News of the devastating passing of Foo Fighters’ long-time drummer, Taylor Hawkins, flooded the internet over the weekend. The post on Foo Fighters’ social media stated that the late Hawkins had died at the age of 50. The band are currently on their South American tour and scheduled to perform at Festival Estereo Picnic in Bogota, Columbia on Friday. It was found that Hawkins had a cocktail of different drugs in his system, including antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids. Cause of death is suspected heart failure; the mix of narcotics most likely playing a part in his passing. Hawkins is survived by his wife, Alison, whom he married in 2005, and their three children, Oliver, Annabelle and Everleigh.
According to a statement from the band, they shared a black out post with caption “The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. 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.”
Following the tragic news, social media has flooded with numerous outpouring tributes for the beloved star. Celebrities like Liam Gallagher, Nickelback, Jimmy Page, Travis Barker, FINNEAS and more shared their heartfelt feelings as they remembered the musician for his incredible talent and being a genuine rock talent.
With over two decades of being a drummer for Foo Fighters, Hawkins has established himself as one of the greatest rock icons to date. His charisma and signature surfer like locks have always etched a special memory in the minds of many. Back in 1997, Hawkins joined Foo Fighters and combined his immense prowess with the rest of the band members to make them one of the most distinct and powerful rock groups to date. The band has earned a total of 12 Grammys and released seven massive platinum albums. They are set to perform at this year’s GRAMMY Awards, scheduled for April 3rd, as the “Medicine At Midnight” album is nominated for three accolades, including Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album.
A recent memorable event was the induction of Foo Fighters in the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame 2021, where they were celebrated for “their rock authenticity with infectious hooks, in-your-face guitar riffs, monster drums and boundless energy”.
The heartbreaking passing of Hawkins will leave a solid scar in the music industry as fans mourn the drummer for being an absolute legend. His music, the image of a hard hitting, talented drummer and his sense of hope for the band will live on forever. The world has lost a massively talented rock icon, and Hawkins will be deeply missed by the legions of fans he has touched globally.