“He was relentless”: Associates and heroes of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins honor his legacy at tribute live performance

More than 75,000 followers packed Wembley Stadium Saturday evening to honor the life and legacy of the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins at an all-star tribute live performance. Hawkins, 50, died earlier this 12 months whereas on tour in Colombia. 

DJ, songwriter and producer Mark Ronson, who had requested Hawkins to play drums on a music he was producing for King Princess, known as the emotional six-hour efficiency “one of many best rock and roll exhibits ever assembled.” 

The all-star lineup at Wembley Stadium in London included musicians from bands Queen, The Police, Rush, AC/DC, in addition to comic Dave Chappelle, actor Jason Sudeikis and extra.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl opened the tribute live performance. 

“We love you, Taylor,” Grohl shouted to the gang. 

In March, Hawkins was discovered lifeless in his lodge room in Bogotá shortly earlier than his band was scheduled to carry out within the metropolis. A day later, Colombia’s legal professional basic stated Hawkins had 10 completely different substances in his system when he died, together with marijuana, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines. 

Nile Rodgers, cofounder of the music group Chic, was opening for the Foo Fighters in Colombia the day Hawkins died. On Saturday, Rodgers broke off from his tour to be a part of Saturday’s tribute. 

“This was our greatest method of constructing it up and our greatest method of claiming to Taylor, ‘Goodbye, we love you,’ and to Dave who I am keen on,” Rodgers informed Mason. 

Luke Spiller of the Struts, who additionally opened for the Foo Fighters again in 2018, remembered Hawkins as a mentor and good friend. He recalled bonding with the late drummer over their love for the band Queen. 

At Saturday evening’s live performance, Spiller joined Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen to pay tribute to Hawkins.  

“I simply miss him,” he stated. “Whenever I get emotional about it, I simply assume how proud and excited he could be for me at this time to have the ability to play with each of our heroes is one thing that no one can take away from me so I’m doing it for him.”

Music legend Geddy Lee of the band Rush stated it meant “a hell of quite a bit” to pay tribute to Hawkins on the live performance. Guitarist Alex Lifeson agreed, saying “it is undoubtedly particular.”

“He was relentless,” Lee stated of Hawkins. “He was sort of a monster drummer and what I significantly liked about Taylor was that he had an affinity for all types of kinds of music.”

Lifeson described Hawkins as “an absolute musician.”

“He simply liked being a musician, liked performing and taking part in,” Lifeson stated.

Stewart Copeland of the band The Police stated he and Hawkins had been “heroes of one another” and stated essentially the most emotional second of the tribute live performance was Hawkins’ 16-year previous son Shane Hawkins taking his father’s seat on the drum to carry out the Foo Fighters’ music “My Hero.”

“I began crying,” Copeland stated. “He’s acquired such energy, enthusiasm. He’s acquired his father’s stance, musical language. That was actually emotional to see younger Shane up there.”

The live performance benefitted charities MusicSupport.org and MusiCares.org. You can watch the live performance on Paramount+, which like CBS News is a part of Paramount Global.