Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died in unclear circumstances in Bogota, where the alternative rock band was scheduled to perform on Friday night. “The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely passing of our dear Taylor Hawkins,” the famous American band announced in a statement released. on his Twitter accounton the night of Friday to Saturday.
“His musical spirit and contagious laughter will forever be etched in our memories,” adds ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl’s band of the 50-year-old American, without specifying the cause or the circumstances of the death.
Cancellation of the rest of their tour
The body of the drummer “is there [au Casa Medina Hotel] and for the moment we have no other information,” a source from the prosecutor’s office in Bogota told AFP, on condition of anonymity, speaking of a hotel located in the east of the city. Colombian capital.
The Foo Fighters, one of the most notorious alternative rock bands on the American scene, often acclaimed by critics, winners of several Grammy Awards and authors of big hits, were to play this Friday in Bogota on the occasion of the Estéreo Festival Picnic.
This festival shared the group’s press release and published a message on social networks stating that following a “very serious medical event, the Foo Fighters will not be able to present themselves this [vendredi] evening and canceled the remainder of their South American tour.
Tributes pour in after Taylor Hawkins’ death
Taylor Hawkins had been a part of the Foo Fighters since 1997, playing percussion on some of their biggest hits, including Learn to Fly and Best of You. He previously played drums for Canadian indie singer Alanis Morissette.
Tributes poured in from the music world, with the legendary Ozzy Osbourne hailing him as “a great person and an incredible musician”, and punk rocker Billy Idol calling the news “tragic”. “Totally in disbelief at the news of the death of Taylor Hawkins,” tweeted rock band Nickelback.
The Foo Fighters celebrated their 25th anniversary last year and had recently produced Studio 666a rock horror film.
“You are my twin”
In an interview given to Californian radio 95.5 KLOS last year, Dave Grohl recounted his first meeting with Hawkins. “I said, ‘well, you’re my twin or my spirit animal, or my best friend’, and we’ve only known each other for ten seconds! “.
“When I called him and said, ‘Listen, I’m looking for a drummer,’ he said, ‘You know I’m your man. I think it had more to do with our personal relationship than something musical,” the ex-Nirvana drummer said.