tribute concert
After Taylor Hawkins’ death: 12-year-old is said to play drums with the Foo Fighters
Nandi Bushell – here performing at the Queen’s Jubilee concert – has known the Foo Fighters for a long time
© Cover Images / Imago Images
Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins passed away in March. Numerous rock stars soon perform in his honor – the Foo Fighters are supported by a twelve-year-old drummer.
Taylor Hawkins’ death came as a shock to the entire music world – and of course especially to his band, the Foo Fighters. Hawkins, who turned 50, played drums with the band from 1997 until his death on March 25. In honor of the musician, the Foo Fighters will play a tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London on September 3rd.
A young girl takes Hawkins’ place on drums: twelve-year-old Nandi Bushell is to support the band around frontman Dave Grohl. On the event poster for the concert, Bushell is announced along with the band. She thanked in a video on YouTube: “Mr. Grohl, it will be my honor to take the stage with you to honor my hero, the legendary Taylor Hawkins.” Bushell wants to play with drumsticks that Hawkins gave her.
Foo Fighters and Nandi Bushell – no strangers
Dave Grohl and Nandi Bushell already have a somewhat longer history. During the corona pandemic, the ten-year-old girl challenged Grohl to a drum battle via Twitter – the 53-year-old had been a drummer at Nirvana before Foo Fighters was founded. Grohl agreed and gave Bushell the task of drumming the song “Dead End Friends”, a track from his former band Them Crooked Vultures.
The Foo Fighters singer was so enthusiastic about the result that he declared the young drummer the winner of the little duel and even wrote a song for her. And that’s not all: Bushell was allowed to perform with the band at a concert by the Foo Fighters in Los Angeles. Shortly before the end of the show, Grohl brought her on stage, and she was allowed to play the drums on “Everlong”, one of the Foo Fighters’ biggest songs.
Rock stars honor late Taylor Hawkins
However, this is not the only experience that Nandi Bushell has already gained on big stages. She recently performed at a concert celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. She has also recorded videos with rock legends such as Kirk Hammett, Tom Morello and Queen drummer Roger Taylor.
At the concert in honor of Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters will also feature Oasis singer Liam Gallagher, Queen guitarist Brian May and former Nirvana band member Krist Novoselic – a real crowd of stars. Proceeds from the show will be donated to charities in the US and UK chosen by Taylor Hawkins’ family.
Sources: Foo Fighters on Instagram / Nandi Bushell on Youtube