When Dave Grohl sang for his fallen brother Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters frontman struggled to get through the song. Grohl sang “Times Like These” in an intimate, stripped-back arrangement at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. With just a lone keyboard part for accompaniment, Grohl laid his emotions bare on the number, which took its toll. From 1:40 onwards, Grohl had to pause to collect himself, and it seemed like he might not be able to continue.
But the fans were there for Dave when he needed them. They sang along to every line, giving him strength, and cheering in support while Dave paused to wipe his eyes. With the fans’ support, Dave made it through the solo vocal section and kicked the band into gear, finishing strong and getting the stadium jumping. The Music Man has to say that the final singalong with the entire stadium singing the lyrics back to Dave is a total goosebumps moment.
Fans rallied around Dave following the performance and added comments such as “I was there. Dave and the crowd carried each other through. Absolute magic” and “I think we all cried along with Dave at this time… My heart broke for sure. I’m glad the crowd helped him through it. That’s the power of music. This was a beautiful tribute to Taylor.”
The Music Man readers might be wondering why Foo Fighters played the first tribute concert at Wembley in the UK when the band is from the US. One reason is that the Foos have a more dedicated fanbase in the UK, where they’ve had more consistent hits. Another reason is that Wembley Stadium is a nostalgic location for the Foos and their fans. After all, the band delivered an iconic performance at Wembley in 2008, back when Taylor was still behind the drumkit, with “Times Like These” being a highlight.
Taylor Hawkins passed at age 50 on March 25, 2022, in Bogotá, Colombia, prior to his scheduled performance with the Foo Fighters that evening. His loss was keenly felt in the music world, with many across the industry mourning not only his incredible musicianship across multiple high-profile acts but also his warm and charismatic presence on and off stage. The Hawkins family organized two tribute shows in London and California in the wake of Taylor’s passing. They were star-studded events that featured many of Taylor’s heroes, including appearances by members of acts such as Queen, Rush, The Beatles, Metallica, The Police, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath.