Taylor Hawkins

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Before finding his permanent home with Dave Grohl, Hawkins was a touring drummer for Sass Jordan and Alanis Morissette, appearing in the videos for "You Oughta Know", "All I Really Want", and "You Learn". He also played in the Orange County–based band Sylvia. His arrival in Foo Fighters came after Dave Grohl called him seeking recommendations for a new drummer. Grohl assumed Hawkins would not want to leave Morissette's touring band, but Hawkins volunteered to join himself, explaining he wanted to be a drummer in a rock band rather than for a solo act. He was announced as the new drummer on March 18, 1997. Hawkins first appeared with the Foo Fighters in the music video for "Monkey Wrench", though the song was recorded before he joined.

In Their Own Story

In 2000, Hawkins was contacted by Guns N' Roses to replace Josh Freese on drums. He seriously considered the offer before Roger Taylor convinced him to remain in Foo Fighters. Hawkins later said his drumming was chiefly influenced by classic rock drummers including Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, Roger Taylor, Neil Peart, and John Bonham. He was once guest editor of Rhythm magazine and interviewed Collins, Copeland, Taylor, and Stephen Perkins for the issue. His final performance with Foo Fighters was at Lollapalooza Argentina on March 20, 2022, where he sang lead vocals on Queen's "Somebody To Love".

Reader's Guide

Taylor Hawkins served as the rhythmic anchor and energetic spark for Foo Fighters throughout their most prolific era. His skills extended beyond percussion, contributing lead vocals on tracks like "Cold Day in the Sun" from In Your Honor, which was later released as a single, and "Sunday Rain" from Concrete and Gold. He also sang lead on covers including Pink Floyd's "Have a Cigar", Cream's "I Feel Free", and Joe Walsh's "Life of Illusion". He contributed to songwriting, 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. He provided vocals, guitar, and piano to various recordings. His integration into the group transformed them after the departure of William Goldsmith during the recording of The Colour and the Shape.

Did You Know?

• Hawkins was voted 'Best Rock Drummer' in 2005 by the British drumming magazine Rhythm.
• He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 as a member of Foo Fighters, one year before his death.
• In 2000, Hawkins seriously considered an offer to replace Josh Freese as drummer for Guns N' Roses before Roger Taylor convinced him to stay with Foo Fighters.
• Hawkins was commissioned to complete an unfinished Dennis Wilson song titled 'Holy Man' by writing and singing new lyrics, released for Record Store Day in 2019.
• He made his acting debut playing Iggy Pop in the 2013 rock film CBGB.

Early Life and Pre-Foo Fighters Career

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. He 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 future Yes lead vocalist Jon Davison. Before joining Foo Fighters, Hawkins played in the Orange County–based band Sylvia before becoming 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". He also appeared on Morissette's VHS/DVD Jagged Little Pill, Live (1997).

Tenure with Foo Fighters

Hawkins officially joined the Foo Fighters on March 18, 1997, replacing William Goldsmith after conflict during the recording of The Colour and the Shape. He served as the group's drummer until his death in March 2022, contributing to eight studio albums released between 1999 and 2021. Beyond percussion, he shared vocal duties with Dave Grohl, delivering lead vocals on tracks like "Cold Day in the Sun" and "Sunday Rain". He also contributed guitar and piano to various recordings. Hawkins was a consistent creative partner, listed as a co-writer on at least one song for every album from There Is Nothing Left to Lose through Medicine at Midnight. His final live performance occurred at Lollapalooza Argentina on March 20, 2022, where he performed Queen's "Somebody To Love". Just days after his passing, the band posthumously secured three Grammy Awards on April 3, 2022.

Side Projects and Collaborations

Outside of his primary band duties, Hawkins pursued diverse musical avenues. In 2004, he formed Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, a side project where he played drums and sang, releasing three studio albums between 2006 and 2019. 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. During a band break in 2013, he formed a rock cover band called Chevy Metal. In March 2014, he announced another side project called the Birds of Satan. Hawkins recorded the drum tracks for Coheed and Cambria's album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow. He played on the track "Cyborg" from Queen guitarist Brian May's 1998 solo album Another World. He was commissioned to complete an unfinished recording of a song by Beach Boys' drummer Dennis Wilson titled "Holy Man" by writing and singing new lyrics, issued as a single for Record Store Day in 2019. In 2000, he was contacted by Guns N' Roses to replace Josh Freese on drums but was convinced by Roger Taylor to remain in Foo Fighters.

Legacy, Awards, and Passing

Recognition for Hawkins' contributions arrived both during his life and after his passing. In 2005, the British publication Rhythm magazine voted him "Best Rock Drummer". A major honor came in 2021 when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Foo Fighters, one year before his death. Following his death on March 25, 2022, the Foo Fighters and his family announced two tribute shows, which took place in September 2022. Hawkins posthumously won three Grammys with the Foo Fighters on April 3, 2022. His influence extended beyond statistics; he was known for bringing energy and versatility to live performances, often singing lead on covers like Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" and Queen's "Somebody To Love", the latter of which he performed during his final concert with the band.