FOR OUR DEAR FRIEND, OUR BADASS BANDMATE, OUR BELOVED BROTHER...
SUPPORTING...
MEET THE LOS ANGELES PERFORMERS...
SEBASTIAN BACH
"I am honored, humbled and thankful to be a part of the TaylorHawkins Tribute Concert at the Los Angeles Forum September 27th. Taylor came to my 50th birthday party, a night I will never forget. We owe Taylor a very loud night he will never forget & will hear clearly wherever he may be."
Sebastian Bach is recognized globally as a vocalist, television star, actor and beyond! Bach hit the spotlight in the late 1980’s as the iconic frontman for mainstream heavy metal / hard rock act Skid Row. Since his departure from Skid Row in the mid 90’s, Sebastian Bach still remains one of the most relevant rock figures in pop culture today, with over 20 million records sold, three solo records, network television appearances on AXS.TV, MTV, VH1 and CMT, guest appearances on Gilmore Girls, Trailer Park Boys, Californication, other popular television shows, and several acting stints on and off Broadway. Bach’s last album, Give ‘Em Hell, impressively, landed on the U.S. Top Hard Rock and Top 200 Billboard charts, proving his prowess decades after his initial debut. Bach’s critically acclaimed Harper Collins memoir 18 And Life on Skid Row was released December 6, 2016.
TRAVIS BARKER
“Taylor and I go way back to our days in laguna beach together. He was a dear friend and brother to me and it will be a huge honor to be able to pay tribute to him.”
Travis Barker is an American musician and producer who has sold millions of records with his bands Blink-182, Transplants, +44, and as a solo artist.
TOMMY BRENNECK
Thomas "Tommy" Brenneck is an American guitarist, record producer, and engineer. Perhaps best known as the founder and leader of Menahan Street Band and The Budos Band as well as for his work with Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones, Tom has also worked closely with Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Anderson.PAAK. Brenneck is the founder of Dunham and Diamond West Records.
GEEZER BUTLER
"I only met Taylor on a couple of occasions but found him to be very warm and happy. You could tell that he truly loved playing. All I know…he was a lovely man gone far too soon."
Geezer Butler is a founding members, bassist & primary lyricist of the groundbreaking band Black Sabbath. He enjoys spending his time working on animal issues and enjoying the outdoors. He’s just completed writing his autobiography.
MATT CAMERON
"I love Taylor so much. Our friendship meant the world to me. Whenever he would call, we would just laugh for what seemed like a half hour to an hour every phone call. We had so much fun together when we worked on music projects. We would email demos back and forth to each other just for feedback and just connecting with each other through the music that we wrote outside of our big rock bands. We really had a nice connection as friends and fellow musicians and I miss him so much. I miss those phone calls. As any one of his friends can attest, Taylor was so great at keeping in touch and he made all of us feel so special and warm. I miss him so much. I wish he was here. I miss those phone calls. I miss the connection. But we have his legacy. We have his music. And for those of us that did know him personally, we cherish those times together. Much love to his family, his bandmates, and his fans around the world. Rock on, Taylor.
We love you."
Matt Cameron is the drummer for Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.
Cameron has also performed as a member of bands Skin Yard, Hater, Temple of the Dog, Wellwater Conspiracy, Harrybu McCage and Ten Commandos.
Additionally, Matt has lent his drumming talents to projects from fellow artist including Peter Frampton, Geddy Lee and Queens of the Stone Age, Janet Weiss and more.
A champion for arts education, Cameron has performed with and mentored several students through School of Rock.
CHRIS CHANEY
"Taylor Hawkins was the most passionate musician I have ever know, he lived and breathed music from the moment he woke up until he fell asleep. He made me a better musician and had an energy that drew out the best in everybody. He never settled for anything less than great. Although he was known for his otherworldly drumming, most people didn’t realize what a prolific and accomplished songwriter he was. In our 27 years as friends and musical collaborators I cherish all of our experiences and look back with only the greatest memories. He was also one of the most quick witted and funniest people, never holding back a hilarious comeback or jab if given the opportunity. He had an encyclopedia-like mind for music in all genres and pushed everyone to the limit of their musicality. He was a once in a lifetime friend and I’m hurting everyday over his passing. I love the Hawk more than words can ever convey."
Chris Chaney has been a touring and session bassist for over three decades. His first major gig was playing with Alanis Morissette on her Jagged Little Pill tour in 1995. He then went on to become a member of Jane’s Addiction in 2002. In addition to his band and tour work he has played on countless records, with everyone from Joe Cocker, Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Joe Satriani, Slash, Glen Campbell, Sara Bareilles, Shakira, Avril Lavigne, Regina Spector, Beth Hart, The Pretenders, John Fogerty and many others. Film scores include, The Hangover, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Get Him To The Greek, 300, Fifty Shades of Grey, Spy, Horrible Bosses, The Greatest Showman and many more. He first met Taylor Hawkins in 1995, and was a collaborator and group member in Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders. They recorded several records and had a strong bond as a rhythm section that would last 27 years. His latest project was NHC with Taylor and Dave Navarro.
Photo Left to Right: Chris Chaney, Brent Woods, Wiley Hodgden, Taylor Hawkins & John Lousteau
Chevy Metal is a 70s dirt rock cover band. We play deep cuts off albums by Sabbath, Van Halen, Queen and The Stones, to name a few.
WILEY HODGDEN
"Taylor was a selfless guy. He always pushed me to be better at whatever I was doing, and he included all of us in all aspects of his life. We were all lucky to be his friend. "
JOHN "LOU" LOUSTEAU
"Over the past 17 years I’ve been lucky enough to be Taylor Hawkins’ record producer, recording engineer, co-songwriter, drummer, tour manager, and friend.
I started working for Foo Fighters as an assistant engineer in 2006, and Taylor and I were instant friends. In 2009 Taylor asked me to record his next Coattail Riders album (Red Light Fever), and from there, he and I continued to make all of his solo music up until March of 2022.
Starting around 2010, Taylor asked me to tour manage his cover band “Chevy Metal.” I can honestly say that Chevy Metal weekend trips were some of the best times of my life. We would fly all over the world to play gigs, (Hawaii, Chili, Milwaukee!!, to name a few). We would travel with just the band, myself, and sometimes Tim-Fly. We would play on rental gear, that we would all set up ourselves, and we would “eat at Denny’s and stay at motel-6’s” as Taylor would often say. He loved it.
One day we were driving to do a Chevy Metal show in San Diego at an amphitheater, and Taylor said to me “can you play “you really got me”, and “ziggy stardust” today? I want to go up front and
sing.” I had played drums in a lot of bars, clubs, and studios, but I had never played at an amphitheater or festival in front of a lot of people like that. I ended up playing drums and singing at almost every Chevy Metal show from that day forward. We played in a few different countries, and in front of some really large audiences. I’d always wondered what that feeling was like to perform to big crowds, and my friend Taylor was the guy who handed me that opportunity. I am forever grateful for that.
…and just look at Chevy Metal now, here we are playing Wembley Stadium and The Forum, and it’s all because Taylor Hawkins brought a couple of his buddies along for the ride. That’s just the way Taylor was. Love and miss you every single day, dude…."
BRENT WOODS
"Taylor was my dear friend and I was fortunate enough to have been a member in two of his bands, Chevy Metal and, The Coattail Riders.
I’ve never met or worked with anyone with more passion, drive, tenacity and integrity in music.
He was extremely prolific and always had a positive energy when collaborating. His love and knowledge in ALL styles of music was so vast that I would learn something new about a band or an artist every time we were together.
I’m going to miss our times on stage, in the studio and his random FaceTime calls with a new song idea, but most of all I’m just gonna miss hanging out with him. He was so funny, so generous and giving, but most of all he was an amazing husband and father.
He loved his family very much.
Thank you for the great times Taylor,
I love you and I will miss you!!!"
PHIL COLLEN
"I’d known Taylor since I moved to Orange County in 1990. I used to see him at the local guitar store. I was shocked when one day Def Leppard was performing on Top Of The Pops, a British music television show, and I heard a voice yelling, “Phil!”. It was Taylor. I asked him, “What are you doing here?!" and he said, “I’m playing drums with Alanis Morissette!” From that moment on he just kept moving onwards and upwards. Later it was the Foo Fighters and we’d still see each other. I’d see Taylor boogie boarding at Laguna Beach, at rehearsals or at event shows or wherever. We’d just always bump into each other but no matter where we were Taylor was always his same wonderful, humble self - that guy I first met who worked in the local music store that preceded Guitar Center in Laguna Hills. He was a lovely guy with a monster talent and not just for drums but for everything, singing included. He was also the ultimate fan.
As Taylor’s superstardom grew his ego didn’t. That’s what was so amazing about him. He was able to channel all of that energy of his favorite artists, songwriters, singers, and drummers into his own personal vibe which is such a rare thing. It was what was so great about him. I’d seen and spoken to Taylor just before they went out on tour. I’d gone down to their rehearsal to hang with the guys. For me it’s a shock and terrible thing that he’s just not here anymore so I’m still reeling from all of this.
I will gladly honor everything that was Taylor at the LA Forum show.
Taylor gave SO much so THIS ONE’S FOR YOU."
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STEWART COPELAND
"Losing Taylor was a jolt to the cosmos.
He was the connecting tissue for all brothers of the stick because he was such a fan of anyone who ever banged a drum. Above all Taylor was an enthusiast and he was most charged up by exchanging mojo with his heroes - who were actually his chuckle buddies. A force of nature like him just isn’t supposed to stop. I wish he could come back."
Stewart Copeland has spent more than three decades at the forefront of contemporary music as a rock star and acclaimed film composer, as well as in the disparate worlds of symphony, opera, world and chamber music. This year he won his sixth Grammy. Recruiting Sting and Andy Summers in 1977, Copeland is renowned as the founder of The Police, a band that became a defining force in rock music from the ‘80s onwards.
Copeland’s career includes the sale of more than 60 million records worldwide and numerous international awards. He has been recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the top ten drummers of all time, and was also elected to the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013.
MILEY CYRUS
Miley Cyrus is one of the most influential artists in pop culture with about 170 million Instagram followers. She has six #1 albums including her 2013 GRAMMY-nominated album Bangerz, which is also certified 3x platinum in the U.S. In addition, she has had an impressive five sold-out world tours throughout her career. In November 2020, Miley dropped her highly anticipated seventh studio album, Plastic Hearts. The critically acclaimed album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart and is her sixth #1 album. The album, which features collaborations with Billy Idol, Joan Jett and Dua Lipa, gives Miley the most top 10 album debuts on the chart for female artists this century. Tracks on Plastic Hearts have been streamed over 1 billion times worldwide. In 2021 Miley joined The Kid Laroi on a remix of his song “Without You”. The remix debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Rock Chart. Miley was also part of Metallica’s The Metallica Blacklist Album, offering a blistering cover of “Nothing Else Matters” featuring Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, WATT and Chad Smith.
JON "JUANO" DAVISON
"Taylor and I first met in 1981. He was 9 and I was 10. His family had recently moved into my neighborhood in Laguna Beach. We were immediately best friends.
Like it was yesterday, I have this vivid memory of Taylor calling me and expressing such excitement at discovering the album, The Game by Queen. From that moment on, he became completely enamored with Roger Taylor, who was not just a drummer, but a songwriter and a singer. He convinced his parents to buy him a drum set and from there, he never looked back. Drumming became everything to Taylor.
Side by side we learned our instruments and honed our craft. All through school we had cover bands and played anywhere we could.
We came of age and experienced together all the rites of passage of teenagers and aspiring musicians.
Taylor took a sincere interest in my development as a lead singer and was instrumental in helping me land the gig of lead vocalist for Yes. I’ve been in Yes now for 10 amazing years and I owe it all to my faithful friend.
Taylor has always been and will forever continue to be such a personal and close part of my life. Nearly every significant memory I have includes him in some way.
Up until the time he passed away, we were talking at least once a week. I think we each found solace in the fact that we were both going through a lot of the same musical and lifestyle experiences, yet also had a unique and long term connection to an earlier, simpler time as childhood best friends. We always ended our often lengthy phone conversations by telling one another, “I love you”. In fact, “I love you” were the last words Taylor ever spoke to me."
Jon Davison, is Lead singer and songwriter of progressive rock band ‘YES’. Davison joined YES in 2012, and is also known as the former lead singer of progressive rock band GLASS HAMMER (2009 to 2014), and the former bass guitarist and multi-instrumentalist of SKY CRIES MARY (1993 to 2016), in which he was credited under his nickname of "Juano" Davison.
Davison's earliest involvement with music began when he sang in the church youth choir led by his mother. Soon after he took up guitar and bass, which eventually led him, during High School, to perform in various bands with his childhood best friend, Taylor Hawkins (the drummer for FOO FIGHTERS). It was Hawkins who gave Jon the nickname "Juano" that has stuck to this day. During this time, Davison and Hawkins discovered progressive rock, and in particular for Davison, his future band ‘YES’.
In February 2012, Davison was announced as the new lead singer of YES, replacing Benôit David who left the group because of illness. YES were due to leave for a tour of Australia, and a race was on to find the perfect replacement. Chris Squire, the bassist for YES, is quoted as saying that Jon's name came up when they first started working with Benoit as his friend, Taylor Hawkins, had told him 'If you ever need a replacement (singer), I know exactly the guy'. At the same time the manager for YES had also heard Davison’s work with GLASS HAMMER, and appealed to Steve Howe and the other members that he should be approached.
In 2014 ‘Heaven and Earth’ was released, and Davison wrote or co-wrote seven out of the eight tracks, cementing his role within the band. Numerous tours and live albums followed, including their headline appearance on six ‘Cruise to the Edge’ festivals at sea.
In the Summer of 2019 YES went out on tour as the headline act on THE ROYAL AFFAIR. The four-hour epic progressive rock festival also included CARL PALMER, ARTHUR BROWN, ASIA, and JOHN LODGE OF THE MOODY BLUES, and toured across the United States to the delight of fans.
Summer of 2020 saw the release of the Steve Howe album ‘Love Is’, Davison performed bass guitar and background vocals on the album.
In December 2020, ‘Arc of Life’ was released. This album was a progressive rock ‘supergroup’ comprising Davison on vocals and guitar, Billy Sherwood on Bass and shared lead vocals, Jay Schellen on Drums, Dave Kerzner on Keyboards and Jimmy Haun on Lead Guitar.
In October 2021, YES released their new album ‘The Quest’. The first single, ‘The Ice Bridge’ was released on July 23rd, and was co-written by Davison and Geoff Downes. Davison wrote or co-wrote six of the tracks on the album.
As touring restarted after the pandemic, March 2022 saw Davison join John Lodge of The Moody Blues on a tour of the USA, and on the Flower Power Cruise. Then in the Summer of 2022, YES undertook their 2020 postponed tour of the United Kingdom, and then a sold-out tour in Japan. They are currently rehearsing for a 30 date USA tour due to start on October 7th in Glenside, PA, and travelling across the entire States. 2023 will see the release of a new YES studio album, and further tours in Europe, the UK and USA.
DEREK DAY
"My band and I had the beautiful pleasure of writing and recording a song with Taylor last summer. We had never met, but when a friend asked him if he would be willing to write with us… an unknown band working on our first album, he said “Sure!". And a week later he welcomed us in his home… 5 strangers. And he was as pure and as talented and as beautiful as we all imagined he would be. And there we were, in his studio working on a song... together. It was that sound, that groove, that style and THAT ENERGY that I had always been blown away by and inspired by. And we were actually Creating. Music. Together. It was just surreal. It’s a memory that I will never forget."
Derek Day is the lead singer of the band Classless Act who released their debut album, Welcome To The Show, this summer.
ELLIOT EASTON
"Taylor was a dear friend, musical collaborator and eventually my neighbor! I loved Taylor for his upbeat, positive vibe, his sense of humor and above all, his massive musical talent. His spirit lives on in his music and all the lives around the world that were touched by his sparking spirit which lives on forever in his music. I love you, Taylor."
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of The Cars, guitarist Elliot Easton is known for his inspired hooks and iconic guitar solos that were an integral part of the band's groundbreaking sound. Elliot is a signature model guitar designer, producer, and songwriter.
JOE ELLIOTT
"None of us want to be doing this. We’d all rather he was still here, but looking at the line ups for both the UK & US shows goes to show how much love there is for the force of nature that was Taylor Hawkins. I had the pleasure of meeting Taylor just a couple of times at a rehearsal space that both DL & The Foos use, & hand on heart, a more friendly guy you could never hope to meet. It’s always nice when people you admire are friendly, warm & welcoming but what always hit home with me was how he slotted into the FF machine with such ease, no mean feat when you have Dave Grohl in the band too! A truly phenomenal drummer & great personality seen often in FF videos, gone too soon, like so many before him, but what he left us will live forever. Nothing more so than on Medicine At Midnight, surely his best ever work. I, we all, shall miss him."
JOSH FREESE
“Taylor and I were acquaintances for a while but really became better friends in the past 6 or 7 years. We just had so much in common….it’s a miracle we weren’t closer sooner. We were basically the same age, both from Orange County, both hyper drummers, both songwriters and really grew up loving the same stuff. In recent years he’d FaceTime me out of the blue. We’d sit there talking and an hour would just blow by! Sometimes it was shorter, sometimes longer but eventually one of us would have to run. We’d geek out over Alex Van Halen and Stewart Copeland (total fan boys) but then switch up and share our experiences with having kids….being Dad’s and trying to balance family and our careers. Of course with all of this, a lot of laughing. Always lots of laughing. His humor, enthusiasm, and obvious zest for music and life was infectious. I always answered the phone if I saw him calling. I knew it would put me in a better mood…no matter HOW I was feeling at that moment. I hate that he’s gone. I really fucking do.”
Josh Freese is a drummer and songwriter from Southern California. He’s appeared on over 400 records and is known for working with a wide variety of bands and artists for over 3 decades. He’s spent most of his career recording and touring with A Perfect Circle, Devo, Nine Inch Nails, Sting, Weezer, Danny Elfman, The Offspring and The Vandals. In addition he’s recorded with artists ranging from Guns n Roses to Michael Buble. Suicidal Tendencies to Bruce Springsteen. Miley Cyrus to 100 Gecs, Chris Cornell, Evanescence, Ween, Katy Perry, Glen Campbell, Sublime, Avril Lavigne, The Replacements and many others. Josh joined the musicians union when he was 12 and after working in a cover band at Disneyland for 3 years, started making records and touring at the age of 15.
VIOLET GROHL
OMAR HAKIM
"Taylor was one of my Favorite Drummers. A powerful and exciting personality on the instrument. His performances were an inspiration to both the fans and his musician colleagues. A true Giant! He will be deeply missed. RIP ❤️"
Drummer, Percussionist, Producer, Composer has worked with some of the most legendary artists of the last 40 years. He has recorded and/or performed with David Bowie, Sting, Weather Report, Dire Straits, Miles Davis, Kate Bush and Daft Punk just to name a few!
JUSTIN HAWKINS
"Taylor came to see us perform at Wembley a few years ago and offset his unwavering support for our musical endeavours by introducing us to the crowd with the immortal line “You wanted the best, but instead you got The Darkness!”
We loved him, his beautiful smile, his prodigious talent and his encyclopedic knowledge of Queen (surpassing even my own). We shared a surname, a passion for all things rock and many, many laughs. He was a hero to us all and I’m honoured to have a chance to help celebrate his extraordinary life."
Justin Hawkins sings and plays guitar with UK Rock Band The Darkness. He curates a successful YouTube channel and is a devoted father.
JOSHUA HOMME
"Taylor used call me at 6:30 in the morning to tell me what a great drummer Phil Collins was. He was such a fan of music... & Phil Collins. I used to tell him how I’d kill him if he ever called me that early again... so, he called me kept calling me at 6:30... for years....bastard.
How I miss those calls..."
Joshua Homme, affectionately known as Baby Duck, is best known as founder and frontman of Queens of the Stone Age. He’s also 1/3 of Them Crooked Vultures, the occasionally active band in which he sings and plays guitar alongside Dave Grohl & John Paul Jones. In 2016 he produced and co-wrote Post Pop Depression with Iggy Pop and served as bandleader for Iggy’s limited and uniformly epic series of live shows supporting that album.
Homme’s musical odyssey stretches back to his emergence from the desert with Kyuss, after whose dissolution he would form QOTSA and co-found Eagles of Death Metal with childhood friend Jesse Hughes.
In keeping with his unyielding need to keep us musically satiated, Homme created The Desert Sessions, a long running series of albums featuring various artists captured in sessions recorded in the Palm Desert.
JAMES GANG
"Taylor was like my little brother who was always asking questions. He had an insatiable curiosity about playing hard and loud like we used to do in the 70s. We spoke a lot about being in a three-piece, how we recorded James Gang Rides Again and what life was like for a musician before he was even born. He thought I was pretty cool and the feeling was mutual. I loved him and miss him." -- Joe Walsh
The James Gang is one of classic rock's earliest power trios. Though the band's line-up changed numerous times during a seven-year existence, rock historians and fans cite the line up of Joe Walsh, Jim Fox, and Dale Peters as the James Gang's definitive line up. Combining catchy boogie guitar riffs, funky time changes and a heavy rock rhythm, the James Gang were one of America's first bands to be called hard rock in the early 1970s. This show marks their first time playing together in more than 15 years.
JOAN JETT
"When I met Taylor, it kinda felt like I had known him forever. He is so easy to talk to, open, and inquisitive. Taylor was able to inhabit both worlds as a HUGE exuberant music fan, who didn’t look down on any genre of music and yet a superstar both behind the drum kit or stepping out and singing lead.
I have very special memories of a tour we did w the Foo’s in South America in 2012. On a day off, Taylor, myself, Kenny Laguna and some band and crew took a boat into the jungle. Taylor and I decided we were forming a supergroup and started writing music. We played guitar and dropped anchor at a beautiful spot and had dinner. We never got around to doing our supergroup because you always think you'll have time. I will never forget that day, that tour and all the other times after. Or Taylor. 🖤"
Joan Jett grew up during a time when rock ‘n’ roll was off limits to girls and women, but as a teenager, she promptly blew the door to the boys’ club right off its hinges. After forming her band the Blackhearts in 1979, with whom Jett has become a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, she has had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics "Bad Reputation," "I Love Rock 'N' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You," and "Crimson and Clover." With a career that has spanned music, film, television, Broadway, and humanitarianism, Joan Jett remains a potent force and inspiration to generations of fans worldwide. As a producer, she has overseen seminal albums by Bikini Kill, and the Germs' LA punk masterpiece ‘GI.’ Jett and Kenny Laguna (her longtime producer and music partner) co-founded Blackheart Records from the trunk of Kenny’s Cadillac after rejections from no less than 23 labels. 40 years later, Blackheart is a thriving entertainment company producing music, film and television, and continues to champion emerging bands. Jett, along with the Blackhearts, perform around the globe and have toured alongside fellow rock legends like The Who, Green Day, Heart, and Foo Fighters. Most recently the band completed The Stadium Tour with Def Leppard and Motley Crue in the summer of 2022. The group's newest release, 'Changeup,' is their first-ever acoustic album. These stripped-down recordings are at once intimate while capturing all the ferocity and menace for which Joan and the band are known. 'Bad Reputation,' a documentary about Jett's life, premiered to critical acclaim at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
Alain Johannes
"Taylor's amazing energy and superb talent as a musician, composer and singer will be deeply missed. I was blessed to have shared musical adventures and good times with him."
Alain Johannes has worked with a list of musicians that reads like an encyclopedia of California rock history. In high school he was in bands with Flea, Hillel Slovak, Jack Irons and Anthony Kiedis, all of whom would later play with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Later Alain formed Eleven with Natasha Shneider and Jack Irons. They toured with Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Queens of the Stone Age. In the recording studio, Alain has worked with Chris Cornell, No Doubt, Mark Lanegan, Jimmy Eat World, Queens of the Stone Age, Spinnerette and Arctic Monkeys. Alain has been a touring member PJ Harvey’s band, as well as Them Crooked Vultures which featured Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, and John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin.
JOHN PAUL JONES
"I remember Taylor as a brilliant drummer and a really great guy, but the look on his face when he knew he had nailed the lead vocal for “Rock and Roll” live onstage at Wembley, with myself, Jimmy Page and Dave on drums, that will stay with me forever."
A prolific session musician in the 1960s, John played, arranged and recorded with artists including Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Cat Stevens. He was a founder member of Led Zeppelin and following his unparalleled career with them, he worked as a performer, arranger and producer for artists and groups including Diamanda Galas, REM, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and La Fura dels Baus. He released his debut solo album, Zooma, in 1999 followed by The Thunderthief (2001). In 2004, John contributed to the Foo Fighters “In Your Honour” album, playing on two tracks. His sonic explorations have also led him to perform as part of John Cage’s Musicircus at the Barbican, touring with bluegrass trio Nickel Creek, and working as co-composer and performer for choreographer Merce Cunningham’s Nearly Ninety. In 2008, John performed at Wembley Stadium with the Foo Fighters, where Taylor Hawkins sang “Rock And Roll” and played drums on “Ramble On”.
In 2009 he co-founded the band Them Crooked Vultures, with Dave Grohl and Joshua Homme, releasing a universally acclaimed album and touring the world to sold-out venues.
Since then John has appeared and performed in numerous musical groups, contributed to many recordings, as well as being commissioned to compose for some of the leading classical festivals and venues around the world. Most recently he appeared in a very special recording to benefit the charity “Playing For Change”, performing a new version of “When The Levee Breaks”.
KESHA
"The first time I ever met Taylor the first thing I noticed about him was his playfulness. He took the time to say hello to me backstage at Madison Square Garden before they played. Tik Tok had just come out and I was definitely not comfortable in the role of being backstage talking to my idols. All the boys in the band were so happy. I think he could sense that I was kinda nervous so he made it a point to include me in the conversation. He offered me some of Dave’s homemade moonshine. He was so funny and easy to talk to. I was playing a festival in Rio and we ended up having a late night hangout on the rooftop with my band and dancers till the sun came up. The Foo Fighters was his family, the guys were his brothers. The love and respect between these guys was palpable. He was so fucking funny! His hair was always overly bleached to hell and his skin tanned from years in the California sun. He always looked ready for an outdoor adventure. He was always laughing. My favorite memory of Taylor was in Japan. We ended up at the same underground rock bar in Tokyo the night my album ‘Rainbow’ came out. We had all played a festival in Tokyo together earlier that day and I had watched him drum from the side of the stage. He was a monster on drums. That night I ended up downstairs in one of my favorite bars in the world, with one of my favorite people, celebrating another massive show for him and massive career milestone for me. He always was so humble and made sure to make other people feel special in their victories, to the point that you could almost get over the nerves of talking to one of the best drummers of all time. His spirit lives on in the music, in every song he touched. There is an infinite amount of people he has influenced in his life and he will never be forgotten."
Kesha attracts a diverse, passionate, and socially-engaged global audience who believe in the messages behind her music. Over her career, she has earned 10 Top Ten singles, over a billion views on YouTube, 2 number one albums, 4 number one songs at top 40 radio, and nearly 40 million followers across social media. Kesha’s last album 'High Road' was called a body of work “wise and wild in equal measure” (Billboard), that “electrifies from the inside out” (American Songwriter) and “strikes a believable balance between vulnerability and the bluster she made her name on” (Stereogum). Her previous album 'Rainbow', called "an artistic feat" by Entertainment Weekly and "the best music of her career" by Rolling Stone, earned Kesha the first GRAMMY nominations of her career.Kesha’s ventures outside of music include, an award-winning film a book, a cruise, a cosmetics line, and her forthcoming paranormal reality show on discovery+ “Conjuring Kesha”.As a songwriter she has penned her own music as well as songs for artists including Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, The Veronicas, and Miley Cyrus. Kesha is an animal rights crusader as the Humane Society International's first Global Ambassador and a passionate advocate for equality, being honored with the 2016 Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. In 2016 she won Billboard's Women in Music Trailblazer Award and in 2018 she was named one of Time Magazine's Time 100, their list of the most influential people in the world.
MARK KING
"When you hook-up with someone and immediately feel you've known them forever is rare. That is how I felt when I talked with T."
Mark King / Level 42: To date the band and Mark have released 14 studio albums, 7 live albums, the Sirens’ EP, and 6 compilation albums, had 18 top 40 singles, including Lessons in Love, Something About You, Leaving Me Now, Running in the Family, and Hot Water, sold out Wembley Arena for a total of 21 nights and sold in excess of 30 million albums worldwide.
In short they have proven to be one of the most successful British bands of the 1980’s.
GREG KURSTIN
"The amount of people who loved and connected with Taylor is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. He was the most fun to be around. His passion for music was colossal.
When we were making “Concrete and Gold” I looked forward to jamming in the live room with Taylor before each day’s recording session. I’d play piano and look over at him on drums while jamming Queen’s “Play the Game”. We would always talk about what we were listening to or discovering, and Taylor would turn me on to songs he loved that I’d never heard. His thirst for finding music was endless! He loved creating, writing and recording his music so much that it seemed like if only his friends got to hear it, that was enough.
Taylor was such a bright light. I miss him tremendously."
Greg Kurstin is an American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. He has won nine Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical in 2017 and 2018, and written and produced four songs that have reached No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100, including Adele’s “Easy on Me” and “Hello.”
Kurstin produced the Foo Fighters albums 'Concrete and Gold' and 'Medicine at Midnight' and has worked closely with Dave Grohl on their annual “Hanukkah Sessions.”
Most recently, Greg has produced music for Gorillaz, Liam Gallagher, Paul McCartney, and Beck, among others. He also continues to collaborate with Inara George in their long-running band, the bird and the bee.
TOMMY LEE
"I watched Taylor grow from being a kid on the scene to becoming one of the best rock drummers... ever. But he also became my friend. And I loved the times we spent together… whether in the same room or on FaceTime half a world apart. His energy was nothing but love and kindness and FUCKING FUN!!! I remember seeing a picture of him behind the kit earlier this year and I saw the front head had a picture on it that looked like… like, me! I called him and said hey… is that a picture of me on your kick drum head and he said 'Yeah, this tour I’m showing all my favorite drummers.’ So on Motley Stadium Tour this summer, on my kick drum was one of my favorite drummers, Taylor Hawkins. I wish he was here to see it.”
Most recognized as the drummer and a founding member of Motley Crue, Tommy Lee is also a New York Times best selling author, founder of Methods of Mayhem, star of 3 network television series, DJ, solo artist and avid Bonsai enthusiast.
GEDDY LEE
"I shall never forget Taylor’s super-charged excitement on that day in 2013 when both he and Dave inducted Rush into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There was such unbridled JOY coursing through his veins coupled with that megawatt grin…I thought he was going to jump right out of his shoes! That was the Taylor I knew. First and foremost, a deeply passionate music lover to his very core. Despite his own obvious monster talents and tremendous success, he never lost that youthful enthusiasm - and I loved and admired him all the more for it."
Geddy Lee is a Canadian musician and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. Lee joined Rush in September 1968, at the request of his childhood friend and guitarist Alex Lifeson, followed by drummer and lyricist Neil Peart that formed the acclaimed rock trio for over four decades. Inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2013, he has also been made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996 and received the Governor’s General Performing Arts Award in 2012. In addition to their commercial success, Rush has also been recognized with a number of JUNO Awards and multiple GRAMMY® nominations, including one for the acclaimed documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage and the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. Lee has also made cameo appearances in the film, I Love You Man and documentary The Mind of the Collector.
An award-winning musician, Lee’s style, technique, and skill on the bass guitar have inspired many rock musicians. An avid collector of many things, Lee added author to his list of accomplishments when releasing “Geddy’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass” in 2018 that landed on best-seller lists in Canada, UK and USA and was followed by an unprecedented sold-out book tour in 5 countries that was cut short by the pandemic. His memoir is set for release in 2023.
ALEX LIFESON
"I first met Taylor at Nick Raskulinez’s home in Los Angeles in early 2007. We were all invited to watch the Super Bowl and celebrate Nick’s birthday. As is often the case with casual encounters, they can be fleeting but Taylor had that special ability to make you feel like an old friend. He had such an easy smile and his eyes truly sparkled when he spoke about his love of being a musician and the joy of performance. Over the years, our paths would cross and each time it was like connecting with an old, dear friend; the warmth, the smile and the generosity of spirit that marked the man he was. It was my privilege to be his friend."
When Alex Lifeson was growing up in Toronto, Canada, he received a guitar for Christmas and by the summer of 1968 had co-founded the band that would become Rush.
In 1971, Lifeson made his film debut as himself under his birth name, Alex Zivojinovich, in the Canadian documentary film Come on Children by Allan King. King’s film enjoyed a resurgence when decades later an amazing clip was featured in the documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage, that captured Alex having a teenage argument with his parents on the merits of leaving high school to pursue his dream to play guitar in a band as a career.
Clearly his dream paid off as he has been the lauded guitar player for Rush for over 45 years. The bulk of Lifeson's work in music has been with Rush, although he has contributed to a body of work outside of the band as a guitarist and producer including his latest project Envy of None. In addition to music, Lifeson is a painter, a keen golfer, and licensed aircraft pilot. He is also known for his comedic virtues, which have been highlighted in various cameo film roles over the years including one in the Canadian-cult mockumentary series The Trailer Park Boys.
Along with his bandmates Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, Lifeson was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996, received the highest Canadian artistic honour by receiving the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2012, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Lifeson ranks third in the Guitar World Readers poll of ‘100 Greatest Guitarists’ and is also included in Rolling Stone’s ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time’.
BRIAN MAY
“My favourite memory of Taylor is our session for recording ‘Have a Cigar”. Taylor had this vision for a hard- rock version of the Pink Floyd classic, and he and Dave descended on my little studio in the country to make it happen. We set up Mr Grohl’s drum kit in my dining room and my amps in the hallway, with everything wired up to the control room - which is a converted snooker room. We crashed away at deafening volume until we felt we had everything ‘on tape’. Taylor singing, joyfully tearing his throat to bits. Me using multiple preamps to get more gain than I’d ever used, to make the guitar scream. Dave a massive powerhouse - like no other. I had to leave at the end of the evening to go to an astro meeting 100 miles away. When I got back at 5am Taylor was still mixing the track - squeezing every last drop out of it. So I joined him, with a kind of euphoria that comes when you feel you are going some place that nobody’s ever been. I love the track. I forgot to say —- we laughed the whole way through … great times."
Brian May, CBE, PhD, FRAS is a founding member of Queen, world-renowned guitarist, songwriter, producer and performer, also a Doctor of Astrophysics, 3-D stereoscopic photographic authority and advocate for animal rights.
Queen remains one of the most successful bands to this day with five decades of staggering sales and awards. Brian penned 22 Queen top 20 hits and is now remastering solo works as part of his Gold Series reissue.
A continued passion for Astronomy saw Brian resume his studies after a break of thirty years, achieving his PhD from Imperial College, London in 2007.
Brian heads his own fine arts publishing house, The London Stereoscopic Company. Whilst specialising in Victorian 3-D Photography, publications also include books on Astronomy and Queen in 3-D. All include Brian’s own patented design OWL stereoscopic viewer.
A lifelong advocate and campaigner for animal welfare, Brian set up the Save Me Trust to champion predominantly British wildlife and has been a leading inspiration in the fight against fox hunting and badger culling.
Brian was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 for ‘services to the Music Industry’ and for his charity work. He enjoys interacting with his fans on Instagram @brianmayforreal.
TAYLOR MOMSEN
"The last time I stood on the stage at The Forum was in January of 2019. Taylor Hawkins called me that morning at my hotel, wanting to know if I could switch songs with him. He was singing the Day I Tried to Live, which he had renamed (in true Taylor form) “The Day I Tried to Sing” in celebration of Chris Cornell. I said “no way”. We talked and laughed for a while about the difficulties of singing and playing Soundgarden songs and nicknames we were given when we were kids as we share the same name. It was “Tay Tay” that we ended up endearingly calling eachother. To now sing that same song he asked me to sing that night, standing on the same stage with his friends and band mates is surreal and heartbreaking, but in my heart I know it’s the best way I can honor one of the most amazing musicians and sweetest human beings I’ve ever met. Taylor Hawkins was and stays a treasure in this world. He will be forever missed."
Since the band's formation in 2008, singer and songwriter Taylor Momsen has led The Pretty Reckless on a singular mission to give rock 'n' roll the jumpstart it needed for a new generation. With back-to-back No. 1 singles and the distinction of being the first female-fronted act to have seven No. 1 songs on the Billboard Rock Radio Chart, Momsen has forged her own path into rock history. Recording her first album at the age of 15, The Pretty Reckless continue to tour the world on their fourth full length LP “Death By Rock and Roll” which topped the album charts in multiple countries. Momsen’s dedication to the roots of rock and roll continue to drive her uncompromising artistic vision with an unparalleled fervor and fearlessness. Oh, and she played little Cindy Lou Who alongside Jim Carrey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas; let that sink in.
ALANIS MORISSETTE
Since 1995, Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music. Her deeply expressive music and performances have earned vast critical praise and seven Grammy awards. Morissette’s 1995 debut, “JAGGED LITTLE PILL,” was followed by nine more eclectic and acclaimed albums. She has contributed musically to theatrical releases and has acted on the big and small screen. On December 5, 2019, “JAGGED LITTLE PILL” the musical made its Broadway debut at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City. The show was nominated for fifteen Tony Awards and won 2 Tony Awards at the 2021 ceremony. In July of 2020, Alanis released her ninth studio album, Such Pretty Forks In The Road, to rave reviews.
This summer Morissette wrapped the Jagged Little Pill 25th anniversary tour which was the #1 female-fronted tour from 2021 and also one of the Top Worldwide Tours of the year selling over 500,000 tickets. Stemming from her work in the mental health space, she released her first meditation album in June, the storm before the calm co-written alongside Dave Harrington (Darkside). Alanis also stars in Fox’s sitcom, “The Great North,” which will return for season 3 in 2022.
Outside of entertainment, Alanis is an avid supporter of mental health, female empowerment, as well as spiritual and physical wellness. In 2016, she launched “Conversation with Alanis Morissette,” a podcast that features conversations with a variety of revered authors, doctors, educators, and therapists, covering a wide range of psychosocial topics extending from spirituality to recovery to developmentalism to art. Guests have included Gabor Maté and Dan Siegel as well as many other leaders and teachers. A dedicated charitable activist, she has supported numerous causes that focus on empowerment, art, psychological and spiritual healing, relationships and environmental causes, earning her a Global Tolerance Award from the United Nations. Alanis was also honored with the Rock the Vote’s Patrick Lippert Award for her dedication to causes making the world safer for young people, including the benefit concert Groundwork, for The Act to Reduce Hunger, as well as several fund-raisers for gun control and 9/11 relief. Along with Harville Hendrix, John Gottman, Sue Johnson, and Dr. Dan Siegel, Alanis founded the Relationships First Organization, which empowers people to communicate without criticism, listen without judgment and connect through their differences. She has given keynote talks at a variety of events, including the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference and 1440 Multiversity, where she explored “remaining connected with oneself, spirit and others”.
KRIST NOVOSELIC
“Taylor was a rock music history scholar. I miss talking music with him. His mind was full of facts and accounts of musicians, bands and music industry lore. He was a great drummer, pianist and songwriter with wit. I miss playing music with him.”
Krist Novoselic was born on May 16, 1965 in Compton, California and grew up in Los Angeles, Croatia and Aberdeen, Washington. He was a founding member of the legendary rock band Nirvana. Along with bandmates Kurt Cobain and David Grohl, Novoselic helped to change the course of music history in 1992 when Nirvana snapped up Billboard magazine's number-one spot with their highly acclaimed album Nevermind, which went on to sell millions of copies around the world. Nirvana opened the doors for a new generation of musicians and bands.
Krist’s current band is 3rd Secret. He is a pilot and avid gardener.
P!NK
“Taylor was the most authentic, loving, humble, talented freak that you would ever want to meet. You didn’t even have to be anybody - he would always make you feel like the most important person in the room. Every single time.”
P!NK is a globally celebrated singer, songwriter, and actress. With a career spanning more than two decades, she has sold millions of records, had numerous top 10 singles, sold out arenas worldwide, and received countless accolades, including three GRAMMY Awards.
Her eighth and latest studio album, Hurts 2B Human, marked her third consecutive album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and debuted at #1 in eight other countries, with the single “Walk Me Home” hitting #1 on the Billboard Adult Pop Airplay Chart. In 2019, she took her Beautiful Trauma World Tour to 18 countries, performing over 156 shows and selling three million tickets worldwide, marking the biggest tour for a woman in over a decade. Her documentary P!NK: All I Know So Far is out now on Amazon Prime Video along with the accompanying project All I Know So Far: Setlist.
When she’s not performing, P!NK is a continued supporter of various charities, including No Kid Hungry, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Planned Parenthood, REVERB, Autism Speaks, and Human Rights Campaign, and is an ambassador for UNICEF.
MARK RONSON
"I met Taylor in 2016. I was producing Villains for Queens of the Stone Age and The Foos were making Concrete and Gold next door and Dave and Taylor would come crash our sessions. Josh and Dave would instantly fall into a rap because they have so much history and they’re essentially rock n roll deities and I would end up talking to Taylor the whole time. It feels so redundant to say this because everyone reading this program will know it but he was just about the most warm, engaging, funny, non-judgey and enthusiastic dude I’ve ever met. Plus, he’s one of the greatest rock n roll drummers of all time. Groove, chops, shred, taste – he had all of it. I loved his solo records because they encapsulated all that energy, the drummer and the man.
We did a few records together over zoom during the pandemic. Listening to him pound skins from 2500 miles away and then run and jump on Facetime all sweaty and ask in his kind, effusive way, “Was that any good?” was my musical highlight of 2020. I wish I could tell him a hundred more times, “Any good? It was the absolute fucking best."
Mark Ronson is an internationally renowned DJ and Oscar, Golden Globe and seven-time-Grammy-Award-winning artist and producer.
Ronson spent the first eight years of his life growing up in London, England before moving with his family to New York City. Already a keen student of music, and a huge fan of hip hop, he was 16 when he first began creating mixtapes and trying his hand at DJing. That early passion set him on a path to music production, recording and songwriting that has resulted in a career highlighted by work on a multi-Grammy-winning album by Amy Winehouse, as well as his own Grammy-winning, global smash hit with Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk." Along with releasing five successful albums under his own name, his resume includes production work for some of music’s biggest names, including Adele, Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Duran Duran and more. He helmed Lady Gaga’s acclaimed fifth album, Joanne and Queens Of The Stone Age’s lauded Villains. In 2018 he released a string of singles with Diplo under the name Silk City, including the worldwide hit “Electricity” with Dua Lipa, which earned him a Grammy Award for “Best Dance Recording” in 2019.
He is a co-writer of the song “Shallow,” recorded by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper for the movie A Star Is Born, for which he earned an Academy Award for “Best Original Song,” a Golden Globe Award for “Best Song Written for a Motion Picture,” and 2 Grammy Awards.
He collaborated with Miley Cyrus, Camila Cabello, Lykke Li, YEBBA and more for his fifth and most recent studio album Late Night Feelings, which was released in June 2019 to rave reviews.
In addition to his own albums, and writing and producing work with other artists, Mark has contributed to the soundtracks of HBO’s Euphoria, the 2016 Ghostbusters, the 2018 A Star Is Born, Suicide Squad, Disney’s 2016 live-action Jungle Book. He also hosts The FADER Uncovered Podcast, which features his interviews with some of music’s biggest names including Pharrell, J Balvin, Big Boi, David Byrne, Questlove and more. Mark also served as executive producer and host of the Apple TV+ critically acclaimed docu-series WATCH THE SOUND.
Mark is currently based in New York where he operates his record label, Zelig Records, home to fast rising stars including King Princess. To date, Ronson has 1 Academy Award, 7 Grammy Awards, 2 Brit Awards, 1 Golden Globe Award and 1 MTV VMA Award to his name.
RICK SAVAGE
"I never really knew Taylor and yet in a way I feel as though I’ve known him for years. That was the magnetism of the man. Rarely has there been someone with such a passion and natural talent for everything he did. A bright light has disappeared with his passing….."
NIKKI SIXX
"Taylor inspired me. He made me want to be better. We loved music. We loved to argue about music and would burst out laughing at how stupid we can be too. Every night on the last Mötley tour, I thought of Taylor during Home Sweet Home onstage. He loved his family so much. What a gift he was to us all."
Nikki Sixx is the International rock icon, founding member of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M, four-time New York Times best-selling author with The Heroin Diaries, This Is Gonna Hurt, The First 21 and Mötley Crüe’s The Dirt, philanthropist, photographer, and addiction recovery advocate.
As the creative force behind a multitude of projects across various platforms, Sixx never stops inventing new ways to express himself and continues to unveil his points of view with new initiatives. Mediums such as his books, photography, radio show, music and others have given Sixx the ability to frequently evolve as an artist.
Sixx had the #1 nationally syndicated rock radio show, Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx on iHeart Media for seven years and, in 2017 also launched his first photo exhibition, A Conversation With Angels in partnership with Leica Camera.
In March 2019, Sixx premiered Mötley Crüe's Netflix hit biopic, THE DIRT which is based on the band’s NY Times bestselling 2001 biography. The movie propelled Mötley Crüe's music catalog, streaming, licensing and merchandise to new heights while fueling tremendous popularity of the band with a brand new generation of younger fans. Due to massive demand for more live shows, the band subsequently announced a summer 2020 U.S. STADIUM TOUR and sold out most shows within just a short amount of time. The tour took place in summer 2022 to sold out stadiums across North America.
CHAD SMITH
"When I asked Taylor to be my son’s Godfather. I said “Taylor, do you think you can be the godfather to Beckett?” and he goes “Yeah, of course, what do I gotta do?” I go “Not really anything” and he goes “Ok great. I can do that.”
He was beautiful and we all miss him. I love him.
I’d love to tell a story of one of Taylor and I’s many escapades, but those wouldn’t be probably appropriate for this so I want to tell you one that warms my heart.
The 606 studio, those guys have the Foo Fighters and around the corner is a music store called, “Guitar Center” and so I think Dave and Taylor used to go in there all the time and just go in there to see what’s going on and maybe get some stuff.
But Taylor would always go on back to the drum room, the percussion section and if there were little kids in there or wannabe drummers trying out stuff, he’d be in there and of course they’d be all excited like “Oh my god, Taylor Hawkins is here! This is so cool!” And he always took the time to talk to them and hang out with them. And they would do this over time.
One day, the manager came to the guy that ran the percussion section and said, “you know I think something’s going on with Taylor Hawkins’ credit card. There must be some fraud or something because I see thousands of dollars over months of charges and I’ve never seen Taylor buy anything ever here.”
And the guy that worked the counter in the percussion section said, “No, they’re not fraud. Taylor would actually buy drum equipment, drum sets, sticks, cymbals, whatever was needed of any of the kids that he was hanging out with that they needed stuff and they needed equipment and he knew how important it was to have good equipment and he would just buy it for ‘em and never tell anybody and wouldn’t tell obviously the store and the kids would walk out with the stuff and that’s the kind of guy that Taylor Hawkins is.
And I love him and I miss him everyday. And I know he’s really happy about this right now. So I love you guys."
Chad Smith is an American musician who has been the drummer of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot, formed in 2008, and of the all-instrumental outfit Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats, formed in 2007. He worked with the Chicks on Taking the Long Way, an album that won five GrammyAwards in 2007.
Smith has recorded with Glenn Hughes, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, Geezer Butler, Jennifer Nettles, Kid Rock, Jake Bugg, the Avett Brothers, Joe Satriani, Post Malone, Eddie Vedder, Lana Del Rey and Halsey, Ozzy Osbourne and more.
Chad Smith is also known for his charity work especially with young musicians. He has been a lobbyist in support of music education in U.S. public schools.
ROGER TAYLOR
“My whole family and his whole family were very close. He was, my wife called him, sunshine in human form. He was the most wonderful man and I can’t quite believe that I’m not going to see him again.
“He’s done a lot to help my son, who’s a great drummer, and he actually sort of mentored him. We’re going to miss him so much.”
Although best known for his powerhouse role in Queen, Roger Taylor is anything but a drummer confined to his kit. With rock n’ roll in his veins he has always been a highly active member of Queen. He famously wrote Queen’s landmark hits “Radio Ga Ga” “A Kind Of Magic”, and “Sheer Heart Attack”, among other of Queen’s best known tracks.
Drummer, multi-instrumentalist, Taylor became fascinated with music at a young age. He enjoyed a brief taste of things to come in a pre-teen skiffle band.
In 1968 Taylor formed the group Smile with Middlesex guitar ace Brian May. Smile played sporadically over the next few years. With the additions to the line-up of John Deacon and Freddie Mercury in 1971, Smile became known as Queen, and the rest, as they say, became history making.
1977, the landmark year in which Queen released “We Are The Champions” and “We Will Rock You”, Roger became the first member of Queen to launch a solo career with the single “I Wanna Testify”.
His solo album “Fun In Space” followed in 1981, tailed in 1984 by “Strange Frontier”. Both reached the Top 30. In 1987 Roger formed his own band The Cross, after more than 20 years finally resuming the role of lead singer. The band released three albums between 1987 and 1991.
Following the loss of Freddie Mercury, Taylor assumed a solo career, releasing the album “Happiness”. “Electric Fire” followed in 1998. The most active of the Queen members as a solo artist, Taylor returned in 2013 with the more politically and socially conscious “Fun On Earth”. Taylor has also released a series of solo singles all rooted in his observational songwriting style, most recently, “Isolation”.
Taylor and fellow band member Brian May returned to touring under the name of Queen in 2005 adding vocalist Paul Rodgers and performing extensively between 2006 -2009 releasing one album together.
These days Taylor and May perform mega shows across the world fronted by Adam Lambert. To date Queen + Adam Lambert have played 218 shows to an audience close on 4 million.
Marking his first live performances outside Queen in over two decades, 2022 saw Taylor return to touring to play 14 shows across October shows coinciding with the release of his latest solo album Outsider.
Roger also oversees and produces The Queen Extravaganza, the official Queen Tribute act. The Queen Extravaganza is a spectacular touring concert show designed to take the music and live experience of Queen and bring it to generations of fans.
RUFUS TAYLOR
“At twelve years of age, I sat behind Taylor and watched him play and I was mesmerised. I wanted to be him - me, my Dad and he were the ‘three Taylor’s’ and I am beyond proud to call him my godfather.”
From 2011 to 2012 Rufus played drums in the Jeff Beck band. Alongside this in 2011 he joined his Dad and fellow band mates on a Queen + Adam Lambert tour, which then lead to him becoming a regular as they went on to play Kiev, London and then into Australasia and Europe, ending in 2015 when Rufus joined The Darkness as their drummer.
KIM THAYIL
Kim Thayil is the lead guitarist of the seminal multi-platinum rock band Soundgarden, which he co-founded in Seattle in 1984. Thayil was named the 100th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone and the 67th greatest guitarist of all time by SPIN. In addition, Thayil won two Grammy Awards as a member of Soundgarden.
JON THEODORE
"We all know and love Taylor for his most recognizable traits: exceptional human and family man and a monster drummer with a one of a kind voice- like the sound of a burning cig dipped in gold glitter resting in an ashtray on the bar next to a shot of tequila wrapped in velvet and furs.
He was such a deep soul with SO much passion for his heros and the music they made. What I’ll miss the most about him though is how good he always made everyone feel around him. He had a heart of gold and would do anything for his friends in a manner that’s so precious and rare. Long live The Hawk. ❤️"
LARS ULRICH
"Thank you Taylor...
Thank you for always having the biggest warmest smile on your face and for lighting up every room with your infectious energy and good vibes.
Last time at the BottleRock festival, I had the best seat in the house right above you and once again stood in amazement watching as you effortlessly steered Foo Fighters through a two hour set with the perfect balance of swing, swagger, bounce and insane chops.
Your phone call a week before you left us touched and inspired me, and I will always be appreciative for you championing our community as in your parting words…
“Drummers stick together!”
Damn right brother.
Except now the community is lesser without you."
Lars Ulrich is the co-founder and drummer of Metallica.
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WOLFGANG VAN HALEN
“It is truly an honor to be asked to take part in this incredible event to celebrate Taylor with so many talented artists and amazing people. Taylor’s influence on me and so many others is immeasurable."
First impressions last a lifetime. Wolfgang Van Halen has prepared a lifetime to make his first impression. The songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist worked tirelessly towards the introduction of MAMMOTH [Explorer1], his self-titled 2021 debut album. Playing every instrument and singing each and every note, his music presents a personal and powerful perspective, balancing memorable hooks and tight technicality. As many times as audiences have experienced his talent alongside the likes of Tremonti, Clint Lowery, and of course, Van Halen, they meet Wolf as an individual for the very first time now.
“You only have one chance to make a first impression, and I wanted to do so to the best of my abilities,” he affirms. “Throughout the whole process, I was finding who I am musically and by the end, I got a pretty good handle on a sound I can claim for myself.”
His father often played guitar against his mother’s pregnant belly, and Wolf absorbed those vibrations from the womb. At the age of 10, his Pop gave him a drum kit for his birthday. To this day, Wolf considers himself “a drummer before anything else.” As he developed as a musician, he learned how to play guitar in order to perform “316” — which his father penned for him — at a 6th-grade talent show.
It may come as a surprise, but outside of his father teaching him one drumbeat from an AC/DC song, Wolfgang taught himself every instrument. “My dad wasn’t the best teacher,” he laughs. “I would ask him to play something, and then he would just proceed to be Eddie Van Halen. He would look at me and say, ‘Do that.’ to which I would laugh and sarcastically reply, ‘Sure thing, no problem.”
In the summer of 2006 when he was 15 years old, Wolf grabbed a bass and began noodling. While at the legendary 5150 Studios, his impromptu woodshedding inspired Eddie and Uncle Alex. Endless family jam sessions followed. By summer’s end, Wolfgang phoned David Lee Roth’s manager and by winter Roth showed up for rehearsal. They rocked “On Fire,” and “That’s how the 2007 tour began,” says Wolf.
Not only did Wolf canvas the world with Van Halen while in high school, but he also held down the low end on 2012’s A Different Kind of Truth—which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200. When not on tour with Van Halen, he cut bass for Tremonti’s critically acclaimed Cauterize [2015] and Dust [2016] in addition to joining the band on the road. In 2019, Wolf handled drums and also played bass on half of the 10 songs for Clint Lowery’s solo debut, God Bless The Renegades.
In the midst of all this, at the beginning of 2015, Wolf broke ground on what would become MAMMOTH with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette [Alter Bridge, Slash] behind the board. Wolf began to embrace his voice, inspired by everyone from his father, to bands like AC/DC, Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, TOOL, and Jimmy Eat World. “I’ve been singing my whole life, but it wasn’t until MAMMOTH that I really found my voice. Elvis was great, and he helped me gain the confidence to become a lead vocalist.”
“The name Mammoth is really special to me.” says Wolf. “Not only was it the name of Van Halen before it became Van Halen, but my father was also the lead singer. Ever since my dad told me this, I always thought that when I grew up, I’d call my own band Mammoth, because I loved the name so much. I’m so thankful that my father was able to listen to, and enjoy the music I made. I!m really proud of the work I!ve done and nothing made me happier than seeing how proud he was that I was continuing the family legacy.”
BRAD WILK
"The first time I met Taylor he was playing with Chris Cheney for Alanis Morissette at a festival in Europe with RATM. I was blown away by his drumming and incredible will and energy. We instantly connected as drum nerds and fans of a lot of the same music growing up.
Taylor had the ability to be competitive in the most playful way… self deprecating and confident at the same time. It was always incredibly endearing and fun.
I will miss our phone conversations laughing our asses off and also supporting one another’s journey and family life. I swear I think he called every time he heard me on the radio to give me some love… a rare and special person, I would come to find out eventually that Taylor was like this with SO many people. Taylor made you feel special… but we all know that he was truly the special one. A true music lover and incredible musician. I’m going to miss him more than he will ever know. All love to Taylor Hawkins, his band mates, his family, friends, and all of his fans."
Brad Wilk is the drummer and founding member of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. He also played drums on the last Black Sabbath record (13) among other things.
NANCY WILSON
"I will be speaking the name of Taylor Hawkins for the rest of my life. He was one bright light of a big beautiful person who had no pretense of being a cool guy which made him all the cooler. He approached music from a fans perspective and was encyclopedic in his impressive knowledge of all things rock. Or RAWK as we would call it. Working on music with him was a dream as he could play every instrument and had a killer singing voice. We called each other Amigo and Amiga. I will forever have a hole in my soul where our friendship used to be."
Nancy Wilson is celebrated as a seminal musician in rock ‘n’ roll history. A guitar virtuoso from the age of 9, Nancy (and her sister Ann) lead the multi-platinum rock group, Heart, who have sold upwards of 35 million albums. Nancy is revered as an ingenious guitar player, and as a gifted lead vocalist. In fact, that’s Nancy singing on Heart’s first Number One hit, “These Dreams.” As a songwriter, Nancy has co-written a collection of indelible songs that have earned their way into the classic rock canon (“Magic Man,” “Crazy on You,” “Barracuda,” “Straight On”). Nancy and Ann were honored with the ASCAP Founders Award (2009), ASCAP’s most prestigious honor, awarded to songwriters who have made pioneering contributions to music.
NATE WOOD
"Touring with Taylor was like going to band camp. The Coattail Riders were ALWAYS talking about music: listening, discussing, arguing. One thing I’ve noticed about musicians worthy of legend is that they all seem to love music more than anyone. Taylor was one of those guys, his love of music was infectious and relentless.
I grew up in the same town as Taylor, in Southern California. Taylor was a beach bum through and through (that’s why he wore swimming trunks for most of his life!) There is a way the light looks after you’ve been at the beach all day. Taylor had that light in everything he did: whether it was his drumming, singing, songwriting or just talking to him. There is a reason everyone was attracted to him both as a person and a musician. Truly one of a kind."
PATRICK WILSON
"Taylor would call me just to see how I was doing. Like a neighbor who pops in for coffee in the morning."
ANDREW WYATT
"I never met Taylor but I have admired his playing for decades. And I believe music truly helps heal wounds, so I’m honored to join in this get-together to show love for Taylor, his family, fans, and band mates."
Andrew Wyatt is a Grammy & Academy Award winning artist, songwriter, and producer behind multi-platinum hits like “Shallow” by Lady Gaga, “Grenade” & “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars, and “Perfect Places” by Lorde. A frequent collaborator of Mark Ronson, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, and Liam Gallagher, he’s also the front man and lead songwriter of the alt-pop supergroup Miike Snow, which has spawned hits like “Animal” and “Genghis Kahn”. Beyond his writing and production work, he’s created sound installations shown at The New Museum, and MoMA PS1, as well as co-created the music for “Carbon Life” for The Royal Ballet of London.
