Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died with ‘10 drugs in his system’
Disturbing details have emerged about the death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins amid reports about what police found in his room.
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Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins had “ten different types of drugs in his system” when he collapsed and died in his hotel room at the age of 50, according to Colombian officials.
Colombia’s Prosecutor’s Office released a statement saying toxicological tests on urine from Hawkins’ body preliminarily found 10 psychoactive substances and medicines, including marijuana, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines. It did not provide a cause of death and investigations are continuing.
In a disturbing development, Colombian journalist Luis Carlos Velez claimed police who entered Hawkins’ room at the luxury Casa Medina Hotel told prosecutors that they saw a “cocaine-like powder” and hallucinogens in the room along with several opened alcoholic beverages.
Colombian publication Semana reported that the size of Hawkins’ heart - at over 600 grams, around twice the weight of a typical adult male’s heart - played a part in his death.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine last June, Hawkins said he was leading a healthy lifestyle and that his doctor told him he had a a large heart - what the drummer called “a runner’s heart” — due to his love of exercise.
The statement about the toxicological tests came after health chiefs issued a statement appearing to signal that Hawkins may have suffered a heart attack. The Secretariat of Health said the musician had sparked a medical emergency after suffering “chest pains” at the luxury Casa Medina hotel after suffering “chest pains”.
Hawkins, a father of three, was on a tour of South America with the Foo Fighters and the band was due to appear at the Grammys in April.
No drugs were mentioned in the statement about the medical emergency from health chiefs, despite the fact police had alluded to Hawkins’ death possibly being drug-related earlier.
The statement read: “The city’s Emergency Regulation Centre received an alert about a patient with chest pain in a hotel located in the north of the city.”
The statement said that an ambulance had been sent and that a health professional attempted revival techniques but the patient was pronounced dead.
“The District Secretariat of Health regrets the death of this talented and world-famous drummer and sends a message of condolences to his family, bandmates and fans.”
Earlier, the Metropolitan Police of Bogota speculated that drugs may have been involved.
“The cause of death has yet to be established,” the statement, carried in a number of Colombian newspapers, read.
“According to those close to him, the death could be related to the consumption of drugs.”
Members of a Technical Investigation Team removed the drummer’s body from his room while heartbroken Foo Fighters fans started a candlelight vigil outside the hotel.
Hawkins, who had three teenage children with wife Alison, spoke openly about his history with drugs and revealed he almost died in 2001 from a heroin overdose in London and spent two weeks in a coma.
He said years later that he wasn’t an addict but had been partying too much.
“Well, I was partying a lot. I wasn’t like a junkie per se, but I was partying,” he told Beats1 in 2018.
“There was a year where the partying just got a little too heavy. Thank God on some level this guy gave me the wrong line with the wrong thing one night and I woke up going, ‘What the f**k happened?’ That was a real changing point for me.”
It comes as a new photo of Hawkins emerged from inside the Foo Fighters’ private jet, which flew into Bogota earlier this week.
The photo, shared by Ms Sidley, showed Hawkins smiling with band member Pat Smear and Samantha Sidley who was working for the band.
The American band confirmed the tragic news on their social media channels at 2pm Saturday (AEDT).
“The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,” the statement read.
“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 asked that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time.”
His death comes as the band were touring South America where they were about to perform at Picnic Stereo Fest – a major musical event in Bogota.
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) March 26, 2022
Thousands of fans were waiting for the band to hit the stage when a spokesman for the event announced that the Foo Fighters had cancelled their show due to a “serious medical emergency”.
Fans at the event were left shocked and stunned when news spread throughout the crowd via social media that Hawkins had died.
Devastated concertgoers left lit candles on the stage and played the Foo Fighters song My Hero in a moving tribute to the drummer.
Hawkins had been in Australia recently, where he performed with the band in Geelong in front of 30,000 people earlier this month.
The band helped launch a new music initiative called Always Live, a Victorian government-backed program created by the late music industry boss Michael Gudinski.
Always Live, which aims to stage exclusive music events, will move to Melbourne and regional Victoria later in the year — and the Foo Fighters were meant to tour Australia in November as part of the Gudinski-inspired program.
MUSIC WORLD MOURNS ‘UNSTOPPABLE’ HAWKINS
Music’s biggest names have continued to pay tribute to Taylor Hawkins overnight after the drummer’s shock death.
Courtney Love, the widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, said Hawkins was a “sweet, adorable kid” and his death was tragic.
What a sad day, what a tragic passing, Taylor was a sweet adorable kid, excellent drummer, never hurt a fly. My condolences to my darling Pat, and to David tonight. 🕊. Rip Taylor. I’m so sorry Dave. X c pic.twitter.com/rLE7SoJ8U8
— Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) March 26, 2022
Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks spoke of her devastation in a poignant tribute that included a specially written poem for the much-loved drummer.
“He had a huge heart and a glorious smile,” Nicks wrote. “When he walked in the room, everyone looked up. When he left the room, everyone was sad.”
#TaylorHawkinspic.twitter.com/YfnZvRCDg4
— Stevie Nicks (@StevieNicks) March 26, 2022
Mick Jagger tweeted: “So incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Taylor Hawkins. My thoughts are with his family and the band at this time.”
Axl Rose said he was “truly saddened” while Miley Cyrus dedicated her set at Lollapalooza Brazil to the drummer.
Tonights show is in honor of my friend Taylor Hawkins. The most bad ass dude I know who would want me to shine and sing LOUD for the love of rock n roll! I’ve got this with a little help from my friend TH above & all of you. Let’s do it . 🦅🖤🤘ðŸ»
— Miley Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) March 26, 2022
Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry described Hawkins as “one of those absolutely rare people ya just couldn’t help feeling good around him ... and he was a ripping drummer.”
Lenny Kravitz said Hawkins “played from the heart with power and joy”.
A rock and roll brother has gone home too soon. 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. #TaylorHawkinspic.twitter.com/YcDrEfUzpF
— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) March 26, 2022
Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello was among the first shocked musicians and friends of the joyful drummer to pay tribute as news of his death spread.
“God bless you Taylor Hawkins. I loved your spirit and your unstoppable rock power,” wrote Morello, sharing a photo of himself and Hawkins alongside Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell. “Rest In Peace my friend.”
Joel Madden tweeted: “no words” with a broken love heart.
no words 💔
— JOELMADDEN (@JoelMadden) March 26, 2022
God bless you Taylor Hawkins. I loved your spirit and your unstoppable rock power. Rest In Peace my friend. pic.twitter.com/AkiRLF2L3e
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) March 26, 2022
Nickelback also shared their “utter disbelief” after news of Hawkins’ death broke, saying on Twitter: “In utter disbelief at the news of Taylor Hawkins. 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. This is so incredibly sad.”
In utter disbelief at the news of Taylor Hawkins. 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. This is so incredibly sad. pic.twitter.com/2AUeqpaN94
— Nickelback (@Nickelback) March 26, 2022
Ozzy Osbourne also tweeted: “@TaylorHawkins was truly a great person and an amazing musician. 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 - Ozzy.”
KISS frontman Paul Stanley tweeted: “Speechless and Gutted. Taylor was a great guy, a dad and a husband. My heart goes out to them, Dave and the band. What awful news.”
Gene Simmons also wrote: “Shocked and saddened to hear @taylorhawkins has passed away today.! Our prayers and condolences go out to the Hawkins family, @foofighters, friends and fans. Sad.”
Australian-American musician and actor Rick Springfield wrote: “Rest in peace Taylor. Peace, love, and light to your family.”
Jimmy Barnes’ wife Jane Barnes tweeted: “Just three weeks ago we were yahooing at the FooFighters gig in Geelong. So much vitality, so much energy. R.I.P. Taylor Hawkins Such a tragic loss, condolences to his family, band, crew and fans.”
Just three weeks ago we were yahooing at the FooFighters gig in Geelong. So much vitality, so much energy. R.I.P. Taylor Hawkins 💔Such a tragic loss, condolences to his family, band, crew and fans ðŸ™ðŸ» pic.twitter.com/3N1B9FJOo4
— 💧Jane Barnes (@jane13barnes) March 26, 2022
Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas wrote: “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 world was so lucky to have his gifts for the time that it did, Rest In Peace.”
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 world was so lucky to have his gifts for the time that it did, Rest In Peace
— FINNEAS (@finneas) March 26, 2022
The Offspring wrote: “Shocked and saddened to hear of the loss of one of rock’s greatest drummers. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Taylor Hawkins tonight.”
Slash tweeted: “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 Smashing Pumpkins wrote: “Taylor Hawkins 1972-2022. Our deepest sympathies to Taylor’s family, his fans, and of course his band.”
Taylor Hawkins 1972-2022.
— The Smashing Pumpkins (@SmashingPumpkin) March 26, 2022
Our deepest sympathies to Taylor’s family, his fans, and of course his band. pic.twitter.com/qlEaQK0uui
Billy Idol wrote: “So tragic. Rest in peace Taylor. @taylorhawkins”
The comedic, fierce musician and singer had a long affair with Australian audiences thanks to the Foo Fighters frequent visits since he joined the band in 1997 after the departure of original drummer William Goldsmith. He was previously Alanis Morissette’s touring drummer.
He would often share the promotional duties with Dave Grohl, coming to Australia to launch new albums ahead of their triumphant stadium tours.
A keen surfer, Hawkins would always find time to hit the beach or join his bandmates on cycling or motorbike excursions around Australian cities.
He always shined in the spotlight during their gigs with his inventive and energetic solos and banter with Grohl.
Hawkins would also give Grohl a chance to rest his voice during every concert and take over lead vocals on his songs including Cold Day In The Sun or one of their beloved covers, including trading high notes with the frontman on Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure.
The drummer was in fine form last month when the band launched their schlock horror comedy film Studio 666, in which he was spectacularly decapitated by a possessed Grohl after finishing an incendiary metal solo.
“Mine was going to be a lot more elaborate and take a long, long time to film and have prosthetics and be crawling with stumps and I was like, ‘Nah, I don’t want to do all that,” he told News Corp music writer Kathy McCabe.
“It was going to take five days to film and I was just ‘no’.
“I just pointed to the drum set and the cymbals and suggested we go for a Friday The 13th.”
Hawkins was the Foo Fighters’ laconic joker, with Grohl pointing to his classic laidback approach to life during the making of their film.
“Taylor refused to learn any of his lines in the script,” Grohl says, matter-of-factly with a raised eyebrow as if to suggest “you know, drummers”.
“Everybody else was kind of working closely within the parameters of the script and what we’re supposed to say.
“Taylor basically said, ‘F**k that, I’m just going to say whatever I want’.
“And to be honest, it worked because in the movie, that’s a 100 per cent Taylor Hawkins right there.”
But for all his go-with-the-flow attitude, Hawkins had a relentless musical drive with side projects on the go even when Foo Fighters were in the middle of their own album and touring cycles.
Hawkins and the Coattail Riders released three albums between 2006 and 2019 while the lover of hard rock also had the Birds of Satan and covers outfit Chevy Metal on the go.
Dave Grohl formed Foo Fighters - originally as a one-man project - when Nirvana disbanded following the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain in April 1994.
When Grohl was looking to replace drummer William Goldsmith because of “musical differences” two years after releasing their self-titled debut album, he said Hawkins was his first pick but he didn’t think he would leave Morissette’s band because she was the biggest artist in the world at the time.
“So when I called him and said ‘Hey, I’m looking for a drummer’, he said ‘You know I’m your guy,’” Grohl said.
“And I think it had more to do with our personal relationship than anything musical. And to be honest, it still does. Our musical relationship, the foundation of that is our friendship, and that’s why when we jump on stage and play, we’re so connected because we’re like best friends, and it’s great.”
The Foo Fighters mateship bond is legendary - they’re an extended family with wives and children often joining the band on the road.
Hawkins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Paul McCartney together with Foo Fighters last year.
The band had been scheduled to perform at the Grammys on April 3 with a North American tour starting in May and an Australia/New Zealand stadium tour starting in November.
He is survived by his wife Alison Hawkins and their three children, Oliver, Annabelle and Everleigh.
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