Thousands of fans gathered at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday evening (Sept. 3) to honor the late global rock sensation and Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins.
The Foo Fighters put on the first of two tribute concerts where Hawkins’ 16-year-old son stole the show in a room full of iconic drummers. Travis Barker, Josh Freese, Rufus Taylor, Nandi Bushell and Omar Hakim were among the list of all-star drummers at the show, followed by appearances from Liam Gallagher, Mark Ronson, Queens Of The Stone Age’s Josh Homme, Supergrass, Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor, Blink-182’s Travis Barker, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, Kesha, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, and more.
“Now, we’ve got the little guy. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have one more drummer that’s gonna come up and play with us tonight and let me tell you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone ever hit the drums as hard as this person, but beyond that, he’s a member of our family and he needs to be here tonight with all of us. I think it makes sense that he’s going to come up and play with us tonight. Ladies and Gentlemen would you please welcome Mr. Shane Hawkins on the drums,” frontman Dave Grohl said, introducing the 16-year-old drummer to the crowd, who offered a roaring applause.
Shane Hawkins jumped in for one of the bands’ biggest hits, “My Hero,” taking the place of his father on the drums. With an emotional and passionate performance, Shane ended the song with a drum solo that prided his fans, frontman Dave Grohl, and his late father.
Fans across social media were awed with Shane’s performance.
“Shane Hawkins is 16 years old, and gave the most incredible performance on drums of ‘My Hero’ at his own Dad’s tribute concert at Wembley,” one fan tweeted. “How on Earth did he hold it together? Surely one of the most poignant moments in rock history.”
Another fan wrote, “Some unbelievably talented kids but I think Shane Hawkins just shone brightest. To be able to play at that level in front of 90,000 people at a tribute concert for your dad is another level. Incredible.”
Some unbelievably talented kids but I think Shane Hawkins just shone brightest. To be able to play at that level in front of 90,000 people at a tribute concert for your dad is another level. Incredible. #taylorhawkinstribute
— Stephanie Rutt (@stephrutt) September 3, 2022
“The pure joy and happiness on Dave’s face while watching Taylor’s son Shane Hawkins play drums on My Hero 😭😭 #taylorhawkinstribute,” another fan added.
The pure joy and happiness on Dave’s face while watching Taylor’s son Shane Hawkins play drums on My Hero 😭😭 #taylorhawkinstribute pic.twitter.com/SNd6uAoLdE
— KRush (@Krush59) September 3, 2022
Hawkins became a member of Foo Fighters in 1997. He landed nine of their records and was awarded 15 GRAMMY Awards, while being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 by Beatles’ member Paul McCartney.
Hawkins continued to tour with the Foo Fighters up until March 25 when he was found dead in his hotel room in the town of Chapinero in Bogotá, Colombia at the age of 50. Authorities stated he had ten substances in his system at the time of his death.
The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert was directed by Joel Gallen and produced by Emer Patten at EP-PIC Films & Creative. It became available to stream live on September 3 at 10:30am CT on Paramount+ (U.S. only), MTV YouTube channels (globally) and Pluto TV (internationally). The show can also be viewed on demand via Paramount+ (globally) beginning September 3 and on Pluto TV and MTV YouTube channels beginning the week of September 5.
CBS Television Network broadcasted highlights from the tribute concert on September 3, and MTV aired a one-hour special on its channels around the world that started in Latin America on September 3 and other international territories on September 4. An extended two-hour special will air globally on MTV Entertainment beginning in September.
All tickets and merchandise sales from the concerts will benefit charities chosen by the Hawkins family: Music Support and MusiCares.
Additionally, a second Hawkins’ tribute concert will take place on September 27 in Los Angeles at the Kia Forum.
