Taylor Hawkins, a man who shaped the history of rock music

A band borne out of tragedy now faces yet another - famed Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins is pronounced dead at age 50 on March 26^th 2022.

Able to hold his own against Dave Grohl is a feat reserved for the few, but Taylors Hawkins did it with technical elegance. He stands to leave behind one of the most impressive legacies in rock history. 

His closeness with the band lead never went unnoticed, the two having infectious chemistry that consistently bled into the band’s work – most notably on co-writing tracks ‘Best of You’, ‘All My Life’, and ‘Learn To Fly’. If Grohl was the face of the band, then Hawkins was its heart. A smile that could be read from the back of the room and a cheeky stage presence was a killer combination that won the hearts of music lovers galore.

His death has brought with it an onslaught of support across the music industry. Live acts across the globe paid tribute to the late drummer by covering Foo Fighters tracks and displaying his image whilst on stage including Stereophonics, Royal Blood, Miley Cryus and Nothing But Thieves. With even more artists sharing their condolences with the band and family across social media with the likes of Travis Barker, Slash, and Ozzy Osbourne.

A marvel within rock n’ roll himself, his skills were spurred from a deep appreciation of the classic artists that littered his childhood with inspiration. He desired the same career as his influences like The Beatles, Queen, and Genesis. 

His early career was spent within a handful of bands in California, and in 1995 he joined the ranks of Alanis Morissette’s band - a post that Grohl didn’t expect him to leave. However, it was just two years later that he offered to take the reins as the drummer of the Foo Fighters, joining the band ahead of their third album in 1997 and never looking back.

It is hard to imagine what the band would be without Hawkins, he was a focal point of ferocious fun that added a great deal to the credibility of the band's approachable image. He represented all the band stands for - great music and a hell of a good time. 

The Foo Fighters were inducted into the rock n’ roll hall of fame the first year that they became eligible and have stood the test of time for over 25 years. But beyond all of that, they are a group whose light is a shining beacon of positivity, Hawking being a core component of this.

His immense impact will echo across the music industry for years to come and the contribution he made to music will be immortalised in the hearts of fans and the history of rock n’ roll forever. Hawkins will live in the music he shared with the world and as long as we keep listening, he will never truly leave us.

Jessica McCarrick

@jessmccarrick_

Image Credit: Mauricio Santana