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Iconic Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins Dies At 50
The world had been lucky to have his gifts for the time it did.
The Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins, was found dead in a Colombian hotel over the weekend. He was 50-Year-Old, and as the news was made public by his band, fans were left heartbroken. The tragic incident made his band back out from their scheduled performance at the Picnic Stereo Festival in Bogota, Colombia.
Hawkins and the band had played Lollapalooza Chile on March 18th and Lollapalooza Argentina on March 20.
The group was slated to headline Lollapalooza Brazil this past Sunday. “His musical spirt and infectious laughter will live on with us all forever,” The band wrote. Police vehicles, an ambulance, and fans had been seen gathered outside the Four Seasons Casa Medina Hotel, where Hawkins was believed to have been staying.
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) March 26, 2022
Born Oliver Taylor Hawkins in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1972, Hawkins was raised in Laguna Beach, California.
He had played in the small Southern California band Sylvia before landing his first major gig as a drummer for Canadian Singer Sass Jordan. He then spent the mid-1990s as the touring drummer for Alanis Morissette before Grohl urged him to join the Foo Fighters.
After Grohl, Hawkins was probably the most prominent member of the group as he often appeared in interviews and played major roles.
He’s survived by his wife Alison and their three children.
Officials in Colombia haven’t commented, but the United States Embassy in Bogota has expressed its condolences in a tweet. Legends like Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne have also taken to Twitter to respond to rock music’s loss. Finneas, Billie Eilish’s brother, also wrote: “What an incredible talent, who didn’t also need to be so kind and generous and cool but was all those things too anyway.”
God bless Taylor peace and love to all his family and the band peace and love. 😎✌️🌟❤️🎶🌈☮️ pic.twitter.com/wn2izxn4Vd
— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) March 26, 2022
. @TaylorHawkins was truly a great person and an amazing musician. My heart, my love and my condolences go out to his wife, his children, his family, his band and his fans. See you on the other side – Ozzy
— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) March 26, 2022
Shocked and saddened to hear @taylorhawkins has passed away today.! 😞. Our prayers and condolences go out to the Hawkins family, @foofighters friends and fans. Sad. https://t.co/Mgu2K4SJyL
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) March 26, 2022
The co-writer and producer added: “The world was so lucky to have his gifts for the time that it did.” Nonetheless, this comes after the band just released their horror-comedy “Studio 666” in February. In the film, the members poke fun at themselves in a haunted house they rented out to work on their 2021 album “Medicine at Midnight.”
