Taylor Hawkins: his life in words and pictures

25 March 2024, 8:00

Taylor Hawkins at the premiere for the Foo Fighters movie Studio 666, on 16th February 2022. Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty

The Foo Fighters drummer tragically died two years ago, aged just 50. Let's take a look back at his life... in his own words.

By Radio X

  1. "Bohemian Rhapsody is the first song I remember hearing as a kid. And I just thought it was funny."

    Taylor Hawkins performing with Chevy Metal at Riot Fest 2016. Picture: Daniel DeSlover/ZUMA Wire/Alamy Live News/Alamy

  2. "Life is funny. If you don't laugh, you're in trouble."

    Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders perform on stage at Wireless Festival in 2010. Picture: Alamy

  3. On Noel Gallagher's joke about getting a petition to have Foo Fighters split up: "he was really mean. He was really a jerk."

    Taylor Hawkins at London Stadium in 2018. Picture: Alamy

  4. "I don't have perfect pitch. My drums sound like a drummer, not a drum machine."

    Taylor Hawkins, February 2013. Picture: Alamy

  5. "I'm not trying to be the next Dave Grohl or Phil Collins."

    Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl shoot a video in Los Angeles, 2011. Picture: Brian Lowe/ZUMAPRESS.com/Alamy

  6. "I make a living playing rock n' roll. I'm not going to complain about anything."

    Taylor Hawkins at Bottle Rock festival in 2019. Picture: Chris Tuite/imageSPACE/MediaPunch/Alamy

  7. "Alanis - I love and I miss you. Thank you for my big break. I’d be delivering pizza if it wasn’t for her!"

    Alanis Morissette performs onstage with Taylor Hawkins, circa 1995. Picture: Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty

  8. "Why go on vacation when work is so much more fun?"

    Taylor Hawkins, performing with Foo Fighters at Glastonbury 2017. Picture: Grant Pollard/Invision/AP/Alamy

  9. "I love Donna Summer, and I love ABBA. I love late '70s disco. I love the Bee Gees. I just love that period of recording."

    Foo Fighters in 2005: Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl and Chris Shiflett,. Picture: AP Photo/John Amis/Alamy

  10. "This business can be tough, and I just consider myself incredibly lucky to have had the career that I have, and to still be having so much fun playing drums and making music."

    Taylor Hawkins in 2000. Picture: Alamy