Dave Grohl and his band returned to L.A. from Bogota ... after the sudden death of their drummer and beloved friend, Taylor Hawkins. https://t.co/8uvSwu6h7M
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 27, 2022
According to TMZ, the surviving members of the FOO FIGHTERS have returned to Los Angeles from Bogota, Colombia following the tragic passing of their drummer, Taylor Hawkins. The tabloid site has shared a few photos of the musicians shortly after their plane touched down, with one picture showing a visibly emotional Dave Grohl hugging a man who looks like his longtime manager John Silva.
In a 2021 interview, Grohl reflected on the first time he met Hawkins. "We were at some radio show backstage, and he came up with a beer in his hand," Grohl recalled. "He's like, 'Hey, man, what's up? I'm Taylor. I play with Alanis Morissette. Dude, I love your record. It's so cool!' He was such a spaz. I was, like, 'Wow, you're either my twin or my spirit animal or my best friend.' In the first 10 seconds of meeting him."
During FOO FIGHTERS' performance at Lollapalooza Argentina just five days before his death, Hawkins told the audience: "I fuckin' love Dave Grohl. I'd be delivering pizzas if it wasn't for Dave Grohl. I'd be managing the drum department at a Guitar Center if it wasn't for Dave Grohl."
Hawkins died at a hotel in Bogota 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 musician 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."
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).
