Foo Fighters announce performers for Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts: Queen, Miley Cyrus, Alanis Morissette, more

The Foo Fighters have announced the line-up for the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts. And it’s big.

Foo Fighters will be joined by a galaxy of superstars including Miley Cyrus, Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor and Alanis Morissette for their upcoming tribute concerts for drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Hawkins’ wife Alison confirmed her late husband’s bandmates would stage two shows, one at Wembley Stadium on September 3 and another at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on September 27, to give fans an opportunity to celebrate his grand musical life.

Other special guests revealed in the first line-up announcement for the London big gig include Liam Gallagher, The Police drummer Stewart Copeland, The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, Mark Ronson, Supergrass, Wolfgang Van Halen and comedian Dave Chappelle.

The Los Angeles show has confirmed Cyrus will be joined by Joan Jett, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Queens of the Stone Age’s Joshua Homme, KISS bassist Gene Simmons and pop superstar Alanis Morissette, who hired Hawkins to play in her band in the 90s.

Hawkins was famous for his love of Queen and rock legends Brian May and Roger Taylor are among those performing at both concerts.

More artists will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Hawkins' wife Alison thanked the band and its fans for the “outpouring of love” shown for Taylor since his death in Colombia on March 25.

“Your kindness has been an invaluable comfort for my family and me during this time of unimaginable grief,” Ms Hawkins said at the time.

Foo Fighters' drummer Taylor Hawkins on stage at the Lollapalooza 2022 music festival in Santiago. Picture: AFP.

“In celebration of his life, it is now up to all of us who loved him most to honour Taylor’s legacy and the music he gave us.”

Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee announced The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts to celebrate “our dear friend, our badass bandmate, our beloved brother”.

For our dear friend, our badass bandmate, our beloved brother…Foo Fighters and The Hawkins family bring you the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts. https://t.co/8gNTw2uxWlpic.twitter.com/N8mDZgJ2kk

— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) June 8, 2022

“As one of the most respected and beloved figures in modern music, Taylor’s monolithic talent and magnetic personality endeared him to millions of fans, peers, friends and fellow musical legends the world over,” the band said.

“Millions mourned his untimely passing on March 25, with passionate and sincere tributes coming from fans as well as musicians Taylor idolised. The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts will unite several of those artists, the Hawkins family and of course his Foo Fighters brothers in celebration of Taylor’s memory and his legacy as a global rock icon.”

Described as an “all-star rock and roll shows”, the concert will be inspired by “the songs that he fell in love with, and the ones he brought to life.”

No official cause of Hawkins’ death has been released.

Member's of the Technical Investigation Team transport Foo Fighters' drummer Taylor Hawkins body from a hotel in Bogota. Picture: AFP.

Doctors said his heart weight double the size of normal and a urine analysis report found marijuana, antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids in his system, according to Rolling Stone.

He was reportedly struggling with the extreme physical demands of the tour schedule before his shock death at the age of 50, according to several friends quoted by Rolling Stone magazine.

Friends interviewed, including Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, said Hawkins was concerned about playing three-hour shows night after night.

He was said to have broken down when after learning the Foo Fighters had added a one-off date in Australia, when the band played Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium on March 4, according to an anonymous friend.

American rock band Foo Fighters performing at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on March 4 Picture: Frontier Touring.

The band’s management disputed the characterisation of how Hawkins was feeling before his death, and said Hawkins never indicated he was upset about the Australian tour date.

His wife Alison said in a statement to fans how much they meant to him and “how dedicated he was to ‘knocking your socks off’ during every performance”.

“Taylor was honoured to be a part of the Foo Fighters and valued his dream role in the band every minute of his 25 years with them,” she said.

“Taylor’s endearing spirit and deep love of music will live on forever through the collaborations he so enjoyed having with other musicians and the catalogue of songs he contributed and created.”