Dave Grohl Recalls How Taylor Hawkins Became His Lifelong Friend and Foo Fighter Drummer

Dave Grohl has shared the story of how he first met Taylor Hawkins and the instant bond that formed between the two musicians. Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Grohl revealed that he knew immediately that Hawkins would become his best friend for life.

Hawkins joined Foo Fighters in 1997 and remained with the band through eight studio albums until his tragic death in 2022 at age 50, just hours before a concert in Bogotá, Colombia.

Since his passing, Grohl has frequently expressed the profound impact of losing his close friend, even stating that it made him question everything about life.

During his recent appearance on the late-night show, Grohl recounted their first encounter backstage at a festival when both were touring with their respective projects—Hawkins with Alanis Morissette and Grohl with Foo Fighters.

“Our first record came out around the same time as Alanis’ debut album,” Grohl explained. “We were doing festivals and radio appearances, and that’s where I first met Taylor, backstage. He came up to me, all confident and enthusiastic, saying how much he loved my band. I knew right away—we were going to be best friends for the rest of our lives.”

Grohl noted that it was actually Morissette who recognized that Hawkins would be perfect for Foo Fighters, reportedly asking him what he planned to do when Grohl invited him to join the band.

Hawkins completed Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” tour before departing in March 1997 to become Foo Fighters’ new drummer. He joined just as the band finished recording their influential second album, “The Color and the Shape,” and contributed to every subsequent release, starting with 1999’s “There Is Nothing Left to Lose.”

In March of this year, Foo Fighters honored Hawkins with nostalgic photos, posting a touching tribute: “Missing you every day.” Fellow musicians including Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron and The Darkness’ Rufus Taylor also paid their respects.

Following Hawkins’ death, tribute concerts were organized in Los Angeles and London, which Grohl described as “gigantic fucking nights for a gigantic fucking person.” The London event marked Foo Fighters’ first public performance since the loss, featuring an all-star lineup including Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, Liam Gallagher, Brian May, and Roger Taylor. Hawkins’ son Shane joined the band on drums for “My Hero,” alongside Grohl’s daughter Violet.

Josh Freese briefly stepped in as touring drummer after Hawkins’ death before departing in May 2025, with Ilan Rubin taking over. Foo Fighters have since released two albums without Hawkins: 2023’s “But Here We Are” and 2026’s “Your Favorite Toy.”

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