On September 27th, the second tribute concert honoring the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins took place in Los Angeles. The mega show was introduced by Dave Grohl’s 16-year-old daughter Violet and Joan Jett.
At the start of the concert, Dave Grohl said, “It’s a home game tonight, so you guys have to be loud for Taylor. This guy can make you laugh, dance and sing. It’s going to be a hell of a long night.” His daughter Violet kicked things off by commemorating Hawkins with a very emotional rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. She was accompanied during her performance by Alain Johannes on guitar.
Joan Jett, Foo Fighters and Travis Barker
Immediately afterwards, Joan Jett entered the stage. She was joined by the remaining Foo Fighters members as well as Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker. Jett performed the songs “Cherry Bomb” and “Bad Reputation” (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts) for Hawkins. As she spoke about her friendship with Hawkins, she fought back tears.
Chevy Metal and Kesha
Eventually, Jett was followed by the cover band Chevy Metal, of which Hawkins was a member. Joining them was Yes singer Jon Davison, who performed “Owner of a Lonely Heart”. Kesha also captivated the audience with a cover version of David Bowie’s “Heroes”. The singer wore a plunging neckline during her performance, almost giving her a nipple flash. But she skilfully covered that up, saying, “Taylor would have loved it if my tits had just fallen out.”
Justin Hawkins, Wolfgang Van Halen, Josh Freese and Dave Grohl
Justin Hawkins from The Darkness was there again this time: Among other things, he performed together with the band The Coattail Riders “Something About You” from Level 42. He was accompanied by Level 42 singer Mark King. Later in the concert – after performances by James Gang, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, and Them Crooked Vultures – Hawkins returned to the stage alongside Wolfgang Van Halen, Josh Freese and Dave Grohl to perform a number of Van Halen songs including “Panama” and “Hot for Teachers”.
Performing were many of the artists who performed at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 3, including members of Queen, The Police, Nirvana, Metallica and Led Zeppelin. However, there were also newcomers like Miley Cyrus and Alanis Morissette. Hawkins’ son Shane also drummed “My Hero” and “I’ll Stick Around”. You can find the complete setlist here.
Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert in Los Angeles: The Setlist
More performances are linked here for viewing in the setlist:
Violet Grohl, Alain Johannes – Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Joan Jett, Foo Fighters, Travis Barker – Cherry Bomb (The Runaways)
Joan Jett, Foo Fighters, Travis Barker – Bad Reputation (Joan Jett and The Blackhearts)
Chevy Metal – Riff Raff (AC/DC)
Chevy Metal, Jon Davison – Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes)
Chevy Metal, Kesha – Heroes (David Bowie)
Justin, Hawkins, Foo Fighters – We Will Rock You (Queen)
Justin Hawkins, Foo Fighters, Rufus Taylor – I’m In Love With My Car (Queen)
Justin Hawkins, Foo Fighters – Under Pressure (Queen)
Justin Hawkins, Foo Fighters, P!nk – Somebody To Love (Queen)
Justin Hawkins – Love Of My Life (Queen)
The Coattail Riders, Justin Hawkins, Josh Freese – Range Rover Bitch (Taylor Hawkins)
The Coattail Riders, Justin Hawkins, Josh Freese – It’s Over (Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders)
The Coattail Riders, Justin Hawkins, Josh Freese – Something About You (Level 42)
The Coattail Riders, Justin Hawkins, Josh Freese – I Believe In a Thing Called Love (The Darkness)
James Gang- Walk Away
James Gang – The Bomber: Closet Queen / Bolero / Cast Your Fate to the Wind
James Gang – Funk #49
Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Dave Grohl – Right Down The Line (Gerry Rafferty)
Them Crooked Vultures – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)
Them Crooked Vultures – Dead End Friends
Them Crooked Vultures – Long Slow Goodbye (Queens of the Stone Age)
Wolfgang Van Halen, Justin Hawkins, Josh Freese, Dave Grohl – Panama (Van Halen)
Wolfgang Van Halen, Justin Hawkins, Josh Freese, Dave Grohl – Hot for Teacher (Van Halen)
Def Leppard – Rock of Ages
Def Leppard, Miley Cyrus—Photographer
Motley Crue, Derek Day – Live Wire
Mötley Crüe, Derek Day – Home Sweet Home
Elliot Easton – Shake It Up (The Cars)
Elliot Easton – Just What I Needed (The Cars)
P!nk, Nancy Wilson – Barracuda (Heart)
P!nk, Queen, Foo Fighters – Somebody To Love (Queen)
P!nk, Foo Fighters – The Pretender (Foo Fighters)
Stewart Copeland, Foo Fighters – Next To You (The Police)
Stewart Copeland, Foo Fighters, Jon Davison – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police)
Alanis Morissette, Foo Fighters, Chad Smith – You Oughta Know
Sebastian Bach, Geezer Butler, Lars Ulrich, Foo Fighters – Supernaut (Black Sabbath)
Sebastian Bach, Geezer Butler, Lars Ulrich, Foo Fighters – Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
Lars Ulrich, Foo Fighters, Sebastian Bach, Geezer Butler – Supernaut (Black Sabbath)
Lars Ulrich, Foo Fighters, Sebastian Bach, Geezer Butler – Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Dave Grohl – 2112 Part I: Overture (Rush)
Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Chad Smith – Working Man (Rush)
Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Danny Carey – YYZ (Rush)
Queen, Justin Hawkins, Foo Fighters – We Will Rock You
Queen, Justin Hawkins, Foo Fighters – Under Pressure
Queen, Rufus Taylor, Foo Fighters – I’m in Love With My Car
Queen, P!nk, Foo Fighters – Somebody To Love
Queen – Love Of My Life
Foo Fighters, Josh Freese – All My Life
Foo Fighters, P!nk, Jon Theodore – The Pretender
Foo Fighters, Travis Barker—Walk
Foo Fighters, Matt Cameron—Low
Foo Fighters, Brad Wilk – This Is a Call
Foo Fighters, Pat Wilson – The Sky Is a Neighborhood
Foo Fighters, Dave Chappelle, Pat Wilson – Creep (Radiohead)
Foo Fighters, Omar Hakim—Run
Foo Fighters, Rufus Taylor – Best of You
Foo Fighters, Oliver Shane Hawkins – My Hero, I’ll Stick Around
Foo Fighters, Chad Smith – Everlong