Taylor Hawkins: what happened to Foo Fighters drummer, cause of death, wife, net worth, children - latest news

Foo Fighters have confirmed via social media that all of their upcoming 2022 tour dates will be cancelled in light of drummer Taylor Hawkins’ death.

The drummer’s passing was announced Friday 25 March, in the midst of a festival tour of South America.

The band said it was “devastated by the untimely loss” and asked for the privacy of his family to be respected.

Hawkins, 50, played in the Foos with former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, 53, on vocals for more than two decades, alongside Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, and Rami Jaffee.

The drummer has been hailed as a “generous and cool person”, as well as being an “amazing musician” and an “unstoppable rock power”.

Here is everything you need to know about him.

Who was Taylor Hawkins?

Hawkins was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1972 and raised in Laguna Beach, California.

Hawkins joined Foo Fighters in 1997 following the departure of the band’s previous drummer William Goldsmith.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with them in 2021 by Sir Paul McCartney.

Following the release of their most recent album, Medicine At Midnight, the band filmed a spoof-horror film titled Studio 666, in which Hawkins starred alongside his bandmates.

Prior to joining Foo Fighters he had played drums for Alanis Morissette.

He is survived by his wife Alison - whom he married in 2005 - and their three children.

According to celebritynetworth.com, Hawkins had an estimated net worth of $40 million (£30 million) at the time of his death.

What happened to Taylor Hawkins?

Hawkins’ death was announced by the band on Friday 25 March, in the midst of a festival tour of South America.

“The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,” Foo Fighters official account tweeted.

“His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever.

“Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time.”

No further details about Hawkins’ death were provided, although the Bogota municipal government said the city’s emergency centre received a report of a patient with “chest pain” and sent an ambulance on Friday evening.

Paramedics attempted to revive Hawkins, but there was no response and he was declared dead at his hotel in northern Bogota, the statement added.

Colombian officials have since said the drummer had 10 different substances in his system at the time of his death.

In a statement following an initial forensic examination, the Colombian Attorney General’s Office said a preliminary urine toxicology test indicated the presence of 10 different substances, including marijuana, antidepressants and opioids.

The statement continued: “The National Institute of Forensic Medicine continues to conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death.”

At the time of his death, the band had played in San Isidro, Argentina, last Sunday (20 March) and were due to perform in Bogota, Colombia, on Friday (25 March) night – the day his death was announced.

The band were scheduled to perform at the Grammys on 3 April and were due to begin a new tour of North America in May.

Who has paid tribute?

Tributes to Hawkins poured in immediately on social media from fellow musicians including Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol.

Ozzy Osbourne praised Taylor Hawkins as a “great person and an amazing musician,” and promised to “see him on the other side.”

“@TaylorHawkins was truly a great person and an amazing musician,” Osbourne wrote on Twitter. My heart, my love and my condolences go out to his wife, his children, his family, his band and his fans.”

Sharing a picture of Hawkins online, Idol wrote: “So tragic. Rest in peace Taylor.”

Miley Cyrus, who was part of the lineup alongside Foo Fighters at the Estereo Picnic festival in Bogota, Columbia, said she would dedicate her Saturday (26 March) show to him.

“My favourite memory of Taylor is dancing round the drum kit while he played this song…” she posted on her Instagram story, with a picture of Pretenders song Brass In Pocket.

Members of rock band Nickelback said they were in “utter disbelief” at the news.

“Our deepest condolences to his family, his bandmates, his team, his friends and everyone that was ever touched by the music he created with @foofighters @Alanis and so many others,” the band tweeted.

Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello praised Hawkins’ “unstoppable rock power” in his own online tribute.

The US embassy in Bogota also expressed its “sincerest condolences” to the drummer’s family, friends and fans.

Is Foo Fighters’ UK tour affected?

The band have confirmed via social media that all upcoming tour dates will be cancelled in light of Hawkins’ death.

In a statement, they said: “It is with great sadness that Foo Fighters confirm the cancellation of of all upcoming tour dates in light of the staggering loss of our brother Taylor Hawkins.

“We’re sorry for and share in the disappointment that we won’t be seeing one another as planned.

“Instead, lets take the time to grieve, heal, to pull our loved ones close, and to appreciate all the music and memories we have made together.”

Foo Fighters were due to kick off a UK 2022 tour at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on 25 June.

From there, they were scheduled to stop off for a gig at Villa Park in Birmingham on 27 June, before continuing south towards London, where they would take to the stage at the London Stadium for two nights - 30 June and 2 July - to conclude the UK tour.

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