Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl broke down in tears while performing the classic song “Times Like These” during a tribute Saturday for his colleague, the late Taylor Hawkins.
The tribute at London’s Wembley Stadium came six months after Hawkins suddenly died unexpected on March 25th after complaining about chest pains.
“[A]s Grohl took the stage to perform his band’s classic ‘Times Like These,’ he couldn’t help but break down in tears mid-performance while the audience continued to cheer on him to show their support,” according to People magazine.
“It’s times like these you learn to live again. It’s times like these you give and give again,” he sang as tears streamed down his face.
Watch:
Dave Grohl opened Foo Fighters’ headlining set at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert with “Times Like These.”
He repeatedly wiped tears from his eyes and was forced to pause the performance to compose himself.#FooFighters #TravisBarkerTributepic.twitter.com/dTXoYTWH6m
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) September 3, 2022
🎸 Dave Grohl rompe en llanto al tocar con Foo Fighters por primera vez sin Taylor Hawkins. La música es esto.
“It’s times like these time and time again”.#taylorhawkinstribute pic.twitter.com/tFmlFaIPYh
— Pogopedia (@Pogopedia) September 3, 2022
The break-down occurred later in the show.
Featuring a slew of celebrities – including Dave Chappelle, Elton John, Jason Sudeikis, Liam Gallagher, and Paul McCartney — the show began with Grohl delivering an emotional tribute to his lost colleague and friend.
“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we’ve gathered here to celebrate the life, the music, and the love of our dear friend, our bandmate, our brother Taylor Hawkins. For those of you who knew him personally, you know that no one else could make you smile or laugh or dance or sing like he could. And for those of you that admired him from afar, I’m sure you’ve all felt the same thing,” he said, according to People magazine.
“So tonight, we’ve gathered with family and his closest friends, his musical heroes and greatest inspirations, to bring you a gigantic f–king night for a gigantic f–king person. So, sing. And dance. And laugh. And cry and f–king scream and make some f–king noise, so he can hear us right now. Cause you know what? It’s going to be a long f–king night, right? Are you ready?”
Listen to some of the speech below:
.@foofighters frontman Dave Grohl led a tearful tribute to his late bandmate Taylor Hawkins at the start of an all-star concert in London pic.twitter.com/vLlZkFWAld
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 4, 2022
Hawkins’ son, Oliver Shane, also participated in the tribute.
He played drums during the rendition of the song “My Hero.”
“Images of father and son were displayed on screens for the stadium to see as the song began, revealing the teen behind the drumset,” according to the New York Post.
Watch:
The way Dave Grohl turns to Taylor Hawkins’ 16-year-old son to get him comfortable enough to deliver an incredible performance shows so much love.
It was such an emotional moment, and Oliver Shane Hawkins nailed it for his dad.pic.twitter.com/bqVWZXgRlf
— Julianne Pelusi (@JuliannePelusi) September 4, 2022
Dovetailing back to Grohl, he and Hawkins had been more than just friends.
In his memoir, “The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music,” he explained that he and Hawkins were effectively life partners.
“Upon first meeting, our bond was immediate, and we grew closer every day, every song, every note that we played together. I am not afraid to say that our chance meeting was a kind of love at first sight, igniting a musical ‘twin flame’ that still burns to this day,” he wrote.
“Together, we have become an unstoppable duo, onstage and off, in pursuit of any and all adventure we can find. We are absolutely meant to be, and I am grateful that we found each other in this lifetime.”
That said, not everybody knows this, but Hawkins wasn’t an original band member. He explained in an interview last year with Entertainment Weekly that he joined the band after their original drummer quit.
My first big feature for EW and one of my last was on Foo Fighters and Taylor Hawkins was just a great guy to talk to, a big sunny California goofball who told the best stories even if they didn’t make him sound cool. What a loss for everyone who loved him https://t.co/ghdJafZc2k
— Leah Greenblatt (@Leahbats) March 26, 2022
“Here’s what happened. I had met Dave and Nate and Pat and William, the original drummer, on the road with Alanis Morissette, because that’s who I was playing with when the first Foo Fighters record came out. And I loved that record. I still love it! Probably because I was still just a fan, you know what I mean? I’m not part of the machine,” he said.
“So I didn’t really ever think there was going to be an opening. Never. Nor did I necessarily think I was the right drummer. But I did love the music so much. And at that time, I knew Alanis was probably thinking about going in a slightly less aggressive direction, especially the way we were playing live. Because if you saw us, it was Alanis singing with like, Jane’s Addiction playing her songs. Which really worked great; we were great!”
He continued, “But I heard that the Foo Fighters’ drummer had quit and they’re looking, so I called a friend who knew Dave; this was before cell phones. I got ahold of his number and I said, ‘Hey, I heard you guys are out of a drummer right now.’ And Dave said, ‘Yeah. Do you have any good recommendations?’ And I was like, ‘Well how about me, you asshole?'”
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