Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins Dead at 50: ‘His Musical Spirit and Infectious Laugh Will Live On’

Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC

Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins Dead at 50: 'His Musical Spirit and Infectious Laugh Will Live On'

Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has died. He was 50.

"The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins," the band wrote in a Twitter statement on Friday, March 25. "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."

Hawkins joined the music group — which is also comprised of Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, Nate Mendel, Rami Jaffee and Franz Stahl — in 1997 after William Goldsmith's departure. Together, the band has released 10 albums with hit songs including "Best of You," "Love Dies Young" and "This Is a Call." The group had been on tour in South America and were set to perform at the 2022 Grammy Awards next month.

The Texas native is survived by his wife Alison Hawkins — who he wed in 2005 —  and their three children: Oliver, Annabelle and Everleigh.

"When I was 25, I never thought, ‘I'm going to be a suburban dad someday,'" the late songwriter told Billboard in November 2019. "But that's what I am, so I can't write about being young and going to clubs, and I'm not very political. It's all sort of tongue-in-cheek though."

While further details of Taylor's death have not been revealed, several of music's biggest names have honored the "Everlong" performer's legacy.

"I don’t have the words. Sad to write this or to never see you again," Travis Barker, the drummer for Blink-182, wrote via Instagram on Friday. "I’ll never forget Laguna Beach days when I was a trash man playing in a punk rock band and you were playing with Alanis [Morissette]. You’d come watch me play in dive bars and be like, 'kid you’re a star.' And I thought you were crazy but you gave me so much hope and determination."

The Barker Wellness founder — who is set to perform at the 2022 Oscars on Sunday, March 27 — added a second tribute via Instagram Story, writing, "This one hurts."

Full House alum John Stamos, for his part, recalled the last messages the pair exchanged.

"This was Taylor Hawkins' last text to me:  'Ya We’ve yet to fully have a hang - Got a put that s--t together before we die,'" the Grandfathered alum, 58, tweeted early on Saturday, March 26. "Wise words from my friend - put that s--t together!  I'm so f--king sad.  Another one gone too soon."

Scroll below to see how the stars mourned the legendary rocker's death:

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Red Hot Chili Peppers

The "Dani California" performers played both The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live when the shows switched hosts on April 1, and the band paid tribute to Hawkins in both performances. Rather than have the band name on the bass drum, the name "Taylor" appeared over the RHCP logo on Fallon while the late drummer's name appeared in the outline of a bird on Kimmel.

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Machine Gun Kelly

The “Bloody Valentine” singer called the late drummer an “amazing musician” with a “great voice,” during an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show on Wednesday, March 30. Kelly went on to describe one of his most memorable days with Hawkins, which took place in Paraguay just two days before his death.

After the festival they were both supposed to perform at was canceled, the Foo Fighters invited him and his entourage to come back to their hotel’s rooftop and hangout. "[Taylor] went up to every single one of us and gave us each our moment," the Dirt actor recalled. "Like every single one of us, man, like down to my assistant. He's such a beautiful soul. He gave his heart."

The musician continued: “The last thing that he had said to [my drummer was], ‘I’m just so bummed I didn’t get to see you guys play.’ I really want to thank him and let his kids know that he made us feel … so confident in ourselves and loved, and your father [was] a great, great man and we were all lucky to know him.”

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Paul McCartney

“Taylor’s sudden death came as a shock to me and the people who knew and loved him,” McCartney wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, March 30. “Not only was he a GREAT drummer but his personality was big and shiny and will be sorely missed by all who were lucky to live and work alongside him.”

He continued: “I was asked by the Foo Fighters to play on one of their tracks. It turned out that they wanted me to play drums! — on one of Taylor’s songs. This request came from a group with TWO amazing drummers! It was an incredible session and cemented my relationship with Taylor and the guys. Later they asked if I would induct them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I sang with them on 'Get Back.' Taylor provided a powerhouse drum part. I’ll never forget that night. All of which made it much more of a desperately sad shock to hear he had died. So thanks Taylor for sharing some glorious minutes with me. You were a true Rock and Roll hero and will always remain in my heart.”

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Lenny Kravitz

“A rock and roll brother has gone home too soon,” the “Fly Away” crooner tweeted. "My deepest condolences to his family, Dave Grohl, and the @FooFighters. Taylor played from the heart with power and joy. May he Rest In Peace.”

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Stevie Nicks

“Thank goodness for the photo booth in the Foo Fighters studio. Because of these pictures my friendship with Taylor will always be at my fingertips,” the “Landslide” songstress wrote via Instagram on Saturday, sharing a throwback photo with Hawkins. “He always came to my shows. He and his best friend Dave even let me be a Foo Fighter for a little while. We recorded a kick ass version of Gold Dust Woman (live) and at the end of the song I yelled out 'Best Gold Dust Woman ever~’ And I meant it. … He had a huge heart and a glorious smile. When he walked into the room, everyone looked up. When he left the room, everyone was sad.”

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Miley Cyrus

The Hannah Montana alum dedicated her Saturday concert in Brazil to the late rocker.

“This is how I’ll always remember you. My show tomorrow is dedicated to Taylor Hawkins,” she wrote via Instagram Story hours earlier.

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Conan O’Brien

“Still processing the terrible news about Taylor Hawkins. Such a wonderful and crazily talented man,” the talk show host tweeted. “Thinking now about his family, his band, and his good friend Dave.”

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Gene Simmons

“Hearts broken all over the world. Taylor Hawkins was a kind soul & a monster musician,” Simmons wrote via Twitter. “Drummer for the Foos, Alanis Morrisette & Sass Jordon (who I managed for a time). Taylor and his band were to play our Kiss Kruize in Oct…Prayers and condolences to the Hawkins family.”

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Tommy Lee

“Right now typing words has never been so difficult,” the Mötley Crüe rocker wrote in a Saturday Instagram statement. “This hits so f—king hard! Dude I just talked to you a few hours ago from your hotel room in Columbia [sic] before your concert. I wish this was some sh—ty dream or a bad prank that we would both laugh about, But its [sic] not! You KNOW how I feel about you and how much I love you and we both know there’s no need to type it all out on social media for others to read.”

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Axl Rose

“Shocked n’ saddened to hear of the passing of Taylor Hawkins,” the Guns N' Roses musician tweeted on Saturday. “He was a really great guy, drummer n’ family man. Was always great to see him!Was looking forward to seeing him n’ everyone in Daytona. Truly saddened. My deepest condolences to his family, the Foo Fighters n’their fans.”

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Mick Jagger

“So incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Taylor Hawkins. My thoughts are with his family and the band at this time,” the Rolling Stones rocker tweeted.

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Finneas

"So heartbroken to hear about Taylor Hawkins’ passing, what an incredible talent, who didn’t also need to be so kind and generous and cool but was all those things too anyway," the “Nobody Like U" crooner tweeted. "The world was so lucky to have his gifts for the time that it did, Rest In Peace."

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Liam Gallagher

Gallagher wrote in a social media message: "Absolutely devastated to hear the sad news about Taylor Hawkins my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends RIP brother."

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Slash

"Devastated by the loss of our friend #TaylorHawkins I've no words to express all the feelings I have about his passing. But my heart goes out to his family. & his band & friends. RIP Taylor ❤️," the “Sweet Child O’ Mine" performer wrote via Instagram.

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Mark Ronson

"So devastated by the news of Taylor Hawkins passing," Ronson tweeted on Saturday. "He was truly truly one of a kind. Such a generous, joyful, positive, impish, badass, infectiously hilarious, kind spirit. And one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. This f**king sucks.”

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QuestLove

The Roots performer wrote at the time: “I’m so sad about this man. Coolest dude ever. God bless & comfort his family, his bandmates, his friends & all his loved ones.”

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Travis Barker

"Years later we toured together with Blink and Foo’s in Australia and I have the best memories of smoking cigarettes in the restroom of flights we were on together and watching your set every night," the "All the Small Things" musician added in his social media tribute. "To say I’ll miss you my friend isn’t enough. Till the next time we talk drums and smoke in the boys room … Rest In Peace 😢🥁💔"

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Marcus Mumford

The Mumford & Sons member wrote via Instagram Story on Saturday, "Taylor Hawkins was one of the kindest people I ever met in music. Growing up as a drummer and a Foos fan, he was an idol to me. Never meet your idols wasn't true for this titan. When they played with us at our stopover, he set up his drums backstage and played for 8 hours before stage time — just for fun. No one does that."

Mumford continued: "A proper musician. His heart was even bigger than his backbeat, which is among the greatest ever. I'm absolutely gutted for his family and the @foofighters family, and will be praying for them all today."

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John Stamos

"I'm so f--king sad.  Another one gone too soon," the former soap star tweeted.

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Ringo Starr

The former Beatles member tweeted: "God bless Taylor peace and love to all his family and the band peace and love."

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Ozzy Osbourne

".@TaylorHawkins was truly a great person and an amazing musician," Osbourne shared via Twitter on Friday. "My heart, my love and my condolences go out to his wife, his children, his family, his band and his fans. See you on the other side."