Photo: The Rock Revival
Foo Fighters will play tribute shows to pay homage to their drummer, Taylor Hawkins, who unexpectedly passed away on March 25, just hours before the band was supposed to perform at a Colombia festival.
The band’s current members – Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear, and Rami Jaffee – revealed on Wednesday that they are going to start the “all-star rock and roll shows” on September 3 at Wembley Stadium in London and on September 27 at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum.
According to a statement from the Foo Fighters website, the shows are organized “together with the Hawkins family” and will have special guests.
“Millions mourned his untimely passing on March 25, with passionate and sincere tributes coming from fans as well as musicians Taylor idolized,” says the note.
“The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts will unite several of those artists, the Hawkins family and of course his Foo Fighters brothers in celebration of Taylor’s memory and his legacy as a global rock icon – his bandmates and his inspirations playing the songs that he fell in love with, and the ones he brought to life.”
Alison, Hawkins’ widow, released a Twitter statement aligned with the announcement, expressing her gratitude to the Foo Fighters fanbase “for the outpouring of love each and every one of you have shown our beloved Taylor.”
“Taylor’s enduring spirit and deep love of music will live on forever through the collaborations he so enjoyed having with other musicians and the catalog of songs he contributed to and created,” she added.
“In celebration of his life, it is now up to all of us who loved him most to honor Taylor’s legacy and the music he gave us.”
Foo Fighters’ website offers the most up-to-date information about their lineups and ticketing details.
Hawkins was a natural fit for the band from day one. He had been backing Alanis Morissette in concert, and Grohl knew he would be perfect when he first heard him play.
“I went over to his little house in Topanga Canyon, he sat down and played for three seconds, and the first time he hit a snare drum, I knew it,” he stated.
“I swear to God. I was like, ‘That’s all I need to f—ing hear. I love you as a person. You’ve just given me hearing damage for the rest of my life in three seconds. You have to be in the band.”
Besides his artistry with the Foos, Hawkins launched three albums with a separate project, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders.
