In truly shocking news, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has died, aged 50 years old.
The band announced the news in a statement via social media on March 25. No cause of death has yet been revealed.
“The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of Taylor Hawkins,” the statement read. “His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. 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.”
El main stage de FEP en estos momentos. pic.twitter.com/uoxTK8ymj1
— Pablo Acuña (@pabloacuna) March 26, 2022
Foo Fighters are currently on tour in South America, with Hawkins performing his final show with the group at Lollapalooza Festival on March 22nd. He passed away before the band's following date on the run at Festival Estero Picnic in Bogotá, Colombia on March 25th. The announcement came just hours before the band were due to take the stage, which was adorned in candles in Hawkins' honour.
A large video screen announcing the cancellation of the band’s upcoming tour dates was projected behind.
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) March 26, 2022
Hawkins was one the most prominent member of the legendary rock group, often appearing with frontman Dave Grohl in interviews and featuring heavily in the band's videos. He performed live with the Foo Fighters, and on their massively successful studio albums, for the last 25 years of the band's 28-year history. With big shoes to fill - considering Grohl himself is known to be one of the world’s greatest rock drummers – Hawkins replaced the band’s original drummer, William Goldsmith in 1997 and, with an undeniable talent and infectiously-charged positive energy, quickly became a driving force of one of the world’s biggest bands, at the tender age of 25.
Foo Fighters | ‘My Hero’
Hawkins played some of the Foo’s biggest albums and hits, including One by One in 2002 and On Your Honor in 2005. Hit singles featuring his powerhouse drumming include My Hero and Best of You.
Foo Fighters | ‘Best Of You’
Prior to joining the Foo Fighters, Hawkins, among other things, cut his teeth playing live as Alanis Morissette’s touring drummer in 1995 – at the height of the virtually unmatched runaway success of her Jagged Little Pill album. Check out a young Hawkins delivering a slamming performance behind the kit during Morissette’s searing debut of the track, live on the David Letterman Show.
Alanis Morissette | ‘You Oughta Know’ [Letterman, 1995]
It’s not the first time Dave Grohl has lost a band member and friend in such untimely circumstances, having suffered the tragic loss of his first band, Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain, to suicide in 1994.
Taylor is survived by his wife, Alison and their three children. Our hearts go out to them, the Foo Fighters members, families and friends at what can only be an unimaginably difficult time. He will be a greatly missed force in the music world and beyond.
Our hearts are broken. RIP.
Remember the incredible talent of Taylor Hawkins with Foo Fighters’ greatest hits below.
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