Taylor Hawkins, drummer for the rock band Foo Fighters, has died aged 50. A cause for death has not been revealed.
In a statement on social media, the band said they were “devasted by the tragic and untimely loss”. They are currently on tour in South America.
For more than two decades, Hawkins played alongside Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Nate Mendel. Before Foo Fighters, he drummed for Alanis Morissette.
“His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live with us forever,” Foo Fighters wrote.
Tributes have gone towards his wife and children, who’ve asked for respect and privacy during this difficult time.
Foo Fighters were formed in 1994 by Dave Grohl after the death of his former Nirvana bandmate, Kurt Cobain. Although Grohl drummed for Nirvana, he took on lead vocals and guitar with his new band, which gave Hawkins the daunting task of drumming in a band made up of existing rock legends.
“I was a little nervous at first, but I got over that,” he told OC Weekly soon after joining.
Grohl and Hawkins sometimes swapped roles on stage, with the latter taking on vocals. After the news of his death, many fans have shared footage of him singing Queen’s ‘Somebody To Love’.
The band had been due to perform on Friday night at the Estereo Picnic festival in Bogota, Colombia. The US embassy in Bogota shared its “deepest condolences” to the drummer’s family, friends and fans.
Feature image credit: Sky News
