Just over a year ago, on March 25, 2022, a few hours before Foo Fighters’ presentation at the “Estéreo Picnic” Festival in Bogota, authorities received a call from the Four Seasons Hotel where the band members were staying.

The call was for a guest having difficulty breathing who had reached out to the hotel lobby to have an ambulance called. The call was made, but help arrived too late. Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters drummer, had been found lifeless in his room while thousands of people were waiting to see him on stage that same night.

As a personal anecdote, I had a ticket for that concert. The original event was postponed because of COVID-19 in 2020, and 2 years went by before they could put it together again. In 2019, I got the ticket as a Christmas present from my wife, and it was originally a Guns N’ Roses show. They couldn’t reschedule for 2022, so the organizers replaced them with the Foo Fighters. Unfortunately, I was no longer in Bogota by then, and a friend of mine went in my place. He texted me late that night: “Taylor Hawkins just died, there won’t be a Foo Fighters show today, I’m speechless, people are crying all around me here.”

I was actually wide awake writing a couple of articles for a U.S. news outlet and when I saw his message, I was expecting raw footage from the Foo Fighters show. Instead, I got this horrible announcement. I asked: “What happened? He played at Lolla yesterday.” He said: “I don’t know, man; nobody knows.”

At that moment, I realized nothing was being said on Social Media either, so I immediately wrote people from the news outlet that I was writing for, so they could send out the breaking news. “Wait… What?” was their instant reply.

Hawkins’ tragic disappearance shocked people around the world. Numerous tributes came from other artists, some on social media and others in person. Everyone seemed to have a personal story or memory of the beloved drummer.

The response was overwhelming, even for those of us who have listened to the band since its beginning. We had no idea of the great number of artists who had coincided with Hawkins at some point, whether on stage, in the dressing rooms, or even in genuine and lasting friendships and brotherhoods.

As a sign of mourning, Foo Fighters indefinitely postponed their tours while inquiries and rumours about Hawkins abounded. How could someone who seemed so young and full of energy, barely a day after playing at Lollapalooza in Santiago de Chile, die so suddenly?

Drugs came to mind and to the headlines immediately. After all, Hawkins had experienced periods of addiction, including an almost deadly heroin accident in 2001.

A few days after his death, a preliminary laboratory report was released implicating that an overdose was likely the cause, but that information was never verified. Hawkins’ heart “weighed twice as much as men his age,” according to a different report, which may also have explained his sudden death.

The controversy did not end with the scant reports from the authorities. Almost in the same week as Hawkins’ death, Rolling Stone magazine claimed that Hawkins was exhausted by Foo Fighters’ incessant requests.

The report contained quotes from Matt Cameron, Pearl Jam’s drummer and a close friend of Hawkins, saying: “He tried to keep up,” (…) “He just did whatever it took to keep up, and in the end, he couldn’t keep up.” Quotes from Chad Smith were also published, which somewhat corroborated the story’s argument.

Both Cameron and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers retracted their statements in response to the publication after a flood of comments on social media about it.

Chad Smith stated via Instagram: “My quotes were taken out of context and shaped into a narrative I had never intended. Taylor was a dear friend and a next-level artist. I miss him.” He concluded: “I have only the deepest love and respect for Taylor, Dave, and the Foo Fighters families. I am truly sorry to have taken part in this interview, and I apologize that my participation may have caused harm to those for whom I have only the deepest respect and admiration.” Oddly enough, Smith deleted the post of this statement on Instagram a few months later.

As denial, anger, and frustration over Hawkins’ death turned into acceptance, Foo Fighters announced a couple of tribute concerts packed with stars. Both were held in London and Los Angeles. The band recently announced new concert dates that, in theory, will be accompanied by Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron.

Taylor Hawkins’ notable musical versatility in parallel projects

Taylor Hawkins was not only known as the drummer of Foo Fighters, which was obviously his most notable project to the point of being inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame but also as a musician with multiple talents who collaborated with several important artists and even led a highly interesting musical project.

From his early days with Sass Jordan to his work with The Coattail Riders and Alanis Morissette, Hawkins has proven to be a versatile and dynamic drummer who was always willing to explore new styles and musical genres.

Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders

Taylor Hawkins’ leading project outside Foo Fighters was ‘Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders.’ This parallel project was formed in 2004 and featured Hawkins on lead vocals and drums and a rotating cast of musicians, including guitarist Gannin Arnold and bassist Chris Chaney.

The band’s sound is a mix of classic rock, punk, and power-pop, with Hawkins’ distinctive percussion style providing an unmatched driving force behind the music.

The songs have a lot of power, and the “Grunge” influence can be clearly identified, which is also present in Foo Fighters, but including that Californian vibe that distinguishes bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers in their early days or also more “Punk” elements, a bit in the style of The Stooges and The Clash.

The band’s first album, titled “Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders,” was released in 2006. The album received positive reviews and showed Hawkins’ composition skills and his ability to sing lead vocals. Hawkins also occasionally sang lead vocals during Foo Fighters performances, and one of the band’s most famous clips shows Hawkins “saving” an exhausted Dave Grohl, who was out of voice. Hawkins noticed that Grohl couldn’t continue singing and took over to sing the lead vocals of “Times Like These,” causing the audience to go wild:

At the Taylor Hawkins tribute in London, Grohl was notably affected while singing the same song, presumably in reference to this famous episode of the band in Germany.

Returning to Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, the single with which the project debuted was “Louise.” The album cover is a tribute to James Gang Rides Again, the second album by James Gang, whom Taylor Hawkins greatly admired.

The band’s second album, “Red Light Fever,” was released in 2010 and featured a more polished and refined sound, with Hawkins exploring different styles and musical genres. The album featured special appearances by artists like Dave Grohl, who recorded guitars on the song “Way Down.” It also featured big names like Brian May, Roger Taylor of Queen, and Elliot Easton of The Cars.

The impact of Queen is immediately heard in “Not Bad Luck.” Taylor and May exchange backing vocals for Hawkins, who sings in a very grunge style. It is an immediate and striking introduction that undoubtedly raised the standard of the whole project.

Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders’ third album arrived a few years before his death in 2019. “Get the Money” is the album’s name and features important names like Dave Grohl, Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction, Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, and Joe Walsh of The Eagles. Queen’s Roger Taylor returned to participate in this Hawkins project.

Alanis Morissette

In addition to his work with the Coattail Riders, Taylor Hawkins has collaborated with other artists. One of his most notable collaborations was with Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, with whom he worked on her 2012 album “Havoc and Bright Lights.” Hawkins contributed drums and backing vocals to the album, which fans and critics received well.

Chevy Metal

Hawkins had also participated in other albums over the years, including the debut album of Chevy Metal, a cover band featuring Hawkins on drums and vocals, and other renowned musicians, including Dave Grohl.

Chevy Metal’s self-titled debut album was released in 2015 and features covers of classic songs by artists such as Queen, Van Halen, and The Rolling Stones.

Birds Of Satan

Another notable collaboration in which Hawkins was involved was his work with the band Birds of Satan. This band, which featured Hawkins on drums, guitarist Mick Murphy, and bassist Wiley Hodgden, released their debut album, “The Birds of Satan”, in 2014. The album features a mix of classic rock, funk, and heavy metal, with Hawkins providing a powerful backbone to the project.

Taylor Hawkins’ work outside of Foo Fighters notably showcased his versatility as a musician and his willingness to explore different musical styles and genres.

Whether playing drums, singing lead vocals, or collaborating with other artists, Hawkins will always be remembered in music for his talent and unmatched charisma.

Hopefully, music will give us more characters like Hawkins, those who always keep the continuous production of musical pieces alive just for the pleasure of creating.

Long live the musical legacy of Taylor Hawkins. May he Rest in Power!