After Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died suddenly on March 25, 2022, the band’s future was in doubt, given the extremely close friendship Hawkins shared with Foos frontman Dave Grohl, as well as his crucial role in lineup (he had been a core member since 1997, co-writing on all albums starting with 1999 There is nothing to lose). Four days after Hawkins’ death, the Foo Fighters indefinitely canceled all of their upcoming shows, including a performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards (where they ended up bittersweetly winning three awards in absentia).
Although Grohl occasionally made surprise live appearances – with Lionel Richie at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, with Billie Eilish at the Los Angeles Forum, with Sir Paul McCartney at Glastonbury – the band’s only live appearances were at two tributes to stars concerts held in London and Los Angeles last September. But now, the Foo Fighters have confirmed in an emotional social media post that they go continue without Hawkins – even though they are understandably a “different band”.
“As we bid farewell to the most difficult and tragic year our band has ever known, we are reminded of how grateful we are for the people we love and cherish most, and for the loved ones who are no longer with us.” the band stated. “Foo Fighters formed 27 years ago to represent the healing power of music and a continuation of life. And over the past 27 years, our fans have built a worldwide community, a dedicated support system that has helped us get through our darkest times together. A place to share our joy and our pain, our hopes and fears, and to unite in a chorus of life together through music. Without Taylor, we would never have become the band we were – and without Taylor, we know we’ll be a different band going forward. We also know that you fans meant as much to Taylor as he did to you. And we know that when we see him again – and we will soon – he will be there in spirit with all of us every night.”
The year and a half leading up to Hawkins’ shocking death was an especially eventful and prolific one for the seemingly unstoppable Foo Fighters. They released their 10th Grammy-winning album medicine at midnightthe disco covers album Record Store Day Hail Satinand the horror comedy movie Studio 666; held at the inauguration of President Joe Biden; received the Global Icon Award at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards; and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by McCartney.
Foo Fighters were also one of the first touring bands to return to the stage once COVID restrictions eased in 2021, starting with a six-song set at SoFi Stadium’s Vax Live event on May 2 of that year, followed by a concert complete of 23 songs. show at the 610-capacity Canyon Club in Agoura, California to celebrate the “reopening” of Los Angeles County nightlife on June 15. The Foos also reopened New York’s Madison Square Garden just five days after the Canyon Club show and headlined several festivals, including Lollapalooza in Chicago. Overall, they played around 40 shows in 2021 and, at the time of Hawkins’ death, there were around 60 dates, across North America, South America, Europe and Australia, on Foo Fighters’ 2022 schedule.
Hawkins’ last show with the Foo Fighters was at Lollapalooza Argentina on March 20, 2022. Five days later, he was found dead in his hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, just hours before the Foos were due to perform at the Estéreo Picnic Festival ; instead of the concert, candles were placed on stage that night to honor him. Two months after his death, Rolling Stone published a bombshell report titled “Inside Taylor Hawkins’ Final Days as Foo Fighter”, claiming the drummer was on the brink of exhaustion from playing so many physically taxing, nearly three-hour shows, and was considering reducing duties or even quitting. of the band completely because he “knew he didn’t have that in him”. Foos staff have never publicly addressed these allegations, but two of Hawkins’ close friends who were interviewed for the piece, Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, have criticized Rolling Stonereport of.
The cause of death has yet to be revealed, and the Foo Fighters’ December 31 statement did not mention who would replace Hawkins in the lineup or any specific plans for a new album or tour.
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