Foo Fighters, Dave Chappelle, Stevie Nicks, Elton John, Jason Sudeikis, and extra have come collectively to honor the life and music of Taylor Hawkins this weekend.
The late Foo Fighters drummer, who died unexpectedly whereas on tour in Colombia in March, was celebrated by his shut associates, household, and followers on the first of two tribute concert events in London’s Wembley Enviornment on Saturday. A second live performance shall be held stateside on the Kia Discussion board in Los Angeles on Sept. 27.
Arm in arm, the Foo Fighters opened the occasion with a poignant speech delivered by frontman Dave Grohl.
“Women and gents, tonight we have gathered right here to rejoice the life, the music, and the love of our expensive pal, our bandmate, our brother Taylor Hawkins,” he mentioned. “For these of you who knew him personally, you already know that nobody else might make you smile or snigger or dance or sing like he might. And for these of you that admired him from afar, I am positive you’ve got all felt the identical factor.”
“So tonight, we have gathered with household and his closest associates, his musical heroes and biggest inspirations, to convey you a huge f—ing night time for a huge f—ing particular person,” Grohl continued. “So, sing. And dance. And snigger. And cry and f—ing scream and make some f—ing noise so he can hear us proper now. ‘Trigger you already know what? It is gonna be a protracted f—ing night time, proper? Are you prepared?”
Lester Cohen/Getty for The Recording Academy; Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage; Paul Morigi/Getty Dave Grohl; Taylor Hawkins; Dave Chappelle
The group have been then joined on stage by Liam Gallagher, who carried out the Oasis hits “Rock ‘N’ Roll Star” and “Stay Without end.”
In an audio message performed throughout the occasion, rock legend Stevie Nicks read the tribute she penned for Hawkins again in March during which she recalled becoming a member of the Foo Fighters for a jam session. “We recorded a kickass model of ‘Gold Mud Girl’ stay, and on the finish of the track I yelled out, ‘finest “Gold Mud Girl” ever!’ And I meant it.”
“Taylor was very good-looking and he was very cute,” she continued. “He had an enormous coronary heart and a wonderful smile. When he walked into the room, everybody seemed up. When he left the room, everybody was unhappy.”
Sudeikis made a number of appearances all through the night, together with to introduce Supergrass to the stage, whom he recalled opened for the Foo Fighters when the Ted Lasso star noticed the band in 1997. “It was additionally the primary time I bought to see Taylor Hawkins carry out stay,” he mentioned.
Steve Jennings/WireImage Taylor Hawkins performs with Foo Fighters.
Through the occasion’s star-studded lineup — which additionally included performances by Wolfgang Van Halen, Rush, and the Pretenders — Dave Chappelle took to the stage to recollect Hawkins as each a musical legend and a household man. The comic recalled assembly the Foo Fighters whereas internet hosting Saturday Evening Stay again in November 2020, when he informed the band that his go-to karaoke track is Radiohead’s 1992 hit “Creep.”
“Dave Grohl known as me and requested me to sing ‘Creep’ with them at Madison Sq. Backyard,” Chappelle mentioned. “I had smoked some reefer, so I had agreed to do it.”
It was on the live performance that Chappelle met Hawkins’ son, Shane Hawkins, who was sitting in conjunction with the stage on the gig, for the primary time. “I’ve seen Taylor be a rock star many nights, but it surely was my first time seeing him be a dad, and what a cool f—ing dad,” he mentioned. “Taylor Hawkins was a legend of a person. He was a legend of a musician and he is a legend of a father.”
Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell — who honored Hawkins throughout their efficiency on the Grammys in April — known as Hawkins “considered one of our heroes” in a video message. “Taylor’s music and his ardour shall be remembered eternally and ever,” Eilish mentioned. “So ought to his heat, his kindness, his generosity with each single person who was ever fortunate sufficient to satisfy him. We miss you, Taylor.”
Elton John recalled speaking with Hawkins after considered one of John’s concert events, saying, “He beloved music. He beloved taking part in. He beloved the Foo Fighters.”
Ashley Beliveau/Getty Photos Taylor Hawkins
In a video message, Pink Scorching Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith shared considered one of his favourite tales about Hawkins. In line with Smith, Hawkins would typically pop over to an area Guitar Middle close to their recording studio and spend time with “little children” and “wannabe drummers” in its percussion part.
“At some point, the supervisor got here to the man that ran the percussion part and he mentioned, ‘, I believe one thing’s happening with Taylor Hawkins’ bank card. There should be some fraud or one thing as a result of I see 1000’s of {dollars} over months of expenses and I’ve by no means seen Taylor purchase something ever right here.'”
Smith then revealed that Taylor had been buying “drum tools, drum units, sticks, cymbals,” and extra for the children on the retailer. “He knew how vital it was to have good tools, and he would simply purchase it for them and by no means inform anyone,” Smith mentioned. “That is the type of man Taylor Hawkins is.”
Later within the present, a teary-eyed Grohl grew to become choked up on stage as he mentioned the band’s mindset whereas creating the mega-concert for his or her beloved bandmate. “The previous few days, we have been asking ourselves the identical query after each rehearsal,” he mentioned. “We’re like, ‘God, I’m wondering what Taylor would consider this. I’m wondering what Taylor would suppose to see all of those superb individuals collectively making music.'”
“This assortment of family and friends and musicians, that is all introduced collectively by him, and we’re all linked right here right now by that one man,” Grohl continued. “Bringing musicians which have by no means met, musicians which have by no means performed collectively, multi function place at one time with all of you stunning individuals to make f—ing noise for Taylor Hawkins.”
Rock legend Brian Could led the gang right into a rousing rendition of Queen’s “Love of My Life” in honor of Hawkins, who was a longtime fan of the band and regularly coated their songs on tour. “In 1992, precisely 30 years in the past, we mentioned goodbye to Freddie [Mercury, former Queen frontman] in a method just like this,” Could mentioned earlier than the efficiency. “So I do know that Freddie could be very comfortable to make use of this track to honor Taylor Hawkins.”
The Foo Fighters closed out the night by taking part in a medley of their hits — together with “Study to Fly,” “Better of You,” and “Instances Like These” — with a rotating forged of drummers, together with Blink-182 rocker Travis Barker, Rufus Taylor, and 12-year-old Nandi Bushell.
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