Taylor Hawkins ‘exhausted’ by Foo Fighters’ touring schedule before death, friends say

But two drummers quoted in a Rolling Stone article said today their remarks were taken out of context

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Taylor Hawkins’ friends have said he was “exhausted” by Foo Fighters’ touring schedule before he died.

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The 50-year-old drummer was found dead in his hotel room in Colombia in March and now his friends are saying he’d had talked with frontman Dave Grohl about his unhappiness at the band’s relentless concert commitments.

Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron told Rolling Stone magazine: “He had a heart-to-heart with Dave and, yeah, he told me that he ‘couldn’t fucking do it anymore’ — those were his words.

“So I guess they did come to some understanding, but it just seems like the touring schedule got even crazier after that…

“He tried to keep up. He just did whatever it took to keep up, and in the end he couldn’t keep up.”

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And a friend who wanted to remain anonymous added: “The fact that he finally spoke to Dave and really told him that he couldn’t do this and that he wouldn’t do it anymore, that was freeing for him.

“That took fucking balls. That did take a year of working up the guts to do.”

However, a representative for the band told Rolling Stone that Hawkins had never raised such issues.

The spokesperson said: “No, there was never a ‘heart-to-heart’–or any sort of meeting on this topic–with Dave and [Silva Artist Management]…

“He never ‘informed Dave and [management]’ of anything at all like that.”

The Rolling Stone report also said the drummer had lost consciousness on a plane in Chicago in December 2021 – which the band’s spokesperson denied – but Red Hot Chili Peppers star Chad Smith said the incident was a turning point for his friend.

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“He just said he was exhausted and collapsed, and they had to pump him full of IVs and stuff,” Smith said. “He was dehydrated and all kinds of stuff.”

Smith said his fellow drummer told him: “I can’t do it like this anymore.”

Both Smith and Cameron today released statements apologizing to the Foo Fighters for their remarks  in the Rolling Stone feature on Hawkins and distanced themselves from the article.

Said Cameron: “When I agreed to take part in the Rolling Stone article about Taylor, I assumed it would be a celebration of his life and work. My quotes were taken out of context and shaped into a narrative I had never intended. Taylor was a dear friend and a next level artist. I miss him. I have only the deepest love and respect for Taylor, Dave and the Foo Fighters families. I am truly sorry to have taken part in this interview and I apologize that my participation may have caused harm to those for whom I have only the deepest respect and admiration.”

Said Smith: “Taylor was one of my best friends and I would do anything for his family. I was asked by Rolling Stone to share some memories of our time together, which I thought was going to be the loving tribute he deserved. Instead, the story they wrote was sensationalized and misleading, and had I known I never would have agreed to participate. I apologize to his family and musical friends for any pain this may have caused. I miss Taylor every day.”

In contrast, singer Sass Jordan, another of the sources, linked to the article on her Facebook page.

But two drummers quoted in a Rolling Stone article said today their remarks were taken out of context

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

Article content

Taylor Hawkins’ friends have said he was “exhausted” by Foo Fighters’ touring schedule before he died.

Article content

The 50-year-old drummer was found dead in his hotel room in Colombia in March and now his friends are saying he’d had talked with frontman Dave Grohl about his unhappiness at the band’s relentless concert commitments.

Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron told Rolling Stone magazine: “He had a heart-to-heart with Dave and, yeah, he told me that he ‘couldn’t fucking do it anymore’ — those were his words.

“So I guess they did come to some understanding, but it just seems like the touring schedule got even crazier after that…

“He tried to keep up. He just did whatever it took to keep up, and in the end he couldn’t keep up.”

Article content

And a friend who wanted to remain anonymous added: “The fact that he finally spoke to Dave and really told him that he couldn’t do this and that he wouldn’t do it anymore, that was freeing for him.

“That took fucking balls. That did take a year of working up the guts to do.”

However, a representative for the band told Rolling Stone that Hawkins had never raised such issues.

The spokesperson said: “No, there was never a ‘heart-to-heart’–or any sort of meeting on this topic–with Dave and [Silva Artist Management]…

“He never ‘informed Dave and [management]’ of anything at all like that.”

The Rolling Stone report also said the drummer had lost consciousness on a plane in Chicago in December 2021 – which the band’s spokesperson denied – but Red Hot Chili Peppers star Chad Smith said the incident was a turning point for his friend.

Article content

“He just said he was exhausted and collapsed, and they had to pump him full of IVs and stuff,” Smith said. “He was dehydrated and all kinds of stuff.”

Smith said his fellow drummer told him: “I can’t do it like this anymore.”

Both Smith and Cameron today released statements apologizing to the Foo Fighters for their remarks  in the Rolling Stone feature on Hawkins and distanced themselves from the article.

Said Cameron: “When I agreed to take part in the Rolling Stone article about Taylor, I assumed it would be a celebration of his life and work. My quotes were taken out of context and shaped into a narrative I had never intended. Taylor was a dear friend and a next level artist. I miss him. I have only the deepest love and respect for Taylor, Dave and the Foo Fighters families. I am truly sorry to have taken part in this interview and I apologize that my participation may have caused harm to those for whom I have only the deepest respect and admiration.”

Said Smith: “Taylor was one of my best friends and I would do anything for his family. I was asked by Rolling Stone to share some memories of our time together, which I thought was going to be the loving tribute he deserved. Instead, the story they wrote was sensationalized and misleading, and had I known I never would have agreed to participate. I apologize to his family and musical friends for any pain this may have caused. I miss Taylor every day.”

In contrast, singer Sass Jordan, another of the sources, linked to the article on her Facebook page.