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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Fans and fellow musicians today are remembering Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins' charisma and ``powerhouse'' performing style following his death in Bogotá, Colombia. He was 50.
``I'm so sad about this, man,'' musician and filmmaker Questlove tweeted. ``coolest dude ever. god bless & comfort his family, his bandmates, his friends & all his loved ones.''
Singer-songwriter Finneas also shared his condolences on Twitter.
``So heartbroken to hear about Taylor Hawkins' passing,'' he wrote. ``What an incredible talent, who didn't also need to be so kind and generous and cool but was all those things too anyway. The world was so lucky to have his gifts for the time that it did, Rest In Peace.''
``@TaylorHawkins was truly a great person and an amazing musician,'' Ozzy Osbourne tweeted. ``My heart, my love and my condolences go out to his wife, his children, his family, his band and his fans. See you on the other side - Ozzy.''
The band announced his death Friday on social media. He was found dead in his hotel room, but no cause was given.
``The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,'' the announcement said.
``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.''
Hawkins and the band were scheduled to perform Friday night at the Festival Estéreo Picnic before headlining at Lollapalooza Brazil on Sunday.
Born Feb. 17, 1972 in Fort Worth, Texas, Hawkins' family moved to Laguna Beach in 1976, where Hawkins grew up, graduating from Laguna Beach High School in 1990.
Hawkins played in the Orange County-based band Sylvia before becoming the drummer for Canadian rock singer Sass Jordan. From June 1995 until March 1997, Hawkins was Alanis Morissette's drummer on the tour supporting her 1995 album ``Jagged Little Pill'' and her 1996 ``Can't Not'' Tour.
Hawkins began his association with Foo Fighters in February 1997 when he replaced William Goldsmith as their drummer for their second album, ``The Colour and the Shape.''
Following the album's release, frontman Dave Grohl called Hawkins to seek recommendations for the band's new drummer. Grohl was under the impression that Hawkins would not leave Morissette's touring band, because she was a bigger act than Foo Fighters at the time.
To Grohl's surprise Hawkins volunteered to join the band himself, explaining that he wanted to be a drummer in a rock band rather than for a solo act. The band announced Hawkins would be the new drummer on March 18, 1997.
In 2004, Hawkins formed his own side project, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, in which he played drums and sang.
Hawkins, a 26-time Grammy nominee with 11 victories, recorded the drum tracks for the 2007 Coheed and Cambria album ``Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow'' as the band's regular drummer, Chris Pennie, was not able to record due to contractual reasons.
While the Foo Fighters were on break in 2013, Hawkins formed a rock cover band called Chevy Metal.
Hawkins announced his new side project called The Birds of Satan in March 2014, which features Hawkins's drum technician and bandmate from Chevy Metal, Wiley Hodgden on bass guitar and vocals as well as guitarist Mick Murphy also of Chevy Metal. The band's self-titled debut album was released in April 2014.
Singer Miley Cyrus, a longtime Foo Fighters fan who recorded with Hawkins in 2021 posted a favorite photo of the late drummer on Instagram Friday with the caption ``This is how I'll always remember you ... My show tomorrow is dedicated to Taylor Hawkins.''
The Hidden Hills resident is survived by his wife, Alison, and their three children.