HAWKINS' HEROES TURN OUT FOR TRIBUTE CONCERT
The first of two Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts took place 9/3 at London's Wembley Stadium, roughly six months after the untimely death of the Foo Fighters drummer. The bill was stacked with legendary musicians who mattered to Hawkins in some way—from Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of his favorite band, Rush, and Brian May of Queen (his first concert) to Paul McCartney and Liam Gallagher of Oasis.
“Tonight, we’ve gathered here to celebrate the life, the music and the love of our dear friend, our bandmate, our brother, Taylor Hawkins," said Dave Grohl at the top of the show. "For those of you who knew him personally, you know no one else could make you smile or laugh or dance or sing like he could. And for those of you who admired him from afar, I’m sure you all felt the same thing. So tonight we’ve gathered with family and his closest friends, his musical heroes and greatest inspirations, to bring you a gigantic fucking night for a gigantic fucking person."
The six-hour event, which boasted a headlining set by Foo Fighters, had the crowd teary-eyed as Grohl's daughter Violet sang Jeff Buckley's 1994 hit "Last Goodbye" and Amy Winehouse's "Valerie," with Mark Ronson, Chris Chaney and Jason Falkner backing her up.
The waterworks flowed in earnest, however, when Grohl took the stage to perform "Times Like These" with Blink-182's Travis Barker on drums. He understandably struggled to get through the song, stopping several times to compose himself as tears streamed down his face.
Dave Grohl opened Foo Fighters' headlining set at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert with "Times Like These."
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) September 3, 2022
He repeatedly wiped tears from his eyes and was forced to pause the performance to compose himself.#FooFighters #TravisBarkerTributepic.twitter.com/dTXoYTWH6m
Other highlights included a surprise appearance by Them Crooked Vultures—Josh Homme, Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, Grohl and Alain Johannes—who reunited for their first performance in 12 years, as well as Metallica's Lars Ulrich and AC/DC's Brian Johnson, who did "Back in Black" and "Let There Be Rock," and Kesha, who delivered a robust version of the T. Rex song "Children of the Revolution" with members of Hawkins' side project Chevy Metal.
At one point, May addressed the crowd and pointed out that the surviving members of Queen had paid tribute to the late, great Freddie Mercury exactly 30 years before at the same stadium not long after Mercury died. The venue was soon lit by mobile phones held aloft in memoriam to both Mercury and Hawkins, lending the moment an ethereal glow.
As tens of thousands of fans hold up their lights, Queen's Brian May delivers an emotional performance of "Love of My Life" in honor of Taylor Hawkins: https://t.co/znCVJVWPul#FooFighters #TaylorHawkinsTribute pic.twitter.com/nOxxlNR83c
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) September 3, 2022
What was nonetheless the most memorable part of the show came when Hawkins' 16-year-old son, Shane, floored everyone—even Grohl—with his turn behind the kit for the Foos song "My Hero"; the jaw-dropping performance, assayed with the same intensity perennially displayed by the senior Hawkins, would have surely made his father proud.
Taylor Hawkins' 16-year-old son, Shane, does his father proud as he sits behind the kit for @FooFighters' performance of "My Hero." #FooFighters #TaylorHawkinsTribute pic.twitter.com/EsQ3sGNygU
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) September 4, 2022
Grohl and company will go another round 9/27 at L.A.'s Kia Forum with special guests Miley Cyrus, Joan Jett, Alanis Morissette, Gene Simmons, Nancy Wilson and many more.
For now, fans can watch the London event on demand via Paramount+, Pluto TV and MTV Video on Demand. (A one-hour special aired on CBS 9/3.) Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to find some Kleenex.
