Taylor Hawkins' Son Pays Tribute To Late Dad Playing Drums On Iconic Foo Fighters Song

The son of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has paid tribute to his dad by performing one of the band’s classic songs.

Sixteen-year-old Oliver Shane Hawkins joined local band The Alive in California to perform the legendary group’s 1997 hit ‘My Hero’ at a Fourth of July celebration at Laguna Beach.

Hawkins’ son can be seen on the roof of a garage slamming on the drums as an audience watches below.

In a clip of the performance posted to TikTok by user @lagtownsfines, the caption reads: "When Taylor Hawkins' son gets on the drums and dedicates the song ‘My Hero' to his dad." The video's caption reads: "The hawk would've been proud." Watch it below:

Band The Alive also shared a video of the mosh pit that developed on the street below their makeshift stage and thanked '@shane_hawkins_22 for sitting in' with them during the performance.  

The teen’s powerful performance comes following legendary drummer Taylor Hawkins’ death in March this year at the age of 50.

Foo Fighters confirmed the shocking news that the drummer had died while on tour in Bogota, Columbia in a statement shared on 26 March, saying they were 'devastated' by the loss.

The band wrote: “The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever.

"Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time." 

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Born Oliver Taylor Hawkins in 1972, the drummer previously worked as a touring musician for the likes of Alanis Morissette and Sass Jordan, before joining Foo Fighters in 1997.

In 2004, he also formed a rock group called Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders – through which he released three studio albums – and the following year, he went on to be named Best Rock Drummer by Rhythm magazine. 

He also went on to create his own cover band called Chevy Metal, which son Shane had performed with in the past.

In an emotional tribute paid by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker at the time, he wrote: “I don’t have the words. Sad to write this or to never see you again. I’ll never forget Laguna Beach days when I was a trash man playing in a punk rock band and you were playing with Alanis.

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"You’d come watch me play in dive bars and be like, ‘kid you’re a star’.” 

Recalling how Hawkins gave him ‘so much hope and determination’, Barker added: “Years later we toured together with Blink and Foo’s in Australia and I have the best memories of smoking cigarettes in the restroom of flights we were on together and watching your set every night. To say I’ll miss you my friend isn’t enough. Till the next time we talk drums and smoke in the boys room… Rest In Peace.” 

The drummer is survived by his wife Alison as well as their three kids: Shane, Annabelle, 13, and Everleigh, 8.  

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677 

Words: Rachel Finn