Taylor Hawkins: Foo Fighters drummer told friends he can’t fucking do it anymore

Friends of Taylor Hawkins have been reflecting on the late Foo Fighters drummer’s mental state in the weeks leading up to his death.

Hawkins died on March 25 while the Foo Fighters were on tour in Colombia. It’s not yet known what caused Hawkins to die, but a toxicology report confirmed his body contained 10 different substances, including marijuana, opioids and antidepressants.

In the weeks since Hawkins died Rolling Stone interviewed 20 people, including several of the drummer’s best friends, about his life and career and his prospects in his final months.

They told the publication that Hawkins has been hesitant to return to the streets for the Foo Fighters’ big post-pandemic comeback tour and said he’s worried about having the energy to play lively three-hour shows every night.

Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron, a close friend of Hawkins’, recounted it Rolling Stone: “He had a heart-to-heart with Dave [Grohl, the band’s frontman] and, yes, he told me that he ‘can’t fucking take it anymore’ – those were his words…

“I guess they settled, but it seems like the touring schedule got even crazier after that.”

When contacted by Rolling Stonea Foo Fighters representative denied that Hawkins ever addressed these issues.

Hawkins’ old friend and former boss, singer Sass Jordan, added: “Honestly, I think he was just so tired. Tired from the whole game.”

A colleague and friend of Hawkins said it took a lot for the “Fucking Balls” drummer to have this conversation with Grohl, adding, “It took a year to build up the courage.”

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Another anonymous friend claimed Hawkins was being pressured to do more concerts. At the time of Hawkins’ death, Foo Fighters had nearly 60 more shows scheduled for 2022.

In conversation with Rolling Stone Last year, the drummer admitted he was “trying very hard to figure out how to keep the intensity of a young man in the body of a 50-year-old, which is very difficult”.

The Independent reached out to a Foo Fighters representative for comment.

Hawkins’ family members and bandmates declined to do interviews Rolling Stone‘s story, but a band rep denied reports from Hawkins’ friends about how he was feeling.

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