Taylor Hawkins was more than just rock royalty, Queen legend Roger Taylor said tonight, describing his fellow drummer as a brilliant pal who was like one of the family.
Foo Fighters star Taylor, 50, died on Friday just days after a gig in Argentina where he stepped out from behind his drum kit to sing Queen’s Somebody to Love.
It was a nod he regularly gave to his favourite band.
Roger said his death felt “like losing a younger favourite brother”, adding: “He was a kind brilliant man and the best friend one could ever have.”
Queen guitarist Brian May said he was heartbroken to lose his “friend, brother, our beloved child”.
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, 81, also paid tribute: “God bless Taylor, peace and love to his family and the band.”
The rockers had been staying at a hotel in Colombia’s capital Bogota ahead of a gig at the city’s Estereo Picnic festival.
Staff called emergency services after Taylor complained of chest pains but he was dead by the time medics arrived.
It is thought to have been drugs-related.
He leaves his wife Alison and children Oliver, 16, Annabelle, 13, and Everleigh, eight.
It is the second tragedy to hit Foos frontman Dave Grohl, after the suicide of his Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain in 1994.
In a statement yesterday the band said: “The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins.
"His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with us forever.”
Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose was among the other music greats to pay tribute.
He said: “Shocked n’ saddened to hear of the passing of Taylor Hawkins. He was a really great guy, drummer n’ family man.”
Chris Martin wiped away a tear as he dedicated a performance of Coldplay’s Everglow to Taylor in Mexico, calling him “beautiful, beautiful man”.
Singer Liam Gallagher said he was “absolutely devastated” by Taylor’s death while Ozzy Osbourne, called him “a great person and amazing musician.”
Mick Jagger added he was “incredibly sad”. And Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi said: “What a terrible loss to us all.”
Foo Fighters had been due to play in São Paulo, Brazil, tonight.
The rest of their South American tour has now been cancelled.
They are due to play four sold-out dates in the UK in summer.
Police in Bogota said the cause of Taylor’s death was not yet clear but “according to those close to him... could be related to drugs”.
