Taylor Hawkins

Oliver Taylor Hawkins (February 17, 1972 – March 25, 2022) was an American musician who was best known as the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters.

Oliver Taylor Hawkins was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 17, 1972.

His family moved to Laguna Beach, California, in 1976, where Hawkins grew up.

Hawkins was the youngest of three, with an older brother and sister, Jason and Heather.

He graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1990, where he had been friends with current Yes lead vocalist Jon Davison.

Hawkins played in the Orange County–based band Sylvia before he became the drummer for Sass Jordan.

From June 1995 until March 1997, Hawkins was Alanis Morissette's drummer on the tour supporting Jagged Little Pill and her Can't Not tour.

He appeared in the videos for "You Oughta Know", "All I Really Want", and "You Learn".

After touring through the spring of 1996, Foo Fighters entered a Seattle studio with producer Gil Norton to record their second album.

Conflict during recording reportedly erupted between Dave Grohl and drummer William Goldsmith, eventually causing Goldsmith to leave the band.

The band regrouped in Los Angeles and almost completely re-recorded the album with Grohl on drums.

Joining the band in 1997, Hawkins quickly became one of the group's most recognizable faces.

He remained the band’s drummer for over 25 years until his sudden death in 2022.

He also appeared on Morissette's VHS/DVD Jagged Little Pill, Live (1997).

The album, The Colour and the Shape, was released on May 20, 1997.

Grohl called Hawkins, an acquaintance at the time, seeking his recommendations for a new drummer to join the band.

Grohl was under the impression that Hawkins would not want to leave Morissette's touring band, given she was a bigger act than Foo Fighters at the time.

To Grohl's surprise, however, Hawkins volunteered to join the band himself, explaining that he wanted to be a drummer in a rock band rather than for a solo act.

The band announced Hawkins would be its new drummer on March 18, 1997.

Hawkins first appeared with the Foo Fighters in the music video for the 1997 single "Monkey Wrench", although the song was recorded before he joined the band.

In addition to his drumming with the Foo Fighters, Hawkins provided vocals, guitar, and piano to various recordings.

He performed the lead vocal on a cover of Pink Floyd's "Have a Cigar".

Two versions of the song were released, one as the B-side to "Learn to Fly" and another on the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack album.

He later sang lead vocals on "Cold Day in the Sun" from In Your Honor, which was later released as a single, as well as a cover of Cream's "I Feel Free", which appeared as the B-side of "DOA" and on the EP Five Songs and a Cover.

Hawkins also sang lead vocals for the band's cover of Joe Walsh's "Life of Illusion".

He recorded eight studio albums with the band between 1999 and 2021.

Before joining the band, he was a touring drummer for Sass Jordan and Alanis Morissette, as well as the drummer of the progressive experimental band Sylvia.

In 2000, Hawkins was contacted by Guns N' Roses to replace Josh Freese on drums.

Hawkins seriously considered the offer before Roger Taylor convinced him to remain in Foo Fighters.

In 2004, Hawkins formed his own side project, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, in which he played drums and sang, releasing three studio albums between 2006 and 2019.

He was voted "Best Rock Drummer" in 2005 by the British drumming magazine Rhythm.

Known for his sheer power and stage presence, Hawkins is consistently ranked as one of the greatest drummers of all time.

In 2006, Hawkins released a self-titled LP with his side project, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders.

Later, he sang lead vocals for "Sunday Rain", a track on the Foo Fighters' 2017 album Concrete and Gold.

He sang lead vocals on some songs during Foo Fighters live shows, particularly covers, such as Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" and Queen's "Somebody To Love", the latter of which he performed during what became his final concert with the band.

He also contributed to the band's songwriting, and was listed as a co-writer on at least one song on every Foo Fighters album from There Is Nothing Left to Lose to Medicine at Midnight.

Hawkins' final performance with the Foo Fighters before his death was at the Lollapalooza Argentina festival on March 20, 2022.

Hawkins posthumously won three Grammys with the Foo Fighters on April 3, 2022.

He formed the supergroup NHC with Jane's Addiction members Dave Navarro and Chris Chaney in 2020, where he also took on lead vocal and drumming duties.

Hawkins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 as a member of Foo Fighters.