Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has died, the rock band announced Friday. He was 50 years old.
The band, founded by lead singer Dave Grohl, said in a tweet that they were devastated by Hawkins’ untimely death.
“His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever,” the band said in a statement.
The cause of death was not released in the band’s statement. The rock group stated that Hawkins was a beloved member of the band.
The band wrote, “Our hearts are with his wife, children and family, and we wish his privacy the utmost respect during this unimaginably difficult time.”
The Foo Fighters were due to perform at the Esterio Picnic Festival in Bogota, Colombia on Friday, but the concert was cancelled.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Hawkins lived in California. Prior to Foo Fighters, he was with Orange County band Sylvia, then drummer for Sass Jordan. They also toured with Alanis Morissette as their drummer. He joined Foo Fighters in 1997.
Hawkins also starred in Foo Fighters’ recently released horror-comedy film, “Studio 666”, in a house inhabited by a demonic force band that captures Grohl and murders him.
The Foo Fighters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year.
The band’s hits include “Everlong,” “Best of You,” “My Hero,” “Learn to Fly” and “All My Life.”
Grohl was the drummer of the iconic and influential grunge-rock band Nirvana. He founded Foo Fighters in 1994 after Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain died of suicide and Nirvana broke up.
In an interview with the music publication NME, Hawkins recalled meeting Grohl for the first time at a Christmas show.
“Me and Dave looked like long-lost brothers in a weird way. We had a similar vibe and I don’t know why,” Hawkins recalled in her 2021 cover story.
“It was instant — so much so that Alanis Morissette just said ‘What are you going to do when Dave asks you to be the drummer on Foo Fighters? He remembered.
Among those who expressed their condolences and remembrance on Friday was Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, who tweeted, “I love your spirit and your unstoppable rock power.”
Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne called Hawkins “a truly great man and a wonderful musician”.
billy idol tweeted“So sad. Rest in Peace Taylor,” and Rick Springfield wrote Twitter“Rest in peace Taylor. Peace, love and light to your family.”
Hawking is survived by his wife Alison and their three children.
The Foo Fighters are among the acts to perform at the 2022 Grammy Awards on April 3.
The band is nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Performance for “Making a Fire” and the band’s members, including Hawkins, have been nominated for a Songwriter Award for “Waiting on a War”. The band is also nominated for Best Rock Album for “Medicine at Midnight”.
Liz Calvary And The Associated Press Contribution,
