The Taylor Hawkins tribute concert Saturday was not only a six hour salute to the late Foo Fighters drummer, it also included tributes to late members of two other major acts.
Dave Grohl and the rest of the Foos came out at the start of the show at London’s Wembley Stadium and after a lengthy ovation and a chant of “Taylor” Grohl told the audience, “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we’ve gathered here to celebrate the life, the music, and the love of our dear friend, our bandmate, our brother, Taylor Hawkins. For those of you who knew him personally, you know that no one else could make you smile, or laugh, or dance, or sing like he could.”
He continued “And for those of you who admired him from afar, I’m sure you’ve all felt the same thing so, tonight, we’ve gathered with family and his closest friends, his musical heroes and greatest inspirations to bring you a gigantic night for a gigantic person.” The Foos then backed Liam Gallagher for two Oasis songs, “Rock “n’ Roll Star” and “Live Forever” to get things rolling.
The first tribute to someone besides Hawkins took place when Wolfgang Van Halen came out to play guitar with Grohl on bass, Josh Freese on drums and Justin Hawkins of The Darkness on vocals. They did blistering versions of Van Halen‘s “On Fire” and “Hot for Teacher,” and Wolf played the solos just like his late father, Eddie Van Halen.
The second tribute came when Grohl for two songs, and then drummer Omar Hakim, backed Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush on “2112 Part 1: Overture,” “Working Man” and “YYZ.” It was the first time they had played those songs since drummer Neil Peart died in 2020, and Geddy Lee told the crowd that they were honored to play for Hawkins “in honor of our own lost brother.”
The other big surprise of the day came when Paul McCartney came out during the Foos closing set to do two Beatles songs — “Oh Darling” with Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders and “Helter Skelter.” It was the first time McCartney had played “Oh Darling” live.
The day included two band reunions — one expected and one a surprise. Grohl told the audience that Joe Walsh reunited the James Gang for this tribute. The trio’s first set in 16 years included the classics “Walk Away” and “Funk #49” with Grohl as a second drummer. (Grohl will join The James Gang at Walsh’s Vets Aid benefit on November 13th in Columbus, Ohio.)
The surprise reunion came when Grohl, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and Alain Johannes came together as Them Crooked Vultures. Their set included a cover of Elton John‘s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”
Grohl had to pause because he was choked up and crying when singing the opening lines of “Times Like These” to start the Foo’s show closing set. They were joined on drums by Josh Freese, Travis Barker of Blink-182, Nandi Bushell, Rufus Taylor of The Darkness, Omar Hakim and in perhaps the day’s emotional highlight, Taylor’s16-year-old Shane Hawkins playing on “My Hero.”
Grohl closed the show by doing “Everlong” solo and then brought all of the day’s musicians out for a bow. Before he walked off stage, Grohl gave fans hope that the Foos would continue by saying they’d “see them around.”
Other highlights included Violet Grohl doing two Jeff Buckley songs (Dave Grohl said that Hawkins introduced him to Buckley’s Grace album), Brian Johnson of AC/DC and Lars Ulrich of Metallica joining the Foos for AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and “Let There Be Rock” and Brian May and Roger Taylor doing five Queen songs.
The second Hawkins tribute is set for September 27th in Los Angeles, with a slightly different lineup than London.
REUTERS PHOTO
