Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, 50, dies in Colombia hotel; police investigating cause of death
- The band announced late on Friday that Hawkins, 50, had died, but did not give a cause of death
- Colombian investigators said traces of marijuana, opioids, antidepressants and other drugs were found in Hawkins’ system
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The death of Taylor Hawkins, the drummer of American rock band Foo Fighters, is being investigated by Colombian authorities after he died at a hotel in Bogota, a source at the attorney general’s office said on Saturday.
The band announced late on Friday that Hawkins, 50, had died, but did not give a cause of death.
“We have begun an investigation to establish the cause of death of the musician, but for now we don’t have any available information to share. As the investigation advances we will,” a source at the attorney general’s office, who was not authorised to speak to the press, told Reuters.
An ambulance was sent to the hotel after an emergency call reported a man experiencing chest pains, Bogota’s health department said in a statement. Hawkins did not respond to CPR and was declared dead, it added.
Colombian investigators said traces of marijuana, opioids, antidepressants and other drugs were found in Hawkins’ system.
“The urine toxicology tests performed on Taylor Hawkins’ body preliminarily found 10 types of substances,” including THC – which is found in marijuana – tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids, investigators said in a statement, without specifying whether the drugs caused the musician’s death.
The group had been set to perform at the Estereo Picnic festival near the Colombian capital the same night. Festival organisers said the group was cancelling the rest of its South American tour.
“The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,” the band said in a tweet. “His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever.”
The US embassy in Bogota said it was not in a position to comment on Hawkins’ death because of privacy issues.
Tributes poured in.
Hawkins “was truly a great person and an amazing musician. My heart, my love and my condolences go out to his wife, his children, his family, his band and his fans,” British rocker Ozzy Osbourne tweeted. “See you on the other side.”
Canadian rockers Nickelback said they were in “utter disbelief at the news of Taylor Hawkins.” They added that it was “so incredibly sad.”
Foo Fighters were founded in 1994 by Dave Grohl, the drummer for grunge band Nirvana, following the death of Nirvana’s lead singer Kurt Cobain.
The band have released 10 studio albums led by singles such as Everlong, Times Like These and Learn To Fly.
The group have won 12 Grammy awards and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
“God bless you Taylor Hawkins. I loved your spirit and your unstoppable rock power. Rest In Peace my friend,” tweeted Tom Morello, of Rage Against the Machine.
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, members of rock group KISS, also mourned Hawkins’ death, along with Guns N’ Roses, Slash and various other musicians.
“His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever,” said a message on the band’s official Twitter account that was also emailed to reporters. “Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family.”
