The 5 Greatest Taylor Hawkins Performances You’ll Ever Watch

To honor the memory of their iconic drummer, Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters held a spectacular memorial show in Los Angeles back in September 2022. Among the notable rock stars who attended were Travis Barker, Alanis Morissette, Miley Cyrus, Chad Smith, Geddy Lee from Rush, and even Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen. The evening at the Kia Forum was one to remember. By revisiting some of Taylor’s most memorable performances from his amazing career, we’re also preserving the vibe. Check them out below.

Rockin’ the Pinkpop Stage with Alanis Morissette (1996)
Before Taylor Hawkins was the Foo Fighters’ drumming dynamo, he was laying down beats for Alanis Morissette. The stage rocked as the two young, 20-something musicians found their groove at the 1996 Pinkpop Festival. Hawkins’ energy was electric, even back then, stealing the show with his wild enthusiasm. “She gave me a lot of space to do what I wanted,” Hawkins said of Morissette. “It was probably the biggest album of the year, and there was a lot of pressure on her. She was having to learn to be this leader on the job, which isn’t easy. But it was really one of the most fun times of my life.” They’ve also collaborated on stage at The Prince’s Trust Masters Of Music event in London’s Hyde Park on June 29th, 1996.

Stealing the Spotlight with a Zeppelin Vibe (2008)
In 2008, Dave Grohl teamed up with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones for an epic one-off show at Wembley Stadium. With Grohl on drums, filling in for John Bonham, and Robert Plant absent, Taylor Hawkins took center stage, belting out Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” from 1971. Hawkins hit those iconic high notes with ease, showing off his vocal chops and proving he was a multi-talented force to be reckoned with in the rock world.

Welcoming Rush to the Rock Hall with Flair (2013)
In 2013, Taylor Hawkins helped give Rush the ultimate shout-out at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Kicking things off, he hyped up the crowd, saying, “Fuckin’ Neil Peart … come on! This guy spawned a generation of air drummers for decades to come.” Then, rocking a Peart-style wig and kimono, Hawkins joined Dave Grohl on guitar and Nick Raskulinecz on bass for a killer cover of Rush’s “2112” overture. The night wrapped with Rush themselves hitting the stage alongside Hawkins for “Tom Sawyer.” With his infectious grin, Hawkins was like a kid living his rockstar dream.

Rockin’ Letterman’s Farewell Bash (2015)
When David Letterman decided to retire from his iconic talk show, he picked the Foo Fighters to give him a legendary send-off. The band jetted to New York to perform “Everlong,” just as Dave requested. Looking sharp in a full tux, Taylor Hawkins was all in, pounding the drums with his signature energy. After the epic performance, Letterman beamed, saying, “God bless you, gentlemen. Thank you, and good night.” Hawkins and the Foos brought the house down, making it a night to remember for the fans of the late-night show.

Jamming with Chevy Metal at BeachLife (2019)
Taylor Hawkins teamed up with buddies Wiley Hodgden and Mick Murphy to form Chevy Metal, a fun side gig dedicated to rocking out ‘70s-style covers. The crowd was getting all Black Sabbath, Van Halen, and Queen vibes! At California’s BeachLife Fest in 2019, Hawkins pulled double duty, tearing it up on drums and belting out lead vocals. He totally nailed David Lee Roth’s energy on hits like “Hot for Teacher” and “Panama,” bringing the crowd to their feet with his infectious rock ‘n’ roll spirit and passion!