The story of rock star Taylor Hawkins, as we knew him until the end, begins in 1997: At that time, Alanis Morissette’s former live drummer joined the Foo Fighters as successor to the ousted William Goldsmith. His expansive play and his flowing mane were already reminiscent of “Animal” from the “Muppet Show” at that time. Born in Texas in 1972 and raised in California, Hawkins was a surfer, a sunny boy, a fan of the Beach Boys, Tom Petty, Genesis and Rush. Nirvana legend Dave Grohl single-handedly recorded the Foo Fighters debut and followed Goldsmith’s footsteps on the later classic THE COLOR & THE SHAPE, which he had just recorded. It was only in Hawkins that he found a man at “his” instrument, whom he obviously valued both professionally and personally. Over the years Hawkins has grown to become the second, very wide grinning face of the Foo Fighters. When Grohl wasn’t speaking himself in interviews, it wasn’t the reserved Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett or Pat Smear who took over, but Hawkins. He and Grohl, these nice guysfriends, the rock band that constantly recorded and toured for the next 25 years actually became family.
Hawkins’ career could have been different: Had it gone to Axl Rose in 1999, he should have set the pace for Guns N’ Roses. A corresponding management request had been received by Hawkins’ mother. He asked Brian May for advice. May’s assessment turned out to be correct: “I’ve seen you and Dave on stage, there’s something between you that no money in the world can buy.”
Taylor Hawkins was also an entertainer
Speaking of Queen, speaking of Grohl: Hawkins, too, which made them such a good team, was an entertainer. Before the encore break, he kept drumming and intoning “Another One Bites The Dust” (in a medley with other covers). In their last performance at Lollapalooza Argentina he sang Mercury’s “Somebody To Love”. He has acted in his band’s comedic videos and their recent horror film Studio 666. He released three solo albums as Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, and was a member of the cover band Chevy Metal. The debut of his supergroup NHC, formed with members of Jane’s Addiction, is scheduled to – or should – be released this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fMXsmjRecY
Who we didn’t seem to know was the man behind those gleaming white teeth. A public fallacy that with the death of grunge and its protagonists Andrew Wood, Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, later Scott Weiland and Chris Cornell, so did the mental health issues of artists in the limelight. The sound of the Foo Fighters and their very existence marked a perceived end to melancholy and depression in rock. They were considered purified companions. strengthened. life affirming. humorous. At least it was known about Hawkins that he suffered from immense stage fright. In 2001, he was in a coma for two weeks after a heroin overdose. How clean or dependent he has been since then and what illnesses and drugs could have to do with his death has been speculation so far: on March 25, 2022 he was found dead in a hotel room in Bogotá, the Foo Fighters were supposed to perform at a festival there that evening . The cause of death has not yet been determined, but this: 28 years after Cobain’s suicide, Grohl has another friend and significant band member, Hawkins’ wife her husband and the father of three children and we all have one of the best drummers in the world in the biggest alternative rock band lost to the world.