Taylor Hawkins, charismatic drummer of the Foo Fighters, died on March 22, 2022, while touring with the band in South America. Although no official cause of death has been given, officials said that several banned substances were found in his urine sample. The drummer was 50 years old. A report said that several friends of the drummer had noted that the drummer was exhausted with the harsh and punishing undertaken by the band and had spoken to Dave Grohl about he was unable to physically handle it. However, two of them later called out the report for sensationalization and for misleading people about the private comments they made about their friend.
Iconic rock site Rolling Stone interviewed several friends in the past six weeks and reported that close friends had said that the talented drummer was feeling the strain of hectic tours. When asked for comment from the band members, there was no response. Taylor Hawkins’ family also declined to comment.
According to the report by Rolling Stone, Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron said, “He told me that he ‘couldn’t f***ing do it anymore’– those were his words. Both Cameron and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers said that their friend had spoken to bandmate David Grohl about his distress with the tour schedule, weeks before his death in March. The band’s representative denied the characterization.
On May 17, both Matt Cameron and Chad Smith distanced themselves from the article that appeared on Rolling Stone and apologized for their comments, according to a report by Pitchfork.
Matt Cameron wrote that he had “agreed to take part in the Rolling Stone article about Taylor” as he had assumed that “it would be a celebration of his [Taylor Hawkins] life and work.” He also apologized that his participation in the interview “may have caused harm to those for whom I have only the deepest respect and admiration.”
Chad Smith also said said that he thought that the article “was going to be the loving tribute” that Taylor Hawkins deserved. Instead the outlet wrote a “sensationalized and misleading” story. He said, “I apologize to his family and musical friends for any pain this may have caused.”
However, one source who remained anonymous also spoke of Taylor Hawkins’ apparent anxiety and concerns about the rigorous schedule by the Foo Fighters while the fourth source, singer Sass Jordan posted a link of the Rolling Stone article on the morning of May 17, to her Facebook page.
