything’s Electric,” co-written with Grohl, and who was set to open for the Foo Fighters on June 20 in Madrid, Spain, tweeted, “Absolutely devastated to hear the sad news about Taylor Hawkins my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends RIP brother.”
Ken Rosenthal, the Major League Baseball reporter of this era, tweeted, “Watching Taylor Hawkins play the drums and listening to the Foo Fighters was one of life’s great joys. The news of his death is just heartbreaking. RIP, Taylor.”
Actor John Stamos tweeted, “This was Taylor Hawkins’ last text to me: “Ya We’ve yet to fully have a hang-Got a put that shit together before we die” Wise words from my friend- put that shit together! I’m so fucking sad. Another one gone too soon.”
Questlove tweeted out, “I’m so sad about this man. coolest dude ever. god bless & comfort his family, his bandmates, his friends & all his loved ones.”
Miley Cyrus posted a photo of herself and Hawkins on her Instagram and wrote that she would dedicate her next concert to Hawkins, which as fate would have it happens to be today (March 26) at Lollapalooza in Brazil where the Foo Fighters were scheduled to perform.
He was born in Texas and moved with his family to Laguna Beach, Calif. when he was just a little kid.
Hawkins’s first real introduction to Americans came in 1995 when he performed “You Oughta Know” with Alanis Morissette for her network television debut on Late Night with David Letterman. 2022 marks the 25th anniversary of Morissette’s seminal 1990s album, Jagged Little Pill. Hawkins did not appear on that album but was in her videos and her touring drummer.
In 1997, Grohl invited Hawkins — Morissette reportedly had been waiting for this to happen — to become a member of the Foo Fighters following the well-known studio clashes with his band’s first drummer, William Goldsmith. Bassist Nate Mendel credits Hawkins for literally getting the Foo Fighters’ act together, encouraging them to play tighter as a unit and really focus on their stage presence and show.
In 2004, during the Foo Fighters’ hiatus, Hawkins formed his own band, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, and eventually released three studio albums on which he sings while playing drums, just like one of his musical heroes, Roger Taylor of Queen.
Hawkins also fronted the cover band Chevy Metal, which went on to change their name to Birds of Satan and release an album in 2014. He formed what’s been called a supergroup, NHC, during the pandemic lockdowns with Dave Navarro and Jane’s Addiction bassist Chris Chaney.
He appeared in the Foo Fighters movie, “Studio 666,” which just was released in February.
Hawkins’s final performance was with the Foo Fighters on March 20, 2022, at the Lollapalooza Argentina festival.