Police in Colombia have said Taylor Hawkins' death may be drugs related. A statement from the Metropolitan Police of Bogota said: “The cause of death has yet to be established. According to those close to him, the death could be related to the consumption of drugs.”
The 50-year-old Foo Fighters' drummer was playing on the South American leg of the band’s world tour when his sudden death was announced on Saturday. The band said it was “devastated by the untimely loss” and asked for the privacy of his family to be respected. Local reports in Colombia said hotel staff called the emergency services after Taylor complained of suffering chest pains, the Mirror reports.
He was already dead by the time medical responders arrived at his hotel room. In a tweet from their Foo Fighters official account, they said: “The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins.
“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.”
SUNDAY UPDATE: Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins had 10 different substances in his system at the time of his death, Colombian officials said. The 50-year-old was playing on the South American leg of the band’s world tour when his sudden death was announced on Saturday.
In a statement following an initial forensic examination, the Colombian Attorney General’s Office said a preliminary urine toxicology test indicated the presence of 10 different substances, including marijuana, antidepressants and opioids. The statement continued: “The National Institute of Forensic Medicine continues to conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death.
“The Attorney General’s Office will continue to investigate and will duly inform the findings of forensic examinations in due time.”
And in a statement, the Bogota municipal government said the city’s emergency centre received a report of a patient with “chest pain” and sent an ambulance on Friday evening. Paramedics attempted to revive him but there was no response and Hawkins was declared dead at the hotel in northern Bogota, the statement added.
Tributes have been paid to Hawkins. Queen drummer Roger Taylor compared Hawkins death to “losing a younger favourite brother”.
“He was a kind brilliant man and an inspirational mentor to my son Rufus and the best friend one could ever have. Devastated,” he said.
Meanwhile Queen guitarist Brian May said: “No. It cannot be. Heartbroken. Taylor, you were family to us.
“Our friend, our brother, our beloved child. Bless you. We will miss you so bad.”
Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker remembered the days when Hawkins played with Alanis Morissette before moving to the Foo Fighters, adding that he was “sad” he would never see him again. “I’ll never forget Laguna Beach days when I was a trash man playing in a punk rock band and you were playing with Alanis.
“You’d come watch me play in dive bars and be like, ‘kid you’re a star’. And I thought you were crazy but you gave me so much hope and determination.
“Years later we toured together with Blink and Foos in Australia and I have the best memories of smoking cigarettes in the restroom of flights we were on together and watching your set every night.
“To say I’ll miss you my friend isn’t enough. Till the next time we talk drums and smoke in the boys room.”
Guns N’ Roses lead singer Axl Rose said Hawkins was a “really great guy, drummer n’ family man”. He said: “Was always great to see him! Was looking forward to seeing him n’ everyone in Daytona.
“Truly saddened. My deepest condolences to his family, the Foo Fighters n’their fans,” he added.
Liam Gallagher, former frontman of rock band Oasis said he was “devastated to hear the sad news” alongside rock band Biffy Clyro who tweeted their condolences. Ozzy Osbourne, who rose to fame in rock band Black Sabbath, praised Taylor Hawkins as a “great person and an amazing musician,” and promised to “see him on the other side.”
“My heart, my love and my condolences go out to his wife, his children, his family, his band and his fans.”
Pop star Miley Cyrus, who also performed in Bogota this week, said her next show is dedicated to Hawkins. Posting an Instagram story of a picture of The Pretenders song Brass In Pocket, Cyrus added: “My favourite memory with Taylor is dancing around his drum kit while he played along to this song playing it on repeat imagining us laughing, love forever.”
The band were scheduled to perform at the Grammys on April 3 and were due to begin a new tour of North America in May. Hawkins joined Foo Fighters in 1997 following the departure of the band’s previous drummer William Goldsmith.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with them in 2021 by Sir Paul McCartney. Following the release of their most recent album, Medicine At Midnight, the band filmed a spoof-horror film titled Studio 666, in which Hawkins starred alongside his bandmates.
Prior to joining Foo Fighters he had played drums for Alanis Morissette. Hawkins was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1972 and raised in Laguna Beach, California.
He is survived by his wife Alison and their three children.
