Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins’ body to be repatriated as family make funeral arrangements

The body of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins will fly to the US after being released by Colombian authorities.

Hawkins’ family is now making funeral arrangements as investigators completed an autopsy over the weekend following the drummer’s shock death Friday.

Investigators in Colombian capital Bogota confirmed Hawkins consumed ten substances including marijuana, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids.

The Foo Fighters drummer is survived by wife Alison (right), daughter Annabelle, 13, (centre) and two other children, Oliver, 16, and Everleigh, 8. Taylor and Alison married in 2005

An emotional Dave Grohl sobbed as he hugged his band mates and friends at LAX on Saturday night

Grohl, 53, appeared heartbroken as he hugged a man who appears to be manager John Silva after the band got back to the US from touring in South America

Local reports also quoted a police officer as spotting white powder ‘similar to cocaine’ and hallucinogens in Hawkins’ hotel room. 

A private funeral director is preparing to send Hawkins home to be buried.

Foo Fighters lead singer Dave Grohl was seen sobbing as he hugged band mates and friends at LAX on Saturday night.

Band members returned to LA after Hawkins’ tragic death from a ‘cardiovascular collapse’.  

Grohl, 53, appeared heartbroken as he hugged a man who appears to be his manager, John Silva, after the band returned to the U.S. 

In his memoir, ‘The Storyteller,’ Grohl referred to Hawkins as his ‘best friend and partner in crime,’ someone who brightened up rooms with a bubbly presence and a constant ‘toothy grin.’

Also pictured arriving in LA were guitarists Pat Smear and Chris Shiflett, keyboardist Rami Jaffee and background singer Samantha Sidley. 

They landed on a private plane before they were photographed grieving the tragic loss.

An autopsy found that Hawkins’ heart weighed double that of an average man his age and that the musician suffered heart failure after binging on a cocktail of drugs.

Forensic experts said Hawkins’ ticker weighed ‘at least 600 grams’ – double the 300 to 350 gram average for someone his age – during an examination following his shocking death at a luxury hotel in the capital, according to Colombian magazine Capana. 

Authorities confirmed the drummer overdosed on heroin mixed with antidepressants and benzodiazepines, including anti-anxiety drugs known as benzos.

Alison Hawkins, pictured in 2013, has been given the green light to prepare late husband Taylor’s funeral after his shock death

Also pictured arriving were guitarists Pat Smear and Chris Shiflett, keyboardist Rami Jaffee and background singer Samantha Sidley. They landed on a private plane before they were photographed grieving the tragic loss

Friends and tour mates exchanged hugs at the airport after Hawkins’s tragic death, which involved a cocktail of at least 10 different drugs, according to Colombia’s Attorney General’s office

The Foo Fighters were formed in 1994 by Grohl, the former drummer of Nirvana, after the suicide of lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain

Tour members and others hug outside of LAX as the Foo Fighters return to the US following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins on Friday 

Concerns about the drummer’s health first arose on Friday night when he began complaining of chest pains prior to the band’s headline performance at the Estereo Picnic Festival in Bogota

Hawkins’ last performance was at Lollapalooza 2022 in Santiago, Chile on March 18 (above). The Foo Fighters were scheduled to play another Lollapalooza in Brazil on Sunday 

Well-known Colombian journalist Luis Carlos Velez, the Bogota-based director of radio station FM, said earlier today that a police officer who entered Hawkins’ room at the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina had told prosecutors he saw a ‘cocaine-like’ white powder.

However, the Bogota Attorney General’s Office (AGO) did not mention cocaine in its post-autopsy statement.

Concerns about the drummer’s health first arose on Friday night when he began complaining of chest pains prior to the band’s headline performance at the Estereo Picnic Festival in Bogota.

His condition subsequently deteriorated and efforts to revive him by a private doctor and emergency responders failed.

In a statement released late on Saturday, Colombia’s AGO said: ‘Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins was found dead in a hotel room on Friday in Bogota.

‘After concluding an initial forensic examination of the body the AGO would like to communicate the following:

‘1) Preliminary results of the urine toxicology test indicate the presence of 10 different substances: THX (Marihuana), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and opioids among others.

‘2) The National Institute of Forensic Medicine continues to conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death.

‘3) The AGO will continue to investigate and will duly inform the findings of forensic examinations in due time.’  

Taylor Hawkins  is pictured with a young fan in Paraguay days before his death. He helped Emma Sofía, nine, fulfil her dream of playing drums with his band, Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters hold lit candles fans outside Casa Medina Hotel today where band’s drummer Taylor Hawkins was found dead

Colombian newspaper El Tiempo said a confidential report it had been informed about pointed to hallucinogens – mind-altering drugs that can include LSD – being found inside the hotel room. (Pictured, file image of a hotel room at Casa Medina)

Members of the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) remove the lifeless body of the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins, at the Casa Medina hotel, in Bogota, Colomia

Hawkins, a father-of-three, suffered a heroin overdose in London in 2001 that left him in a coma for around a week.

In an interview last year he admitted: ‘Everyone has their own path and I took it too far. I was partying in London one night, and I mistakenly did something and it changed everything.

‘I believed the bull***t myth of live hard and fast, die young.

‘I’m not here to preach about not doing drugs, because I loved doing drugs, but I just got out of control for a while and it almost got me.’ 

One unconfirmed local report said several glasses were found inside the drummer’s room, sparking speculation he had been entertaining guests before his death.

Colombia’s State Prosecution Service, in its first official comments on the tragedy, confirmed: ‘As soon as we were made aware of the death of foreign national Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer, who was staying at a hotel in the north of Bogota, a team of prosecutors and investigators was mobilized to deal with urgent matters and support the investigation.’  

Local reports said hotel staff called the emergency services after Hawkins suffered chest pains but he was already dead by the time medical responders arrived. 

Foo Fighters had been scheduled to play at a concert in the Colombian capital. 

Taylor Hawkins was pictured in what is believed to be for the final time on social media on Wednesday. He is seen on a plane with band member Pat Smear (left) and Samantha Sidley (right) who was working for the band on Wednesday March 23, 2022

White powder ‘similar to cocaine’, and hallucinogens, were allegedly found in the five-star Casa Medina hotel room of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who has died aged 50. (Above, file image of a hotel room at the Casa Medina in Bogota)

Shortly after Hawkins’ death was announced, dozens of fans together with journalists and videographers began to gather outside the hotel where the band had been staying. 

Many appeared to be in complete shock at the news with some lighting candles.

Ambulances and police cars could be seen stationed outside of the property. 

Later on Friday night, Hawkins’ body was finally brought out of the hotel, placed into a coroner’s van and driven away.

The group had been scheduled to play at the Festival Estéreo Picnic in the Colombian capital, where an announcement told concert-goers that the band would not be playing due to a ‘serious medical condition’. 

Hawkins, who was married to illustrator Alison and father to three children, Oliver, Annabelle and Everleigh, had just completed a host of tour dates in South America with the band last playing in San Isidro, Argentina, last Sunday. 

A sheet is held up as the body of Hawkins is moved to a coroner’s van by forensic technicians outside the Casa Medina hotel

No cause of death was immediately announced but the band revealed they were ‘devastated by the tragic and untimely loss’ (pictured left) in a tribute shared on their social media page. Pictured right: an announcement on stage where Foo Fighters were due to perform on Friday told audiences that the band would not be performing due to a ‘serious medical situation’

People react outside the Casa Medina hotel, where Taylor Hawkins, drummer of the band Foo Fighters was staying

Hawkins joined the band in 1997 after the group completed their second album, The Colour and the Shape. 

Prior to being in Foo Fighters, Hawkins played drums for Alanis Morissette from whom he was recruited by frontman Dave Grohl – Nirvana’s own legendary drummer.

Some fans said prayers and lit candles to the legendary drummer who died in his hotel room on Friday night

Grohl formed his second band Foo Fighters in 1994 in the wake of an earlier tragedy, just months after Kurt Cobain, Nirvana’s frontman, took his own life.

After Cobain’s suicide in April, Grohl retreated and was unsure if he wanted to stay in the music industry but created Foo Fighters in October that year after penning a 15-track demo and signing with Capitol records. 

When Hawkins came aboard in 1997, Foo Fighters moved from the alternative rock scene to achieve mainstream success, regularly packing out arenas and stadiums. 

The police were on site quickly at the hotel in northern Bogota where Hawkins and his bandmates were staying

Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters perform during day one of Lollapalooza Chile 2022 at Parque Bicentenario Cerrillos on March 18, 2022 in Santiago, Chile. This is believed to be one of the last publicly known photos of him performing

Foo Fighters’ charismatic drummer, Taylor Hawkins, has died at the age of 50. Pictured: Taylor on stage in October 2021

An imaginative and rock-solid drummer, he had the seemingly thankless task of playing drums behind Foos singer-guitarist Grohl. 

Hawkins filled that role with aplomb, bringing his own hard-hitting, time-juggling style to the band’s straight-ahead rock sound without trying to emulate Grohl. 

He was also a strong singer and frequently took the mic during the band’s concerts and on B-sides, often on cover versions (such as a 2008 team-up with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, when Grohl went behind the drum kit at Hawkins took the mic).

As well as the nine albums he put out with Foo Fighters, Taylor also had three albums with his band Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders and an additional album with side project The Birds of Satan.

In a separate interview in 2018, Hawkins told Beats 1 of the overdose: ‘I was partying a lot. I wasn’t a junkie per se, but I was partying. There was a year where the partying just got a little too heavy.

‘Thank God on some level this guy gave me the wrong line with the wrong thing one night and I woke up going, ‘What the f**k happened?’ That was a real changing point for me.’

Hawkins said he went mountain biking to clear his head and, although he was ‘not an AA dude’, he said he developed a system that ‘works for [him]’.

The Foo Fighters are pictured in their last song in their more performance last Sunday, March 20 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Hawkins could be seen in his usual position behind the drum kit at the Lollapalooza music festival in Buenos Aires

‘In utter disbelief at the news of Taylor Hawkins. Our deepest condolences to his family, his bandmates, his team, his friends and everyone that was ever touched by the music he created with @FooFighters, @Alanis and so many others. This is so incredibly sad,’ wrote Nickelback on Instagram. Miley Cyrus shared a black-and-white snap of the late Foo Fighters drummer

Billy Idol tweeted, ‘So tragic. Rest in peace Taylor’ in a simple yet poignant message

Ozzy Osbourne praised Taylor Hawkins as a ‘great person and an amazing musician,’ and promised to ‘see him on the other side.’

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker posted a playful backstage photo with his band and Foo Fighters, as Taylor flashed his trademark grin

Tributes to Hawkins poured in immediately on social media from fellow musicians including Nickelback, Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol.  

‘In utter disbelief at the news of Taylor Hawkins. Our deepest condolences to his family, his bandmates, his team, his friends and everyone that was ever touched by the music he created with @FooFighters, @Alanis and so many others. This is so incredibly sad,’ wrote Nickelback on Instagram.

Ozzy Osbourne praised Taylor Hawkins as a ‘great person and an amazing musician,’ and promised to ‘see him on the other side.’

‘@TaylorHawkins was truly a great person and an amazing musician,’ Osbourne wrote on Twitter.

‘My heart, my love and my condolences go out to his wife, his children, his family, his band and his fans.

‘See you on the other side – Ozzy.’

Sharing a picture of Hawkins online Idol wrote: ‘So tragic. Rest in peace Taylor.’

Miley Cyrus announced on Instagram that she would be dedicating her next concert to the drummer.

She shared a black-and-white image of Taylor rocking out on his drum set on stage as he flashed his trademark smile.

‘This is how I’ll always remember you…’ she captioned her photo, before adding, ‘My show tomorrow is dedicated to Taylor Hawkins.’ 

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker joined in the somber tributes by sharing a sweet photo of his band meeting up with Hawkins and other Foo Fighters members.

‘God bless you Taylor Hawkins. I loved your spirit and your unstoppable rock power,’ wrote Rage Against the Machine frontman Tom Morello. ‘Rest In Peace my friend.’

‘I’ve always had so much admiration for him,’ former drummer with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy tweeted

‘Amazing drummer & a gem of a guy who was always fun to be around,’ said producer Steve Albini

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker joined in the somber tributes by sharing a sweet photo of his band meeting up with Hawkins and other Foo Fighters members.

Hawkins could be seen grinning while the group’s front man Grohl mugged for the camera.

‘I don’t have the words. Sad to write this or to never see you again,’ he addressed the fallen drummer. ‘I’ll never forget Laguna Beach days when I was a trash man playing in a punk rock band and you were playing with Alanis.

‘You’d come watch me play in dive bars and be like, ‘kid you’re a star’. And I thought you were crazy but you gave me so much hope and determination,’ Barker wrote. 

‘Years later we toured together with Blink and Foo’s in Australia and I have the best memories of smoking cigarettes in the restroom of flights we were on together and watching your set every night. To say I’ll miss you my friend isn’t enough. Till the next time we talk drums and smoke in the boys room … Rest In Peace.’

‘God bless you Taylor Hawkins. I loved your spirit and your unstoppable rock power,’ wrote Rage Against the Machine frontman Tom Morello. ‘Rest In Peace my friend.’ 

‘I’ve always had so much admiration for him,’ former drummer with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy wrote. 

Billie Eilish’s brother and collaborator Finneas praised Hawkins’ kindness and generosity in a sweet tweet

Richard Marx wrote that he was ‘gutted’ by the news after he had recently collaborated with the drummer

Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden simply wrote that he had ‘no words’ while adding a broken-hearted emoji

Full House star John Stamos shared his final conversation with Taylor with his Twitter followers as he mourned his missed opportunity to catch up with his friend one last time

Kiss cofounder Paul Stanley wrote that he was ‘speechless and gutted’ from the news of Hawkins’ death

Actor Josh Brolin simply shared a closeup photo of Taylor and captioned it, ‘No,’ while adding a crying emoji

The musician and legendary record producer Steve Albini wrote that Hawkins’ death had left music ‘lessened’ and ‘duller.’

‘Taylor Hawins was a terrific drummer with a gorgeous disposition, seemed always to be having the time of his life. I didn’t know him well but I know music is lessened by his passing, made duller and smaller. Requiescat,’ he wrote. 

Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator Finneas paid tribute to Hawkins on Twitter.

‘So heartbroken to hear about Taylor Hawkins’ passing, what an incredible talent, who didn’t also need to be so kind and generous and cool but was all those things too anyway,’ he wrote.

‘The world was so lucky to have his gifts for the time that it did, Rest In Peace.’  

Actor Josh Brolin simply shared a closeup photo of Taylor and captioned it, ‘No,’ while adding a crying emoji. 

Kiss cofounder Paul Stanely wrote that he was ‘speechless and gutted’ from the news of Hawkins’ death.

‘Taylor was a great guy, a dad and a husband. My heart goes out to them, Dave and the band. What awful news. 

Full House star John Stamos shared his final conversation with Taylor with his Twitter followers as he mourned his missed opportunity to catch up with his friend one last time.

‘This was Taylor Hawksin’ last text to me: ‘Ya We’ve yet to fully have a hang -Got a put that s*** together before we die’ Wise words from my friend- put that s*** together! I’m so f***ing sad. Another one gone too soon,’ he wrote.

Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden simply wrote that he had ‘no words’ while adding a broken-hearted emoji. 

Richard Marx wrote that he was ‘gutted’ by the news after he had recently collaborated with the drummer.

‘Gutted. Completely gutted. We just recorded something together a month ago. Can’t even process this right now. Let’s hold Taylor wife and children close to our hearts.’

Fans of the band were also in shock with one writing: ‘We are devastated by this. Our hearts go out to his family & Foo brothers’ while a third responded: ‘Is this real? What?’

Another Twitter user said: ‘In absolute shock & disbelief over the passing of Taylor Hawkins. I’ve always had so much admiration for him.

‘Amazing drummer & a gem of a guy who was always fun to be around. I’m absolutely gutted…my deepest condolences to his bandmates & family.’

Hawkins had spoken openly about his battle with drugs and had given a candid interview on the subject last year. Hawkins is pictured in November 2021 in Monterrey, Mexico

Foo Fighters were scheduled to perform at the Lollapalooza Festival in Brazil on Sunday and at the Grammy Awards a week later, on April 3.

The band also has multiple tour dates scheduled through December in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

‘The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. 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 band wrote in a statement. 

Hawkins and his wife have three children, one of whom is pictured here, Taylor Hawkins, left and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters are pictured prior to the Grammy awards in 2014

Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, and Nate Mendel pose backstage as Foo Fighters reopen Madison Square Garden in June 2021

At the time of his death, Foo Fighters were on tour in South America. The band had played in San Isidro, Argentina, last Sunday and were due to perform in Bogota, Colombia, on Friday night – the day his death was announced.

Pictures on social media showed fans gathering in front of the stage at the Estereo Picnic festival, with lit candles being placed on stage.

The band were scheduled to perform at the Grammys on April 3 and were due to begin a new tour of North America in May.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Foo Fighters in 2021 by Sir Paul McCartney.

Following the release of their most recent album, Medicine At Midnight, the band filmed a spoof-horror film titled Studio 666, in which Hawkins starred alongside his bandmates. 

Taylor also provided vocals, guitar and piano for the band on various recordings.

Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters performs onstage at the after party for the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Studio 666’ at the Fonda Theatre on February 16, 2022 in Hollywood, California

 (From left-right) Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee of Foo Fighters attend the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony  in October 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio