Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl got emotional while performing at a special concert in London honoring the band's late drummer, Taylor Hawkins–who died at the age of 50 after being found unresponsive in a hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, on March 25, 2022.
Saturday's six-hour-long tribute concert featured appearances by Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher, Dave Chappelle and Hawkins’ 16-year-old son Shane.
When Grohl took to the stage to perform the band's 2003 song, “Times Like These"–from the Foo Fighters' fourth album, One by One–he became visibly emotional during the acapella intro and took a moment to regain his composure.
The supportive audience cheered him on as Grohl fought back tears.
You can watch the clip here.
\u201c\ud83c\udfb8\ud83e\udd41 Es mucho m\u00e1s que m\u00fasica, mucho m\u00e1s que una banda, va m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de una amistad que une los acordes y arpegios.\n\nDave Grohl rompi\u00f3 en llanto al tocar con Foo Fighters por primera vez sin Taylor Hawkins.\n\n#taylorhawkinstribute\u00a0\n\n\u201d— Marcelo Burgos (@Marcelo Burgos) 1662239852
Fans who also mourned the loss of the venerated musician related to Grohl's breakdown mid-performance.
\u201cDave Grohl breaks down mid way through Times Like These - I\u2019m bawling my eyes out too #taylorhawkinstribute\u201d— Benjamin Wright (@Benjamin Wright) 1662235585
\u201c@MarceloBurgosOk Oh God, that nearly set me off watching Dave crying. When an integral member of a band dies the vacuum that they leave behind devastates the band. He was a talented and amazing drummer who will be deeply missed.\u201d— Marcelo Burgos (@Marcelo Burgos) 1662239852
\u201cOh my Goodness. I love Dave Grohl so damn much. What a wonderful man. What a real man. What a tribute. The raw emotion. \nI love this band. So. Much. \nTimes like these. #FooFighters \n@foofighters \n#taylorhawkinstribute \n#TaylorHawkins\u201d— Cheryl Swift (@Cheryl Swift) 1662235653
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we gathered here to celebrate the life, the music, and the love of our dear friend, our bandmate, our brother, Taylor Hawkins," Grohl told the audience to kick off the concert after they started chanting, "Taylor, Taylor."
He continued:
"For those of you who knew him personally, you know that no one else can make you smile, or laugh, or dance, or sing like he could."
"And for those of you who admired him from afar, I'm sure you've felt the same thing."
\u201c.@foofighters frontman Dave Grohl led a tearful tribute to his late bandmate Taylor Hawkins at the start of an all-star concert in London\u201d— Reuters (@Reuters) 1662252000
A memorable highlight was when Hawkin's son Shane jammed on the drums during a performance for the band's single, "My Hero."
\u201cTaylor Hawkins' 16-year-old son, Shane, does his father proud as he sits behind the kit for @FooFighters' performance of "My Hero." \n\n#FooFighters #TaylorHawkinsTribute\u201d— CONSEQUENCE (@CONSEQUENCE) 1662304175
\u201c@consequence @foofighters I cried the whole damn time.\u201d— CONSEQUENCE (@CONSEQUENCE) 1662304175
\u201c@consequence @foofighters I can\u2019t stop smiling at the proud look on Dave Grohl\u2019s face watching his best friend\u2019s son play those drums! I\u2019m sure he was picturing #TaylorHawkins\u2026What a moment! That kid is going places! He\u2019s outstanding!\u201d— CONSEQUENCE (@CONSEQUENCE) 1662304175
The family affair continued with Grohl's daughter Violet participating in the celebration of Hawkin's life by singing a Jeff Buckley cover song while her father got behind the drum kit to accompany her.
\u201cViolet Grohl sings Jeff Buckley for #TaylorHawkins while her dad Dave Grohl plays drums @AlainJohannes @GregKurstin @foofighters #taylorhawkinstribute #TaylorHawkinsWembley \n\n\ud83d\udda4\ud83d\udda4\ud83d\udda4\ud83d\udda4\u201d— Tara Dublin (@Tara Dublin) 1662223834
\u201c@taradublinrocks @AlainJohannes @GregKurstin @foofighters I'm in tears. She is so beautiful\u201d— Tara Dublin (@Tara Dublin) 1662223834
\u201c@taradublinrocks @AlainJohannes @GregKurstin @foofighters Brilliant!\u201d— Tara Dublin (@Tara Dublin) 1662223834
The London tribute was one of two performances honoring Hawkins, with a second one to take place at Los Angeles' Kia Forum on September 27.
Hawkins joined Foo Fighters in 1997 as their drummer and went on to record eight studio albums with them between 1999 and 2021.
He was previously a drummer for Sass Jordan and Alanis Morissette, as well for the band Sylvia–whose musical sound was described as a fusion of hard progressive rock and psychedelia.
In 2005, Hawkins was named "Best Rock Drummer" by the British drumming magazine Rhythm.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 as a member of Foo Fighters.