The Foo Fighters have not performed as a band since Taylor Hawkins died. Arcade Fire performed as a replacement for the band at this year’s Osheaga Festival in Montreal, Canada on July 29th. Singer Win Butler and guitarist Richard Parry spoke about the late drummer in an interview with journalist Jason Rockman for iHeartRadio.
“He was just a real rock’n’roller”
Arcade Fire’s performance at the Osheaga Festival was their first in Canada in four years. There they covered Wolf Parade’s 2005 song “This Heart’s On Fire” and presented tracks from each of their six studio albums.
Rockman asked the band if their appearance as replacements for the Foo Fighters caused any pressure on the group. Butler sidestepped the answer, saying only that he met with the musician “a couple of weeks before he died.” Looking back on his friendship with the late drummer, he continued, “Every time I’ve been with them, we’ll talk music and reminisce about old shows. He was just a real rock ‘n’ roller, you know? But I think sometimes people don’t appreciate the wear and tear of going on stage every night and touring non-stop – it’s intense. And there is collateral damage when you do that.”
Hawkins’ death also reminded him that in many ways they “have no control” over certain things. “It is important to appreciate everyday life. I think those memories are all around us all the time — we just don’t usually pay attention to them because we’re just trying to move on,” he explained.
Hawkins died at the age of 50 on March 25 in Bogotá, Colombia. Although the Foo Fighters have already announced that they will no longer perform as a band for the time being, they are planning two concerts in London and Los Angeles in honor of the late drummer. Both events will feature guest performances including Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic, former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, Pink, Nile Rodgers and Greg Kurstin.
Arcade Fire live in Germany
As part of their new album WE, Arcade Fire are coming to Germany for three concerts in September this year. Their tour is a cooperation with the non-profit organization “PLUS1” – one euro from every ticket goes to “KANPE”, a foundation that works for vulnerable communities in Haiti. The Germany dates can be found here:
Arcade Fire WE Tour 2022:
September 14, 2022 in Cologne, Lanxess Arena
September 18, 2022 in Munich, Olympiahalle
September 29, 2022 in Berlin, Mercedes-Benz Arena