As they announced the shows, both the Foo Fighters and Taylor Hawkins’ widow paid tribute, with the band stating that fans will hear songs the drummer “fell in love with and the ones he brought to life.” Alison Hawkins told fans that her late husband’s passion for music will endure forever.
Hawkins, 50, was in the Colombian city of Bogota with the rest of the band when he died in March, before a scheduled festival performance.
The Foo Fighters – Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear, Rami Jaffee, and leader Dave Grohl – said in a statement that they wished to honor their bandmate and “loving brother” by highlighting his ability.
Taylor’s massive talent and captivating personality attracted him to millions of fans, peers, friends, and fellow musical icons throughout the globe, they claimed.
“On March 25th, Taylor’s tragic death was mourned by millions of fans and musicians he admired, who paid him impassioned and heartfelt tributes.
“The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts will unite a number of these 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 performing the songs he fell in love with and the ones he brought to life.”
The gigs will take place at Wembley Stadium in London on September 3 and at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on September 27; lineup details will be confirmed shortly.
Following the cancellation of the Foo Fighters’ summer tour due to Hawkins’ death, these gigs will mark their return to the stage.
Alison Hawkins, the wife of the drummer, started the gigs, stating: “As Taylor’s wife and on behalf of our children, I want you to know how much he valued you and how committed he was to ‘knock your socks off at every performance.
Taylor felt proud to be a member of the Foo Fighters and cherished every minute of his 25 years with the group.
She stated that the performances would be held “to celebrate his life and honor his legacy.”
After touring with Alanis Morissette, Hawkins joined Foo Fighters in 1997 to play drums behind Grohl, the former Nirvana drummer-turned-band leader. Before making his recorded debut in 1999’s There Is Nothing Left To Lose, he originally performed with the band on tour in support of their second album The Colour & The Shape.
Hawkins continued to play on every following album and occasionally sang lead on songs like Cold Day In The Sun and Sunday Rain. With respect to his musical idols, he frequently sang Queen songs during live performances.
As a member of Foo Fighters, he won 15 Grammys and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He also participated in numerous solo and side projects. Recently, he starred with the band in Studio 666, a parody horror film.
In their statement, the band added, “He lived and loved music to an unquenchable degree.”
A preliminary toxicology study revealed traces of 10 chemicals, including opiates and marijuana, in Hawkins’ body. However, the cause of death has not yet been determined.
