It’s eight AM, and I’m sitting on the couch watching a static image on TV count down to the London Taylor Hawkins tribute. It begins in thirty minutes. I’m just waiting. I’ve made some coffee and previously mail-ordered a Taylor Hawkins t-shirt to wear just for today. I want to feel a “part of” as much as I can. London is so far away from L.A.
I’ve been thinking about this day a lot over the last month. I’ve compulsively sought a ticket with the idea that should I get one, I’d fly off the UK and be at the show. No luck, people are holding onto tickets like they’re gold, and rightfully so. There is a Los Angeles show coming up at the end of the month, and trust me, I’ve spent hours trying to get just one ticket. Nothing, no one is selling. Global demand for this band is so insane that I’ll miss a show that’s ten miles from my apartment. This could be the last Foo Fighters show... ever!
I couldn’t sleep last night. I was nervous, scared, embarrassed, and worried about what might happen. Am I going to spend the morning crying alone in my apartment at a concert on TV? Is the star caliber of the event going to eclipse its purpose? Why is the first of two shows in the UK and not Taylor’s native Southern California? I fell asleep when I realized I had no control over any of those things. I am, but a fan and grateful technology will literally bring me beyond the front row of Wembley Stadium to hear and see my heroes celebrate their friend.
Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters are master showmen and torch bearers of loud, live music. Who else would or could pull together such an incredible lineup? Dave and Taylor had unmatched chemistry in an industry filled with stories of love-hate disillusion. Much bigger legends than Taylor have died in my lifetime, and often their tributes were either disingenuous or too solemn. I expect more from Dave. I know that’s not fair to him, but damn it, the Foo Fighters have been the soundtrack of my life for the last twenty years, and I want him to honor that. Again, not fair to him and is out of my control. It will be what it will be, and I must surrender to that. For now, the clock is ticking, and I must settle in for whatever may come.
Christ, one note into a video montage of Taylor with the song Arura and I’m bawling. This is going to be a loooong morning. Dave, Nate, Pat, Chris, and Rami walk on the enormous stage, and the roar of love is eviscerating. Time after time, Dave raises a mic to his lips and cannot speak from the crowd’s chants of “Taylor! Taylor! Taylor!” When Dave finally finds his voice, he welcomes family, friends, and fans into what will be an iconic day of music where all should sing, dance, cry and scream in Taylor’s honor. That’s just what I’ll do – I’ve already checked off the crying part, time to dance and sing.
WATCH:
https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/video/ufR9JefJNYgRDJALBjwRr_j4L2bC2qdY/
Six hours later and the show’s over. I won’t bother with a synopsis or highlights because that’s all anyone else will write about. To me, this show was so much more than the songs played, happy accidents, or tearful speechless moments seen on stage. Besides, how do you synopsize something so grand where every song and moment captured so many layers of meaning? There’s too much to feel. But know this – my expectations were met, beaten, and launched into another stratosphere.
This music, these people, and I don’t just mean the Foo crew, I mean everyone who touched that Wembly stage has scored some moment of my life. Seeing them all playing their hearts out while celebrating Taylor has me speechless. The closing Foo Fighters set was cathartic, joyous, heartbreaking, and another reminder that music and its makers are conduits to universal good. If only we’d allow ourselves to plug in more often. I did.
Damn, what a show. So many opportunities taken to rejoice in every crack of the snare, howl of a lyric, crunch of guitar, and tear shed by all. Every face I saw bursting with emotion was a crystalline glimpse into universal humanity. I hope it continues. I hope I, we, can continue keeping as much love in our hearts as I felt and witnessed today at Wembley. Thank you, Dave, Foo, and Hawkins families, friends, and fans. May Taylor’s music always make my ears ring and my voice hoarse.
SETLIST
Aurora
(With photos and video of Taylor )
Liam Gallagher + Foo Fighters
Rock 'n' Roll Star
(Oasis cover)Live Forever
(Oasis cover)
Nile Rodgers + Chris Chaney + Omar Hakim
Let's Dance
(David Bowie cover) (with Josh Homme)Modern Love
(David Bowie cover) (with Gaz Coombes)
Chevy Metal
Psycho Killer
(Talking Heads cover)Children of the Revolution
(T. Rex cover) (with Kesha)
Justin Hawkins, Josh Freese + The Coattail Riders
Louise
(Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders cover)Range Rover Bitch
(Taylor Hawkins song)
It's Over
(Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders cover)
Wolfgang Van Halen + Dave Grohl + Justin Hawkins + Josh Freese
On Fire
(Van Halen cover)Hot for Teacher
(Van Halen cover)
Violet Grohl, Dave Grohl + Alain Johannes + Chris Chaney + Greg Kurstin + Jason Falkner
Last Goodbye
(Jeff Buckley cover)Grace
(Jeff Buckley cover)
Supergrass
Richard III
(Supergrass)Alright
(Supergrass)
Caught by the Fuzz
(Supergrass)
Them Crooked Vultures
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
(Elton John cover)Gunman
(Them Crooked Vultures)
Long Slow Goodbye
(Queens of the Stone Age cover)
Pretenders + Dave Grohl
Precious
(Pretenders) (followed by a tease of "Sweet Caroline” )Tattooed Love Boys
(Pretenders)
Brass in Pocket
(Pretenders) (followed by another tease of "Sweet Caroline” )
James Gang
Walk Away
(James Gang )The Bomber: Closet Queen / Bolero / Cast Your Fate to the Wind
(James Gang )
Funk #49
(James Gang + Dave Grohl on drums)
Violet Grohl + Mark Ronson + Chris Chaney + Jason Falkner
Valerie
(The Zutons cover)
Brian Johnson + Lars Ulrich + Foo Fighters
Back in Black
(AC/DC cover with Justin Hawkins)Let There Be Rock
(AC/DC cover)
Stewart Copeland + Foo Fighters
Next to You
(The Police cover)Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
(The Police cover with Gaz Coombes on vox)
Geddy Lee + Alex Lifeson
2112 Part I: Overture
(Rush) (Dave Grohl on drums)Working Man
(Rush) (Dave Grohl on drums)
YYZ
(Rush cover) (Omar Hakim on drums)
Brian May + Roger Taylor + Rufus Taylor + Foo Fighters
We Will Rock You
(Queen with Luke Spiller) (Slow/Fast Version)I'm in Love With My Car
(Queen)
Under Pressure
(Queen cover) (with Justin Hawkins on Vox)
Somebody to Love
(Queen) (with Sam Ryder on Vox)
Love of My Life
(Queen) (Brian May solo acoustic)
Foo Fighters
Times Like These
(Josh Freese on drums) (solo into full band)All My Life
(with Josh Freese on drums)
The Pretender
(with Travis Barker on drums)
Monkey Wrench
(with Travis Barker on drums)
Learn to Fly
(with Nandi Bushell on drums)
These Days
(with Rufus Taylor on drums)
Best of You
(with Rufus Taylor on drums)
Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Omar Hakim & Pat Smear
Oh! Darling
(The Beatles cover with Chrissie Hynde duetting with Sir Paul)Helter Skelter
(The Beatles cover)
Foo Fighters
Aurora
(with Omar Hakim on drums)My Hero
(with Shane Hawkins, Taylor’s Son, on drums)
Everlong
(Dave Grohl Solo )
The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts ticket and merchandise sales will benefit charities chosen by the Hawkins family: Music Support and MusiCares. For further information or to make a donation, visit Music Support and MusiCares.
I just now finally watched the tribute show and was actually wondering what you thought of it so I'm glad I came across this post. I agree with your assessment. I thought the show was the greatest tribute to a single person I've ever seen.
Your passion for this band is touching. Kudos, brother.