We were supposed to celebrate a Taylor Hawkins birthday today. Truthfully, we still are. Just without having Taylor with us.
We’re paying tribute to the late Foo Fighters drummer in a few (Foo?) ways today. Earlier, we flashed back to the band’s appearance a few years back on “Carpool Karaoke” on The Late Late Show with James Corden. I maintain that Corden makes this segment cringey more often than not, but even he couldn’t upstage the Taylor Hawkins Guitar Center bit. Revisit that moment here.
Last year felt like one, big, year-long tribute to the late rocker after his passing in March. And I mean that in the best way possible. Last September saw the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert in Los Angles, which we reviewed here. And before that was the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert in London, which you can revisit here. The amount of star power and the amount of emotion were both overwhelming.
Remembering the Brilliance and Beauty of Taylor Hawkins on His Birthday
My first time seeing Foo Fighters was at Fleet Pavilion in Boston on July 5, 2003. As you know, there are few better live music experiences in Boston than seeing a band on the Harbor in the summertime, and the Foo did not disappoint. I was–and still am–a fan of the guy who Taylor replaced, William Goldsmith. Seeing Hawkins live made me forget all about William Goldsmith.
He truly was a gift behind the kit. And his energy and sense of humor were infectious. I know firsthand, because I had the chance to sit down with him and Dave Grohl back in 2005. You can read about that here. Below, you’ll find five clips that I think do a great job of capturing Taylor’s talent and spirit. Happy Heavenly Birthday, Taylor Hawkins. You are missed.