Machine Gun Kelly recalls meeting Taylor Hawkins days before his death: 'He's such a beautiful soul'
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Musicians, celebrities and rock stars are mourning the death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, whose death was announced March 25. He was 50.
The band announced the loss on social media, calling Hawkins' death "tragic and untimely." He was found dead in a hotel room in Bogota on Friday.
A cause of death has not yet been announced, but a preliminary report from the Colombia's Attorney General's Office found Hawkins had 10 different substances in his body.
"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," read the band's statement.
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Machine Gun Kelly met Hawkins days before his death
Machine Gun Kelly recalled on Wednesday's episode of "The Howard Stern Show" spending time with Hawkins just days before his death. He called the drummer an "amazing musician" with an "amazing voice" before detailing their last time together.
On March 22, the Foo Fighters were set to play with MGK and his band in Paraguay and it was going to be the first time the group saw the rocker perform live, Kelly explained. Unfortunately, a storm caused the show to be canceled.
But Grohl reached out to Kelly and invited him to their hotel ā in which MGKās whole group (all 20 of them) discovered Hawkinsā graciousness.
āHe went up to every single one of us and gave us each our moment. Like every single one of us, man, down to my assistant,ā Kelly shared. āHeās such a beautiful soul.ā
Kelly added that he wanted to thank Hawkins and let his kids know how he impacted them.
āHe made us feel so confident in ourselves and loved,ā he said. āYour father is a great, great man. And we were all lucky to know him.ā
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Stevie Nicks, Jill Biden, more remember Hawkins
Stevie Nicks paid tribute to Hawkins alongside black-and-white photos of the two.
"Taylor was very handsome and he was very cute,ā she wrote. "Sometimes that combination is way better than ābeautiful.ā I think itās everything. He had a huge heart and a glorious smile. When he walked in the room, everyone looked up. When he left the room, everyone was sadā¦"
The Fleetwood Mac singer ended her post with a touching poem about losing her friend: "I am sad now / I am really sad / Itās like rolling thunder / Yes, thatās what I said," one verse read.
First lady Jill Biden also mourned the "ferocious drummer, dedicated father, and dear friend gone far too soon."
"Sending love to Taylor Hawkinsā family and fans of the Foo Fighters everywhere," she wrote.
Actor John Stamos shared what he said was the last text he and the drummer exchanged, which was a poignant message about spending time together "before we die."
Stamos, whose close friend Bob Saget died this year, wrote on Twitter: "Another one gone too soon."
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger wrote on Twitter: "So incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Taylor Hawkins. My thoughts are with his family and the band at this time."
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Rage Against the Machine rocker Tom Morello posted a selfie with Hawkins and wrote on Twitter, "God bless you Taylor Hawkins. I loved your spirit and your unstoppable rock power. Rest In Peace my friend."
Miley Cyrus dedicated her Brazil show to "my friend and legend."
Fellow drummer Questlove called Hawkins the "coolest dude ever" in tribute.
"Iām so sad about this man. coolest dude ever. god bless & comfort his family, his bandmates, his friends & all his loved ones. Taylor Hawkins. Rest In Beats. #TaylorHawkins," he wrote.
Another fellow drummer, Roger Taylor, wrote it was like losing a younger favorite brother. "He was a kind, brilliant man and an inspirational mentor to my son Rufus and the best friend one could ever have. Devastated," he wrote.
Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker also shared words on Instagram. "You gave me so much hope and determination," he wrote, sharing that they toured together in Australia. "I have the best memories of smoking cigarettes in the restroom of flights we were on together and watching your set every night. To say Iāll miss you my friend isnāt enough."
Hawkins joined Foo Fighters in 1997, taking over for original drummer William Goldsmith. On Friday, the band was scheduled to play at the Festival EsteĢreo Picnic in BogotaĢ, Colombia. Their next show was scheduled for Lollapalooza Brasil in SaĢo Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday, and they were also set to perform at the April 3 Grammy Awards.
Guns N' Roses lead vocalist Axl Rose wrote that he was looking forward to seeing him at the Rockville Festival where both he and the Foo Fighters are set to perform.
"Shocked nā saddened to hear of the passing of Taylor Hawkins. He was a really great guy, drummer nā family man. Was always great to see him! Was looking forward to seeing him nā everyone in Daytona," he wrote. "Truly saddened."
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After Dave Grohl, Hawkins was the most recognizable Foo Fighters member, appearing alongside the lead singer in interviews and playing prominent, usually comic, roles in the bandās memorable videos and their recent horror-comedy film, āStudio 666.ā
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In Grohlās 2021 book āThe Storyteller,ā he called Hawkins his ābrother from another mother, my best friend, a man for whom I would take a bullet.ā
āUpon first meeting, our bond was immediate, and we grew closer with every day, every song, every note that we ever played together,ā Grohl wrote. āWe are absolutely meant to be, and I am grateful that we found each other in this lifetime.ā
Contributing: Charlie Trepany, USA TODAY; The Associated Press