Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters’ long-standing, charismatic drummer) has passed away at 50.
Taylor, who was due to perform at the festival in Bogota on Friday night, was discovered dead in his hotel room.
The group were scheduled to play at the Festival Estéreo Picnic in the Colombian capital.
Hawkins just finished a series of South American tour dates. Hawkins recruited him after the completion of the 1997 album The Colour and the Shape.
It was not immediately known what caused the death.
Hawkins was a drummer for Alanis Morissette before joining the band.
Dave Grohl (Nirvana’s iconic drummer) recruited him to the band as the group’s popularity soared after the release of The Colour and the Shape.
Hawkins was brought on by the Foo Fighters to make mainstream music and fill stadiums regularly.
Taylor Hawkins was the Foo Fighters’ charismatic drummer. He has now died at fifty.
Although no cause of death was announced immediately, the band stated that they were “devastated” by the “tragic and untimely loss”.
Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters performed during Day 1 of Lollapalooza Chile 20,22 at Parque Bicentenario Cerrillos, Chile on March 18, 2022. He is believed to have taken this photo the last time it was publicly available.
Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) and Dave Grohl perform at The Innings Festival 2020 at Tempe Beach Park. February 26, 2022, Tempe, Arizona
He was an imaginative, rock-solid drummer and had to play drums with Foos guitarist Dave Grohl. Grohl is one of rock’s greatest drummers.
Hawkins was a natural choice for the role. He brought his unique, hard-hitting style and time-juggling skills to the band’s rock sound.
A strong singer, he often sang on the B-sides as well as during concert performances.
Many of the songs were also written by him.
Foo Fighters had been scheduled to perform on Sunday at Lollapalooza Festival, Brazil. They also performed at the Grammy Awards on Monday.
There are also multiple dates for the band throughout December, in North America and Europe as well as Australia, Australia, New Zealand, and Australia.
Hawkins and his wife have three children, one of whom is pictured here, Taylor Hawkins, leftl and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters are pictured prior to the Grammy awards in 2014
Taylor Hawkins (left), Rami Jaffee (right), Dave Grohl and Chris Shiflett (right) pose backstage when The Foo Fighters will reopen Madison Square Garden on June 20, 2021
Paul McCartney and Foo Fighters were the ones to induct Hawkins into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The loss of Taylor Hawkins, our dear friend and Foo Fighters member, has left us devastated. He will be missed by all who were able to share his musical talent and laugh with us. The band released a statement saying that they were thinking of the wife and children. They asked for their privacy during this very difficult time.
They were scheduled to appear at the Grammys in April, with a North American tour beginning in May.
Oliver Taylor Hawkins was born in Fort Worth Texas. He had previously been a drummer on tours for Alanis Morissette, Sass Jordan, and then joined Foo Fighters as an album producer in 1997.
His career grew and he was named the magazine Rhythm’s Best Rock Drummer 2005.
Taylor was then recruited by the band following a dispute between Dave Grohl and William Goldsmith. Goldsmith left the band.
Grohl had also previously been the drummer in Nirvana and the group ended up re-recording an album they made with Goldsmith, with Grohl playing the drum parts himself before reaching out to an acquaintance when looking for recommendations for a new drummer, who suggested Taylor.
Grohl was under the impression Taylor wouldn’t want to leave Morissette’s touring band but Taylor decided to join the band stating that he had long wanted to be the drummer in a rock band.
Taylor was also a vocalist, guitarist and pianist for several recordings.
Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters, performs live onstage during the After Party for Los Angeles’ Premiere of “Studio 666” at Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on February 16, 2022.
(From left-right) Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee of Foo Fighters attend the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in October 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio