Foo Fighters drummer
Music World Mourns Taylor Hawkins: “He Was The Best Friend You Could Have”
STORY: The drummer of the American rock band Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins, is dead. The band announced this late Friday evening. Taylor Hawkins died at the age of 50 in a hotel in the Colombian capital of Bogotá. There was no further information on the cause of death. The band, which includes singer and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, said they were “devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of Hawkins”. The multiple Grammy-winning rock band is currently on a world tour and has recently stopped in South America.
Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has died aged 50. His death came as a shock to the entire music world.
Great sadness for Taylor Hawkins: The drummer of the Foo Fighters has died at the age of 50. He was found dead in a hotel room in the Colombian capital, Bogotá. “The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,” the rock band said on Saturday night. “His musical spirit and infectious laugh will live on forever among all of us,” the band continued.
Many other musicians also spoke up after the news on social networks to express their horror and sadness. “So tragic. Rest in peace Taylor,” rock legend Billy Idol wrote on Twitter alongside a photo of the drummer. Black Sabbath star Ozzy Osbourne praised Hawkins as a “great human being and an incredible musician”.
Music stars shocked by Taylor Hawkins’ death
The Canadian rock band Nickelback around singer Chad Kroeger wrote on Twitter that they received the news of Taylor Hawkins’ death “in disbelief”: “Our deepest condolences go to his family, his bandmates, his team, his friends and everyone who has ever been affected by music touched that he created with the Foo Fighters and Alanis Morissette and so many others. It’s so incredibly sad.” Former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher was also “devastated” by the rock musician’s premature death.
Travis Barker, Blink-182’s longtime drummer, shared a shared anecdote on Instagram: “I’ll never forget the days in Laguna Beach, when I was in a punk rock band and you were playing with Alanis (Morissette). You found me playing in bars Watched and said, ‘Boy, you’re a star.’ And I thought you were crazy but you gave me so much hope and determination Years later we were touring Australia with Blink-182 and the Foo Fighters and I have the fondest memories of sitting in the toilets of Flights we were on together, smoked cigarettes and watched your concert every night.”
Hawkins was a big Queen fan
Queen guitarist Brian May didn’t want to believe the news of Hawkins’ death at first: “It can’t be.” Hawkins was family to him. The drummer was a big fan of the band and had regularly covered Queen songs at Foo Fighters concerts, on which he also did the vocals.
Queen drummer Roger Taylor wrote that Hawkins’ death felt like losing a “younger brother”: “He was the best friend anyone could have.” In addition, the music legends Ringo Starr (Beatles), Gene Simmons (Kiss singer) and the band Guns’N’Roses expressed their condolences.
Future of Foo Fighters is open
The Foo Fighters were on a world tour at the time of Taylor Hawkins’ death. A performance at a festival in Bogotá was planned for Saturday, and the band also wanted to play in Berlin in June. How the tour and the Foo Fighters will continue as a whole is still open.
The band sent their condolences to Hawkins’ wife, children and loved ones and asked that their privacy be respected at this “incredibly difficult time”.
Swell: Foo Fighters on Twitter / Billy Idol on Twitter / Nickelback on Twitter / Liam Gallagher on Twitter / Travis Barker on Instagram / Brian May on Instagram / Roger Taylor on Instagram