The Foo Fighters Pay an Emotional Live Tribute to Drummer Taylor Hawkins
In March, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins passed unexpectedly. This weekend, the band paid a heartfelt tribute to their bandmate.
Who wants to cry?! Well too bad, you’re gonna! The Foo Fighters are one of the most influential bands for Gen X and millennial listeners. I can personally track my development across the span of Dave Grohl’s musical career. When I was five, I remember sitting cross-legged on the floor watching Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and being mesmerized. Watching the “Hero” music video six years later will also always live rent-free in my memory.
This weekend, the Foo Fighters played a tribute concert for their late drummer, Taylor Hawkins. And if you’re thinking “damn, that sounds like a real tear-jerker,” you’d be correct. It was a beautiful, emotional performance that saw several beloved artists paying tribute to the band that has become a pop culture tentpole.
The Life and Legacy of Taylor Hawkins
In late March, Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Bogotá, Columbia. The band, his family, and his fans were absolutely devastated – the death came as a total shock. The band announced that they’d be playing two tribute concerts to the legendary drummer in September, and the first show turned out to be beautiful and emotional.
Tribute Concert Brings Performers and Fans to Tears
The first concert took place this weekend at London’s Wembley Stadium, and it was an emotional scene. Renowned musicians from Metallica, Queen, and AC/DC served as guest drummers on many of the Foo Fighters’ classic hit songs in order to pay tribute to the beloved drummer. Artists like Paul McCartney, Nile Rodgers, and Liam Gallagher also stepped in to pay their respects to Hawkins’ memory.
But perhaps one of the most impactful performances was put in appropriately on the band’s hit “Hero.” For that number, the drummer’s son Shane stepped in to fill the role of drummer.
Taylor Hawkins’ 16-year-old son, Shane, does his father proud as he sits behind the kit for @FooFighters‘ performance of “My Hero.”#FooFighters #TaylorHawkinsTributehttps://t.co/PU705CpO2R
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) September 3, 2022
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That’s certainly a beautiful (and devastating) moment to behold. But it wasn’t the only emotional moment. Foo Fighters’ lead singer Dave Grohl also got emotional during his performance of “Times Like These,” a song that seems especially fitted to the relationship between grief and the appreciation for life that it can bring.
Did you miss out on the live-stream event? Stream it this week on Paramount+ and have a box of tissues handy. Trust me.
