Taylor Hawkins, longtime drummer for rock band Foo Fighters, has died aged 50. No details of his death were released, but the band said in a statement that his death was a “tragic and untimely loss”.
Posted yesterday at 11:47 p.m.
“His musical spirit and contagious laughter will forever be etched in the memory of all of us,” reads a message on the band’s official Twitter account, which was also emailed to reporters.
“Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect at this incredibly difficult time. After Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl, Hawkins was probably the band’s most prominent member. Hawkins was the Foo Fighters’ drummer for 25 of the band’s 28-year existence, replacing original drummer William Goldsmith in 1997.
This is the second time Grohl has faced the death of a close bandmate. Grohl was Nirvana’s drummer when Kurt Cobain died in 1994. Hawkins leaves behind his wife, Alison, and their three children.