The Colombian Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Saturday that the drummer of the band “Foo Fighters” Taylor Hawkins took marijuana, opium and antidepressants on the eve of his death, Friday night, in a Bogota hotel.
“The analysis of the degree of toxicity in the body revealed the presence of ten substances so far in Taylor Hawkins’ body, including THC (cannabis), antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opiates,” the Public Prosecution Office said in a statement.
And she indicated that forensic doctors are continuing to work “to uncover the full circumstances of Hawkins’ death.”
Prior to his death, the 50-year-old drummer complained of “chest pain”. After asking for help from his hotel, a general practitioner tried unsuccessfully to revive him, according to the municipality of Bogota.
The “Fo Fighters”, one of the most famous alternative rock bands on the American scene, which has won the appreciation of critics greatly and has won several “Grammy” awards for its many successful works during their career, was scheduled to give a Friday party in Bogota on the occasion of the “Estereo Picnic” festival.
But the concert was cancelled, and thousands of people waiting for the show to start held a minute of silence. The band also canceled a concert it was planning to perform today (Sunday), in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.
Taylor Hawkins has been a member of the Foo Fighters since 1997, and has drummed some of their most popular songs, including “Learn to Fly” and “Best of You.” He previously played drums with Canadian singer Alanis Morissette.
The Foo Fighters, the band of former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, celebrated their 25th anniversary last year and recently produced “Studio 666,” a rock-infused horror movie.
Honorary messages poured in from big names in the world of music, including the famous artist Ozzy Osbourne, who described Hawkins as a “great and wonderful person”, while punk rocker Billy Idol described the news of Hawkins’ death as “tragic.”
“Rig Against the Machine” guitarist Tom Morello praised Hawkins’ “unstoppable rock power”.
“We can’t believe the death of Taylor Hawkins,” the rock band Nickelback wrote on Twitter.
In an interview with Radio 95.5 KLOS in California last year, Dave Grohl told the story of his first meeting with Hawkins. And he said, “I said: + Well, you are my twin, my soul animal, or my best friend +, and it wasn’t just ten seconds since we got to know each other!” “Of course, I saw him playing the drums, and I realized that he is a great musician and player,” he added. He continued, “When I called him and said, ‘Listen, I’m looking for a drummer. He answered me: You know that I am the one you seek. I think it was more regarding our personal relationship than something musical.”
