Taylor Hawkins was an American musician who rose to fame as the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters. He was also a singer, songwriter, and producer who worked on various side projects and collaborations. He died at the age of 50 on March 25, 2022, in Bogota, Colombia, leaving behind his wife and three children.
Early Life & Biography
Taylor Hawkins was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 17, 1972. His parents were Terry and Elizabeth Ann Hawkins. He had an older brother, Jason, and an older sister, Heather. His family moved to Laguna Beach, California, in 1976, where he grew up and attended Laguna Beach High School. He was friends with Jon Davison, who later became the lead singer of Yes.
Hawkins started playing drums at an early age and was influenced by bands like Queen, Led Zeppelin, and The Police. He played in a local band called Sylvia before he joined Sass Jordan as her touring drummer in 1994. He then became the drummer for Alanis Morissette in 1995 and appeared on her album Jagged Little Pill and its supporting tour. He also appeared in the videos for “You Oughta Know”, “All I Really Want” and “You Learn”.
Foo Fighters
In 1997, Hawkins joined Foo Fighters as their new drummer after William Goldsmith left the band. Dave Grohl, the founder and frontman of Foo Fighters, had met Hawkins through a mutual friend and asked him to recommend a drummer for his band. Hawkins auditioned for the role and impressed Grohl with his skills and personality. He quit Morissette’s band and moved to Seattle to join Foo Fighters.
Hawkins made his debut with Foo Fighters on their second album The Colour and the Shape (1997), which featured hits like “Everlong”, “Monkey Wrench” and “My Hero”. He became a permanent member of the band and contributed to their subsequent albums There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999), One by One (2002), In Your Honor (2005), Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007), Wasting Light (2011), Sonic Highways (2014), Concrete and Gold (2017) and Medicine at Midnight (2021). He also sang lead vocals on some songs like “Cold Day in the Sun”, “Sunday Rain” and “Breakout”.
Hawkins was known for his energetic and powerful drumming style as well as his charisma and humor on stage. He was also a close friend and collaborator of Grohl and often participated in his side projects like Them Crooked Vultures and Sound City Players. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 as a member of Foo Fighters.
Other Projects
Besides Foo Fighters, Hawkins also pursued his own musical interests and formed several bands. In 2004, he created Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, a rock band where he played drums and sang lead vocals. The band released three albums: Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders (2006), Red Light Fever (2010), and Get the Money (2019). The band featured guest appearances from artists like Brian May, Roger Taylor, Dave Grohl, Perry Farrell, and Chrissie Hynde.
In 2014, Hawkins formed The Birds of Satan, a progressive rock band that also included Wiley Hodgden and Mick Murphy. The band released one self-titled album that same year. In 2020, Hawkins teamed up with Jane’s Addiction members Dave Navarro and Chris Chaney to form NHC (Navarro/Hawkins/Chaney), a supergroup that played covers of classic rock songs.
Hawkins also worked as a producer for other artists like Iggy Pop, Coheed and Cambria, and Chevy Metal. He also played drums for various musicians like Slash, Vasco Rossi, Roger Daltrey, and Brian May. He also acted in some films like CBGB (2013) where he portrayed Iggy Pop.
Wiki | BIO
| Name | Oliver Taylor Hawkins |
| Birth Date | February 17, 1972 |
| Birth Place | Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Death Date | March 25, 2022 |
| Death Place | Bogota, Colombia |
| Cause of Death | Suspected overdose |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Years Active | 1990-2022 |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion, vocals |
| Associated Acts | Foo Fighters Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders Anyone The Birds of Satan NHC |
| taylorhawkinsofficial | |
| taylorhawkinsofficial | |
| IMDb | nm1011269 |
| Wikipedia | Taylor-Hawkins |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
Wedding, Wife & Kids
Taylor Hawkins married Alison Hawkins in 2005 after dating for several years. Alison is an illustrator and graphic designer who also designed some of the artwork for Hawkins’ albums. The couple had three children: Oliver Shane (born in 2006), Annabelle (born in 2009), and Everleigh (born in 2014). The family lived in Hidden Hills, California.
Hawkins was a fan of Queen and Freddie Mercury and had a tattoo of Mercury’s face on his chest. He also collected Queen memorabilia and owned a replica of Mercury’s yellow jacket from the 1986 Wembley concert. He also admired drummers like John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, and Keith Moon.
Hawkins struggled with drug addiction in the past and nearly died from a heroin overdose in 2001. He was hospitalized for two weeks and had to undergo rehabilitation. He later credited Grohl and his wife for helping him overcome his addiction and said that becoming a father also changed his perspective on life.
Cause of Death
Taylor Hawkins died on March 25, 2022, in Bogota, Colombia, where he was on tour with Foo Fighters. He was found unresponsive in his hotel room by a staff member and was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was not officially confirmed, but it was suspected to be an overdose of prescription drugs. He was 50 years old.
His death shocked the music world and sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans, friends, and fellow musicians. Foo Fighters canceled their remaining tour dates and issued a statement saying that they were “devastated” by the loss of their “brother” and “best friend”. They also organized a tribute concert for Hawkins in London on September 4, 2022, where they performed with guest artists like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eddie Vedder, Robert Plant, and Slash. Hawkins’ son Oliver also joined them on stage to play drums on “My Hero”.
Hawkins’ funeral was held on April 2, 2022, in Los Angeles. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Taylor Hawkins had an estimated net worth of $40 million at the time of his death. He earned most of his wealth from his music career as a drummer, singer, songwriter, and producer. He also had endorsement deals with brands like Zildjian, Ludwig Drums, and Pro-Mark.
Facts/Trivia
- Hawkins’ first name was Oliver, but he went by his middle name to avoid confusion with his father and son who shared the same name.
- Taylor Hawkins played drums on Alanis Morissette’s hit song “You Oughta Know” which was about her ex-boyfriend Dave Coulier.
- Taylor Hawkins auditioned for Guns N’ Roses in 1997 but was rejected by Axl Rose who said he looked too much like Dave Grohl.
- Taylor once broke his collarbone while snowboarding in Utah and had to perform with Foo Fighters wearing a sling.
- Taylor Hawkins sang lead vocals on Foo Fighters’ cover of Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” which was featured on the soundtrack of the film Mission: Impossible 2 (2000).
- Taylor released a solo EP called Kota in 2016 which featured six songs that he wrote and recorded at his home studio.
- Hawkins played the role of Iggy Pop in the film CBGB (2013) which chronicled the history of the legendary New York club that launched the careers of many punk rock bands.
- Taylor was friends with Rush drummer Neil Peart who died in 2020. He once interviewed Peart for Rolling Stone magazine and also performed with him at a tribute concert in 2013.
- Hawkins had a cameo appearance in the film The Muppets (2011) where he played Animal’s anger management counselor.
- Taylor wrote a song called “Range Rover Bitch” which was inspired by his encounter with a rude driver who cut him off on the road.
- Hawkins owned a replica of Freddie Mercury’s yellow jacket from the 1986 Wembley concert which he wore during Foo Fighters’ performance at the same venue in 2008.
- Taylor was voted “Best Rock Drummer” in 2005 by Rhythm magazine.
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