Tragedy has once again struck the music world.
Foo Fighters have announced that longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins has unexpectedly passed away at the age of 50 years old. He is survived by his wife and three children.
The band was currently on tour in South America, and expecting to perform in Bogota, Columbia, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, this weekend.
No cause of death has been revealed, however, Foo Fighters have released the following statement:
Born Fort Worth, Texas, Hawkins got his start drumming for Alanis Morissette and Sass Jordan before joining Foo Fighters in 1997. Dave Grohl, a drummer himself, founded the Foo Fighters in 1994, shortly after the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
Grohl initially asked Hawkins where he could find a drummer (thinking there was no way he’d leave Alanis Morrisette), and to his surprise, Hawkins offered to join himself. He was announced as the new drummer of Foo Fighters in March of 1997.
Foo Fighters has gone on to win countless awards, and is highly regarded as one of the greatest rock bands of the past 25 years, as well as one of the last true rock and roll bands in existence.
Hawkins, along with the Foo Fighters, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Paul McCartney last year.
Foo Fighters are scheduled to perform at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on April 3rd.
RIP Taylor.
Taylor Hawkins Drumming Masterclass:
Back in 2014, Taylor, along with Dave Grohl, talked with 60 Minutes about some of their favorite drummers:
And finally, how about a little “Learn To Fly”
