On March 25, during a Foo Fighters world tour, Taylor Hawkins was found dead in his hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, aged just 50. Now friends of the musician have in a report by the American ROLLING STONE claims Hawkins was uncomfortable with the intensity of his band’s touring schedule shortly after the coronavirus pandemic abated. It was difficult for him to keep up with the physical demands of the three-hour concerts every evening. He is said to have spoken to Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl and several friends about his concerns.
Did he even question full band membership?
While Hawkins thought he was physically fit, he was burned out: “He had a talk with Dave and, yes, he told me he ‘can’t fucking do it anymore’ – those were his words,” Pearl said -Jam drummer Matt Cameron, a close friend of Hawkins’ for decades. Because of the pace of the tour, he even questioned full-time band membership. A representative of Foo Fighters, however, denied the alleged conversation: “He never informed Dave and (management) of anything to that effect.”
Hawkins after collapse: ‘I can’t go on like this’
In the course of the report, Hawkins’ friends also describe an incident that is said to have occurred in Chicago. The drummer lost consciousness on board an airplane. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith said: “He just said he was exhausted and he collapsed and they had to put IVs on him and stuff like that. He was dehydrated and all sorts of things.” After his collapse, Hawkins said to his colleague Smith: “I can’t go on like this any longer.” This incident was also denied by a representative of the band. The Foo Fighters and their management themselves were not available for an interview with the American ROLLING STONE.
word agains word
To a certain extent, it is still testimony against testimony – even if the statements by Chad Smith and Matt Cameron are supported by numerous other longtime friends of Hawkins. Two months after his death, there is still no final clarity on the cause of death. However, a forensic examination found ten different types of substances in his blood.