Foo Fighters are continuing to fight onward together, announcing in a tweet Saturday that they’ll continue to tour following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins.
Hawkins was found dead March 25 at age 50, hours before Foo Fighters had been scheduled to play at a festival in Bogota, Colombia. Hawkins’ final concert was the weekend prior at another festival in San Isidro, Argentina.
“Foo Fighters were formed 27 years ago to represent the healing power of music and a continuation of life,” the band’s statement says, referencing the band’s start following the 1994 death of Kurt Cobain, frontman and former Nirvana bandmate of Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl.
“And for the past 27 years our fans have built a worldwide community, a devoted support system that has helped us all get through the darkest of times together. A place to share our joy and our pain, our hopes and fears, and to join in a chorus of life together through music. Without Taylor, we never would have become the band that we were — and without Taylor, we know that we’re going to be a different band going forward.
“We also know that you, the fans, meant as much to Taylor as he meant to you. And we know that when we see you again — and we will soon — he’ll be there in spirit with all of us every night.”
The Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office determined after performing “an initial forensic examination” that Hawkins had 10 different substances in his body when he was found dead in a hotel room in Bogota, Colombia.
The urine toxicology test indicated the presence of “THX (Marijuana), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids, among others,” a statement from the office said.
In an emotional, six-hour tribute concert in September, Miley Cyrus sang with Def Leppard; Pink performed with Queen and Heart’s Nancy Wilson; Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx sang as a shirtless Tommy Lee ferociously beat the drums. Joan Jett, Kesha, Alanis Morissette, Travis Barker, Joe Walsh and the reunited James Gang, Soundgarden, The Police’s Stewart Copeland and Metallica’s Lars Ulrich all took to the stage to pay musical respects to Hawkins.
Hawkins’ drummer son Shane, 16, joined the Foo Fighters onstage to perform “My Hero” and “I’ll Stick Around.” Grohl ended the concert with “Everlong,” with Chad Smith on drums.
“This one’s for Taylor,” Grohl told the audience. “We love you.”
