Celebrities are recalling fond memories and friendships with the late legendary drummer.
A few weeks ago, news broke of the tragic death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins who was only 50 years old. Known for his magnetic stage presence, energetic performances, and friendly personality, many of his former collaborators have shared touching tributes following his untimely death.
Hawkins was recently honored at this year’s Grammy Awards, and in this past week’s episode of Saturday Night Live. This legendary drummer’s legacy lives on in the lives of the many other musicians he befriended and collaborated with. Read on for what artists young and old have to share about their best memories with Taylor Hawkins.
Dave Grohl
The frontman of Foo Fighters and former Nirvana drummer was Hawkins best friend, as Grohl noted many times in his autobiography. Hawkins joined the band in 1997 after he toured with Alanis Morisette as her drummer during her Jagged Little Pill tour, and the pair were always meeting backstage at shows and festivals. “He’s my best friend and partner in crime. Part Beavis and Butthead, part Dumb and Dumber, we were a hyperactive blur of Parliament Lights and air drumming wherever we went,” Grohl wrote in his 2021 book The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music. The band has since canceled the remainder of their tour, and won their 15th Grammy award for their latest album Medicine at Midnight, making history for the most awards ever won by an American band.
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Stevie Nicks
The iconic singer-songwriter and former Fleetwood Mac frontwoman has a long friendship with the Foo Fighters, and shared a heartfelt instagram post in the days following his passing. She recalls recording a new version of Fleetwood’s hit “Gold Dust Woman” with the band, and reflects on Hawkins’ positive energy and collaborative spirit.
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Miley Cyrus
Miley’s recent foray into rock music with her 2020 album Plastic Hearts gave way to many collaborations, including working with Taylor Hawkins. The pair became close friends and collaborators during the making of the album and remained friends ever since. At Lollapalooza Brazil, only a day after Hawkins’ passing, Miley spoke of their friendship in front of a packed arena, in a moment that has since reached millions across social media.
@everythingmiley Miley on stage last night at Lollapalooza Brazil 🥺❤️ #mileycyrus #taylorhawkins #foofighters #mileycyrusfans #lollapalooza #musicfestival ♬ original sound – miley ray cyrus
Billie Eilish
During her Grammys performance of her nominated track “Happier Than Ever”, Eilish took to the stage alongside her brother and fellow nominee Finneas, in a black oversized T-shirt with a photo of Hawkins on it. The photo features a smiling Hawkins doing what he loved most–making music.
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Ian Scott
Scott, of heavy metal band Anthrax, shared a sweet jam session with his 10-year-old son to several Foo Fighters hits, including “Low” “Stacked Actor” and “Run”. As Scott put it, the music community is “healing our hearts with the power of rock.” The pair were also close friends, with Anthrax and Foo Fighters often finding themselves on the same touring schedules and playing the same festivals.
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Chad Smith
The Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer appeared on the Howard Stern show this week, where they discussed his long friendship with Hawkins, again attesting to his uplifting presence: “He loved life, you know. He was a real beacon full of positive energy. I’m going to miss him so much.” The bands both found themselves in the limelight in the 90s and 00s and experienced many milestones in their careers together.
Brian May
The former lead singer of Queen alongside the late Freddie Mercury expressed sadness over the loss of Hawkins at such a young age during his appearance on Sirius XM’s “Debatable.” Hawkins was reportedly a big fan of Queen, and eventually lived his dream of collaborating with May on a more recent solo project, on a track called “Cyborg”. May said, “Taylor wasn’t even my generation. I think of him as a boy — same as I saw George Michael as a boy — to lose them feels all wrong. It makes you feel so frustrated. It makes you feel like you want to negotiate with death. It makes you feel like if you looked at it enough if you talk about it enough, if you analyze it enough then maybe you can bring him back, but of course, that’s just not the way it all works.” May also shared an Instagram post the day after Hawkins’ death.
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Be sure to listen closely to Foo Fighters, and the many other iconic songs that Hawkins has put his magical touch on over the years. It’s the best way to honor his legacy–by appreciating all that he loved.
