On a late summer night at Wembley Stadium, a band that had lost one of its own gathered thousands of people to mourn him in the only way that felt true: through music, laughter and a few stories told aloud. Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer who died in a Colombian hotel room in March, was remembered not as a headline but as a friend, a bandmate, a brother and a father. In a world that so often rushes past grief, the evening offered a pause in which a community could say goodbye on its own terms, with the family's blessing and their chosen charities carrying something of him forward.
Dave Grohl Honours 'Brother' Taylor Hawkins at Emotional Wembley Tribute Concert
Drummer Taylor Hawkins was found dead in his hotel room in Colombia in March, and the concert honours his life and music.
A gigantic night for a gigantic person
Mark
Why does this concert matter beyond being a big night at Wembley?
Mimi
It's the band's first performance since Hawkins died in March. They cancelled their tour and a Grammys appearance, so this is where they chose to come back, with his family helping organise it.
Mark
The Chappelle story seems to be what people remember.
Mimi
Because it's about Hawkins as a father. A boy says he wants to be a drummer like his dad, and Chappelle says that's when he felt he met Taylor for the first time.
Luke
It's worth noting that's Chappelle's own account, told on stage. Nothing here independently confirms the details of the anecdote.
Mark
Fair. What about the money?
Mimi
Ticket and merchandise funds go to Music Support and MusiCares, both picked by the Hawkins family.
Luke
The report doesn't say how much will be raised, or how it will be split between them. That's unknown.
Mark
And the lineup?
Mimi
Liam Gallagher opened with Oasis songs, Queens of the Stone Age played, and Nile Rodgers did Let's Dance. Los Angeles comes on September 27 with Alanis Morissette and Chad Smith.
Luke
Attendance is only given as thousands, so I wouldn't read a precise figure into it.
Il Polso
- A drummer's sudden death in Colombia in March leaves a band and its fans suddenly without the person who anchored their sound.
- Thousands gather at Wembley as Dave Grohl asks them to sing, cry and make enough noise for Hawkins to hear it.
- Liam Gallagher, Dave Chappelle, Nile Rodgers and Queens of the Stone Age take the stage, turning sorrow into a crowd-wide celebration.
- Ticket and merchandise money flows to Music Support and MusiCares, while a second tribute is set for Los Angeles on September 27.
On a late summer night at Wembley Stadium, a band that had lost one of its own gathered thousands of people to mourn him in the only way that felt true: through music, laughter and a few stories told aloud. Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer who died in a Colombian hotel room in March, was remembered not as a headline but as a friend, a bandmate, a brother and a father. In a world that so often rushes past grief, the evening offered a pause in which a community could say goodbye on its own terms, with the family's blessing and their chosen charities carrying something of him forward.
Before the first song at Wembley Stadium, Dave Grohl stood before thousands of fans and explained what the night was for. They had come to celebrate the life, the music and the love of Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer found dead in his hotel room in Colombia in March. Grohl spoke to those who had known Hawkins well and to those who had admired him from afar, saying no one could make people smile, laugh, dance or sing quite like him. He asked the crowd to make enough noise that Hawkins could hear it, and the crowd answered.
The music opened with Liam Gallagher, who sang Oasis's Rock 'N' Roll Star with Grohl on drums, and balloons drifted over the stands. Later, comedian Dave Chappelle told a tender story about Hawkins's son, Oliver Shane, who had said he wanted to be a drummer like his father. Chappelle said that moment showed him a side of Hawkins he had never seen before: the father, not just the rock star.
The concert was the band's first performance since Hawkins died at 50. He had played with the Foo Fighters for more than two decades, joining in 1997 after touring with Alanis Morissette. After his death, the band cancelled its upcoming tour dates and a planned Grammys performance. The Hawkins family helped shape the Wembley show, and the proceeds will support Music Support and MusiCares. A second tribute follows on September 27 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
Before the first song at Wembley Stadium, Dave Grohl stood in front of thousands of fans and told them what the night was for. They had gathered, he said, to celebrate the life, the music and the love of a dear friend, a bandmate and a brother: Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer who was found dead in his hotel room in Colombia in March.
Grohl spoke to two kinds of listeners. For those who knew Hawkins personally, he said, no one else could make you smile, laugh, dance or sing the way he did. For those who admired him from a distance, he suspected the feeling was the same. He said the night had been put together with family and Hawkins's closest friends, along with his musical heroes and greatest inspirations. He asked the crowd to sing, dance, laugh and cry, and to make enough noise that Hawkins could hear it. The crowd roared back.
Liam Gallagher opened the music with Rock 'N' Roll Star, a song from his former band Oasis, with Grohl on drums. Balloons bounced across the crowd, and Gallagher moved straight into Live Forever.
Later, the comedian Dave Chappelle took the stage with a story about Hawkins's son, Oliver Shane. Chappelle described going backstage to see the Foo Fighters at Madison Square Garden in New York and meeting a boy of about 12 or 13 wearing skate shoes. When Chappelle asked if he skated, the boy said he didn't skateboard because he didn't want to hurt his arms. Chappelle, who said a simple yes or no would have done, asked what kind of answer that was. The boy told him he wanted to be a drummer like his father. In that room, Chappelle said, he felt he was meeting Hawkins for the first time. He had seen Taylor be a rock star on many nights, but this was the first time he saw him be a dad, and he called him a cool one. He then introduced Queens of the Stone Age and Nile Rodgers, who played David Bowie's Let's Dance.
The concert was the band's first performance since Hawkins died at 50. He had played with the band Grohl fronts, a group led by the former Nirvana drummer, for more than two decades, alongside Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee. He joined in 1997, after touring with Alanis Morissette. He also appeared with the band in their recently released film, Studio 666.
After his death, the band cancelled its upcoming tour dates and a planned performance at the Grammys.
The Hawkins family helped organise the Wembley show. Money from tickets and merchandise will go to two charities the family chose, Music Support and MusiCares.
A second tribute concert follows on September 27 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, with acts including Alanis Morissette and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers on the bill.
Citazioni salienti
Tonight we've gathered here to celebrate the life, the music and the love of our dear friend, our bandmate, our brother, Taylor.— Dave Grohl
Chappelle said he had seen Hawkins be a rock star many nights, but at Madison Square Garden saw him be a dad for the first time.— Dave Chappelle (paraphrased)
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