In its statement, the band characterized Hawkins’ passing as a “tragic and untimely loss.”
The Foo Fighters were on tour in South America when news of Hawkins’ death broke. According to The Associated Press, the band played a festival in San Isidro, Argentina, on Sunday and had been scheduled to play at another in Bogotá, Colombia, on Friday night.
Hawkins, who joined the band in 1997 after a two-year stint as singer Alanis Morissette’s drummer, was also a strong singer who frequently took the microphone at concerts. often lent his voice to B-side recordings and co-wrote many of the Foo Fighters’ songs, Variety reported.
“An imaginative and rock-solid drummer, he had the seemingly thankless task of playing drums behind Foos frontman Dave Grohl, who is one of the greatest drummers in rock history. Hawkins filled that role with aplomb, bringing his own hard-hitting, time-juggling style to the band’s straight-ahead rock sound without trying to emulate Grohl,” the entertainment news outlet eulogized.
Born Oliver Taylor Hawkins in Fort Worth, Texas, he was raised in Laguna Beach, California, after relocated there with his family in 1976 at the age of 4.
According to Variety, rock singer Sass Jordan gave Hawkins his first professional gig, but he left in 1995 to join Morissette’s blockbuster “Jagged Little Pill” tour in 1995 and the Foo Fighters two years after that.
The Foo Fighters, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021, are slated to perform at the Grammy Awards on April 6.
Hawkins is survived by his wife Alison and their three children.
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Taylor Hawkins Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters attends a cooking demonstration at BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival at Napa Valley Expo on Sunday, May 29, 2016, in Napa, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Chef Michael Voltaggio, left, and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters attend a cooking demonstration at BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival at Napa Valley Expo on Sunday, May 29, 2016, in Napa, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Dick Van Dyke, left, and Taylor Hawkins seen at One Love Malibu at King Gillette Ranch on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Calabasas, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Musician Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters arrives at the VH1 Rock Honors The Who on Saturday July 12, 2008 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) (Matt Sayles/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Dave Grohl, right, and Taylor Hawkins attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Nokia Theatre on Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Taylor Hawkins and guest arrive at the Pre-Grammy Gala & Salute to Industry Icons with Clive Davis honoring David Geffen on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg) (Dan Steinberg/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Musician Taylor Hawkins performs on stage at the Sound City Players concert at The Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 in New York.(Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP) (Brad Barket/Brad Barket/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins From left to right, musician Richie Ramone and musician Taylor Hawkins arrive on the red carpet at the West Coast special screening of "CBGB" at the ArcLight Hollywood on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP) (Dan Steinberg/Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Rick Nielsen and Taylor Hawkins attend the premiere of "Sound City", on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP Images) (John Shearer/John Shearer/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Recording artists Gannin Arnold, left, and Taylor Hawkins pose for a portrait Thursday, May 6, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen) (Jeff Christensen/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Taylor Hawkins Foo Fighters Dave Grohl, right, and Taylor Hawkins announce nominees for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards during a news conference, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007, in Los Angeles. The Grammy Awards will take place on Feb. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
(Chris Pizzello/AP)
Taylor Hawkins The Foo Fighters, from left, Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett are photographed before their concert in Duluth, Ga., Sept. 8, 2005. On "In Your Honor," the Foo Fighters' surprising new double disc and fifth album, Grohl dramatically expands his band's sound, splitting the album's 20 songs between characteristically explosive electric tunes, and quiet, acoustic numbers. (AP Photo/John Amis) (JOHN AMIS/AP)
Taylor Hawkins ARCHIV - Taylor Hawkins am 12. Juli 2008 in Los Angeles. Foo-Fighter-Schlagzeuger Taylor Hawkins veroeffentlicht mit seinem Nebenprojekt The Coattail Riders das zweite Album. "Red Light Fever" erscheint am 19. April 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles,file) ---FILE - Musician Taylor Hawkins of the 'Foo Fighters' arrives at the VH1 Rock Honors ?The Who? on July 12, 2008 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles,file) (Matt Sayles/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Taylor Hawkins Taylor Hawkins of the band The Foo Fighters performs with Chevy Metal during Day 1 of the Rock Allegiance Festival at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, in Chester, Pa. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP) (Owen Sweeney/Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Musician Taylor Hawkins arrives at the west coast special screening of "CBGB" at ArcLight Hollywood on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP) (Paul A. Hebert/Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Dave Grohl, second from left, Foo Fighters band member and director of the documentary film "Sound City," poses with fellow Foo Fighters members, from left, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear at the premiere of the film on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Images) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Taylor Hawkins of Chevy Metal performs during KAABOO 2019 at the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in San Diego, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins U.S. musician Taylor Hawkins performs with his band The Coattail Riders, at the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London, Friday, July 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan) (Joel Ryan/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Taylor Hawkins Taylor Hawkins of the band The Foo Fighters performs with Chevy Metal during Day 1 of the Rock Allegiance Festival at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, in Chester, Pa. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP) (Owen Sweeney/Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Taylor Hawkins, of Foo Fighters, right, and Alison Hawkins attend a funeral for Chris Cornell at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Friday, May 26, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Taylor Hawkins of The Foo Fighters performs at The Bud Light Hotel, on Saturday, February 1, 2014, in New York. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP) (Greg Allen/Greg Allen/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Front row from left, Jane's Addiction band members Perry Farrell, Stephen Perkins, Chris Chaney and Dave Navarro are joined by, top row from left, Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters, John Densmore of The Doors and John Doe of X during a ceremony to award Jane's Addiction a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Taylor Hawkins Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters performs at the Voodoo Music Experience in City Park on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)