SHEILA E. On TAYLOR HAWKINS’s Death: ‘I’m Still In Shock’

BLABBERMOUTH.NET

Singer-percussionist Sheila E. discussed the passing of FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins with Entertainment Tonight's Nischelle Turner and Kevin Frazier on the red carpet of Sunday's (March 27) 94th annual Oscars ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. She said: "[I'm] devastated, because we just played together not long ago. And he's an amazing drummer. So kind, so generous. His laughter, his smile. He walks into the room and you're, like, 'Taylor!' He's just... I mean, I don't even know what to say or how to feel. I'm kind of still in shock. I'm trying to get through this and then just go, 'Okay, wait a minute. What's happening?'" After news of Hawkins's death broke on Friday, Sheila E. posted a message on Twitter expressing her sadness over losing one of her "favorite drummers." "I am devastated to hear the news of one of my favorite drummers Taylor Hawkins has passed," she tweeted. "Blessings to the family and to the band. I'm so sorry for your loss. Taylor you will be missed!" Hawkins died at a hotel in Bogota, Colombia on Friday (March 25). Local officials said an ambulance was sent to the hotel after a man reported having chest pains. The 50-year-old FOO FIGHTERS drummer did not respond to resuscitation efforts and was declared dead, the city's health department said. On Saturday, the Colombian attorney general's office announced that Hawkins had opioids, marijuana and other drugs in his system before he died. A toxicology report showed traces of 10 substances in his body, including anti-depressants, the office said. The statement added that the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences "will conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death" and that it "will continue the investigation and will report the results obtained within the framework thereof in a timely manner." FOO FIGHTERS announced Hawkins's death on their Instagram account. "The FOO FIGHTERS family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins," the announcement read. "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." The FOO FIGHTERS were scheduled to perform Friday at the Picnic Stereo festival in Bogota but their performance was canceled. The band played Lollapalooza Chile on March 18 and Lollapalooza Argentina on March 20. They were scheduled to headline Lollapalooza Brasil on Sunday (March 27). Hawkins has been open about his history of drug use. He overdosed on heroin in 2001 and spent a week in a coma, just four years after joining the FOO FIGHTERS.