Foo Fighters‘ longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins has died at the age of 50.
The band shared the sad news on Friday (Mar. 25) via Twitter.
“The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,” a statement on Twitter 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 ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time,” the statement concluded.
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) March 26, 2022
According to a representative for the band (per Rolling Stone), Hawkins unexpectedly passed away. The group was preparing to perform at Festival Estéreo Picnic in Bogotá, Colombia.
The event offered a candlelit vigil to remember the late drummer in place of their headlining performance.
Hawkins, who first rose to fame touring with Alanis Morissette, was a longtime member of popular rock group, Foo Fighters, for 25 years, after taking the reins from their original drummer William Goldsmith in 1997.
Since becoming their drummer, Foo Fighters have won 12 Grammy Awards, including four for Best Rock Album. The band is also nominated for three awards at the 64th annual GRAMMYs, which will take place April 4, including for Best Rock Song (“Waiting On A War”), Best Rock Album (Medicine At Night) as well as Best Rock Performance (“Making A Fire”).
The group were also inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in October 2021. Hawkins also starred in the Foo Fighters’ horror-comedy film, Studio 666.
Hawkins’ cause of death has not been revealed.
