Mr. Hawkins joined the Foo Fighters in 1997 after a stint with Alanis Morissette, and was perhaps the group’s most famous figure after leader, singer and guitarist Dave Grohl. In a 2021 memoir, Grohl – a former Nirvana drummer – described Mr. Hawkins as his “best friend” and “a man for whom I would take a shot.” The story goes on under the ad “With the first meeting, our bond was direct and we were closer with every day, every song, every note we ever played together,” Grohl wrote. Mr. Hawkins appeared frequently in Foo Fighters videos, including the 1997 hit video for “Everlong,” although he was not yet a member of the band when the song was originally recorded. He played successful songs such as “My Hero” and “Best of You” and sometimes went out to sing, with Grohl playing drums behind him. Over the years, Foo Fighters have won 12 Grammy Awards and have been a great touring band. Oliver Taylor Hawkins was born on February 17, 1972 in Fort Worth and grew up in Southern California. She worked with local bands before collaborating with Canadian singer Sass Jordan and later with Morissette. Grohl invited him to join the Foo Fighters after the band’s original drummer, William Goldsmith, left the band. Mr. Hawkins appeared in a recent Foo Fighters horror and comedy film, Studio 666. He was married and had three children. This is a story that unfolds. A complete obituary will follow.
