Taylor Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Oliver Taylor Hawkins is an American
musician
, best known as the drummer
of the rock
band
Foo Fighters
.
Prior to joining the band in 1997, he was the touring drummer for Alanis Morissette
on her Jagged Little Pill
and Can't Not tours, as well as the drummer in the progressive experimental band called Sylvia which, after changing their name to Anyone
, went on to sign with Roadrunner Records. His cousin, Kevin Harrell, introduced him to Dave Grohl
after camping with him for several weeks in the Ozarks
. Hawkins would eventually become the drummer for Grohl's band, Foo Fighters. He was voted "Best Rock Drummer" in 2005 by the UK
drumming magazine
, Rhythm.
In 2004, Hawkins formed his own side project, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders
, in which he plays drums and sings.
-based band Sylvia (later emerging as ANYONE), he joined up as drummer for Sass Jordan
, which in turn he left to act as drummer for Alanis Morissette
. He has appeared in Morissette's videos for "You Oughta Know
" and "You Learn".
entered a Seattle studio with producer Gil Norton
to record its second album. Conflict reportedly erupted between Dave Grohl
and the drummer, William Goldsmith
, eventually causing Goldsmith to leave the band. The band regrouped in Los Angeles
and almost completely re-recorded the album with Grohl on drums. The album, The Colour and the Shape
, was released on May 20, 1997. Grohl called up Hawkins to recommend a new drummer, and to Grohl's surprise, Hawkins volunteered himself. He then auditioned for and subsequently joined the band, making his debut in time for the album's release.
In addition to his drumming duties with the Foo Fighters, Hawkins is also an accomplished rock singer, guitarist and pianist. His first lead vocal with the group was a cover of Pink Floyd
's "Have a Cigar
". Two versions of the song were released, one as the b-side to "Learn to Fly" and another on the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack album. He sang lead vocals on the original "Cold Day in the Sun", from In Your Honor
which was later released as a single, and the cover of Cream
's "I Feel Free
", which appeared as the B-side of "DOA
" and on the EP Five Songs and a Cover
. Hawkins also sang lead vocals for the band's cover Joe Walsh
's "Life of Illusion". Over the years, he has increasingly provided backing vocals on albums and in concert. At times, he has also done lead vocals and guitar while Grohl plays drums, but Hawkins is often limited to singing "Cold Day in the Sun" while drumming. This has led to a running joke whereby Grohl greets the end of Hawkins' stint as lead vocalist with the quip "You know, for a drummer you're not a bad singer", to which Hawkins retorts "Neither are you".
. He occasionally plays with a Police cover band alternately called "The Cops" and "Fallout".
At Live Earth
in 2007, Hawkins was part of SOS Allstars
with Roger Taylor
of Queen
and Chad Smith
of Red Hot Chili Peppers
.
Taylor played "YYZ" with Geddy Lee
and Alex Lifeson
of Rush
on stage at a concert in Toronto on March 22, 2008.
Hawkins recorded the drum tracks for the Coheed and Cambria
album "Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow", as the band's regular drummer Chris Pennie
was not able to record due to contractual reasons. Also, Hawkins toured with Coheed and Cambria shortly during the months of the album. Hawkins can also be heard drumming on Eric Avery
's (formerly of Jane's Addiction
) first solo effort, Help Wanted
and on Kerry Ellis
's album, 'Wicked in Rock'. Hawkins and Grohl split drumming duties on Harmony & Dissidence, the latest album by Foo Fighters
band-mate Chris Shiflett
's own side-project, Jackson United
.
Hawkins played on the track "Cyborg", from Queen guitarist Brian May
's 1998 solo album, Another World
; he also played drums at VH1
's Rock Honors 2006 while Queen performed "We Will Rock You
". He sang backing vocals
on the Queen + Paul Rodgers
single, "C-lebrity
".
Hawkins was commissioned to complete an unfinished recording of a song by Beach Boys' drummer Dennis Wilson
entitled "Holy Man" by writing and singing new lyrics. The recording was released in June 2008 as part of a deluxe edition of Wilson's lone 1977 solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue
.
While the Foo Fighters were on break, Hawkins played in a three piece cover band, Chevy Metal, that played lesser known tracks by ZZ Top
, Aerosmith
, Deep Purple
and Black Sabbath
.
Taylor Hawkins appears on Slash
's solo album Slash released in 2010, providing backing vocals on the track "Crucify the Dead" featuring Ozzy Osbourne
.
of Queen
, Stewart Copeland
of The Police
, and Neil Peart
of Rush
.
Taylor is also a fan of U2
stating,
Gretsch
drums:
Zildjian cymbals:
Hawkins also uses DW
Hardware
, Remo
drum heads, Latin Percussion
Percussion, North drums
, Shure
drum microphones and Zildjian Taylor Hawkins Signature sticks.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
.
Prior to joining the band in 1997, he was the touring drummer for Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
on her Jagged Little Pill
Jagged Little Pill
Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album by Canadian recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette. It was Morissette's first internationally released album, and her first studio album after the three year hiatus following her break with MCA Records. The album marked a shift from her style...
and Can't Not tours, as well as the drummer in the progressive experimental band called Sylvia which, after changing their name to Anyone
Anyone
Anyone is a band from Southern California that formed in 1995. Their 2001 self-titled album was released on Roadrunner Records. They have described their music using the term "maximum acid", combining a heavy metal sound with psychedelic rock influences...
, went on to sign with Roadrunner Records. His cousin, Kevin Harrell, introduced him to Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
after camping with him for several weeks in the Ozarks
The Ozarks
The Ozarks are a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States. It covers much of the southern half of Missouri and an extensive portion of northwestern and north central Arkansas...
. Hawkins would eventually become the drummer for Grohl's band, Foo Fighters. He was voted "Best Rock Drummer" in 2005 by the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
drumming magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, Rhythm.
In 2004, Hawkins formed his own side project, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders
Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders
Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders is a band founded by Taylor Hawkins, drummer for the Foo Fighters. Hawkins is the drummer and vocalist for the trio. Other band members include Chris Chaney on bass and Gannin Arnold on guitar...
, in which he plays drums and sings.
Early career
After leaving the Orange CountyOrange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
-based band Sylvia (later emerging as ANYONE), he joined up as drummer for Sass Jordan
Sass Jordan
Sarah "Sass" Jordan is a Canadian, Juno Award winning, rock singer/songwriter who grew up in Montreal.- Biography :...
, which in turn he left to act as drummer for Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
. He has appeared in Morissette's videos for "You Oughta Know
You Oughta Know
"You Oughta Know" is a alternative rock song, which also is known for its grunge effect styles in it. The instruments held in it are guitars, electric guitars, drums and drum machine...
" and "You Learn".
Foo Fighters
After touring through the spring of 1996, Foo FightersFoo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
entered a Seattle studio with producer Gil Norton
Gil Norton
Gil Norton is a British record producer known for his work with such bands as Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters, Tribe, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Feeder, The Distillers, Maxïmo Park, Counting Crows, Terrorvision, The Triffids, Del Amitri, James, The Feelers, The Beekeepers,...
to record its second album. Conflict reportedly erupted between Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
and the drummer, William Goldsmith
William Goldsmith
William Goldsmith is an American drummer best known for being the drummer of the popular Seattle Alternative band Sunny Day Real Estate and for his tenure as the drummer of the alternative rock band Foo Fighters...
, eventually causing Goldsmith to leave the band. The band regrouped in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and almost completely re-recorded the album with Grohl on drums. The album, The Colour and the Shape
The Colour and the Shape
-Track information:DollGrohl stated that is "basically a song about being afraid to enter into something you're not prepared for."Monkey WrenchGrohl stated that it was "a song about realising that you are the source of all of the problems in a relationship and you love the other person so much, you...
, was released on May 20, 1997. Grohl called up Hawkins to recommend a new drummer, and to Grohl's surprise, Hawkins volunteered himself. He then auditioned for and subsequently joined the band, making his debut in time for the album's release.
In addition to his drumming duties with the Foo Fighters, Hawkins is also an accomplished rock singer, guitarist and pianist. His first lead vocal with the group was a cover of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's "Have a Cigar
Have a Cigar
"Have a Cigar" is the third track on Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. It follows "Welcome to the Machine" and on the original LP opened side two...
". Two versions of the song were released, one as the b-side to "Learn to Fly" and another on the Mission: Impossible 2 soundtrack album. He sang lead vocals on the original "Cold Day in the Sun", from In Your Honor
In Your Honor
In Your Honor is the fifth studio album by Foo Fighters, released on June 14, 2005 on BMG. It consists of two discs. The first contains up beat rock songs and the second disc contains mellower acoustic songs.-Development:...
which was later released as a single, and the cover of Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
's "I Feel Free
I Feel Free
"I Feel Free" is a song first recorded by British rock group Cream. The song's lyrics were written by Pete Brown, its music by Jack Bruce. It was the first track on the US issue of their debut album, Fresh Cream , and the band's second hit single...
", which appeared as the B-side of "DOA
DOA (song)
-Video:The video for the single shows the band in a 360° revolving room and on a train where objects act as if the train is rotating. The band said that the video made them feel ill and they felt like wetting themselves. It was directed by Michael Palmieri....
" and on the EP Five Songs and a Cover
Five Songs and a Cover
Five Songs and a Cover is an EP released by the Foo Fighters in 2005. Released on November 20, 2005, it was exclusively distributed to Best Buy retail stores....
. Hawkins also sang lead vocals for the band's cover Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
's "Life of Illusion". Over the years, he has increasingly provided backing vocals on albums and in concert. At times, he has also done lead vocals and guitar while Grohl plays drums, but Hawkins is often limited to singing "Cold Day in the Sun" while drumming. This has led to a running joke whereby Grohl greets the end of Hawkins' stint as lead vocalist with the quip "You know, for a drummer you're not a bad singer", to which Hawkins retorts "Neither are you".
Other projects
In 2006, Hawkins released a self-titled LP with his side-project, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail RidersTaylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders
Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders is a band founded by Taylor Hawkins, drummer for the Foo Fighters. Hawkins is the drummer and vocalist for the trio. Other band members include Chris Chaney on bass and Gannin Arnold on guitar...
. He occasionally plays with a Police cover band alternately called "The Cops" and "Fallout".
At Live Earth
Live Earth
-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...
in 2007, Hawkins was part of SOS Allstars
SOS Allstars
The SOS Allstars were a one time supergroup that performed at the 2007 Live Earth Concert in London, England. It consisted of three lead drummers and around 40 supporting drummers representing many drumming styles from around the world, including The Dhol Foundation, Taiko drummers, and a drum...
with Roger Taylor
Roger Meddows-Taylor
Roger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
of Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
and Chad Smith
Chad Smith
Chad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and...
of Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
.
Taylor played "YYZ" with Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
and Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
of Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
on stage at a concert in Toronto on March 22, 2008.
Hawkins recorded the drum tracks for the Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
album "Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow", as the band's regular drummer Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie is the former drummer for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria and former drummer and co-founder of mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.-Background:...
was not able to record due to contractual reasons. Also, Hawkins toured with Coheed and Cambria shortly during the months of the album. Hawkins can also be heard drumming on Eric Avery
Eric Avery
Eric Adam Avery is an American musician and is the former bass player for the rock band Jane's Addiction. Avery played in Jane's Addiction initially from 1985 to 1991, and rejoined the band in 2008 before departing again in 2010....
's (formerly of Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
) first solo effort, Help Wanted
Help Wanted (album)
Help Wanted is the debut solo album release from former Jane's Addiction bassist, Eric Avery, released on April 8, 2008.A number of notable guest musicians perform on the record, including Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins, Garbage's Shirley Manson, and trumpeters Flea and Willie Waldman...
and on Kerry Ellis
Kerry Ellis
Kerry Jane Ellis is an English stage actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music...
's album, 'Wicked in Rock'. Hawkins and Grohl split drumming duties on Harmony & Dissidence, the latest album by Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
band-mate Chris Shiflett
Chris Shiflett
Christopher Aubrey "Chris" Shiflett is best known as the lead guitarist for the rock band Foo Fighters as well as the punk rock cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. He is the younger brother of musician Scott Shiflett.-Career:Shiflett joined Foo Fighters after the release of their third...
's own side-project, Jackson United
Jackson United
Jackson United is an American punk rock band formed by singer and lead guitarist Chris Shiflett in 2003. Shiflett recruited his older brother Scott Shiflett and Pete Parada to complete the band. A debut eponymous EP was recorded and released in 2003. Shortly after this release Parada left the band...
.
Hawkins played on the track "Cyborg", from Queen guitarist Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
's 1998 solo album, Another World
Another World (Brian May album)
Another World is the second full studio album delivered by Queen guitarist, Brian May. Recorded at his home studio after the completion of the last Queen album, Made in Heaven, the album was released in the UK on 1 June 1998 and on 15 September of that year in the US. The album itself started life...
; he also played drums at VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Rock Honors 2006 while Queen performed "We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
". He sang backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
on the Queen + Paul Rodgers
Queen + Paul Rodgers
Queen + Paul Rodgers was a supergroup collaboration between Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen and Paul Rodgers...
single, "C-lebrity
C-lebrity
"C-lebrity" is the second single from The Cosmos Rocks album by Queen + Paul Rodgers. It received its live debut on the series finale of ITV's Al Murray's Happy Hour. The song tells the story from the point of view of an aspiring celebrity, who does not let their apparent lack of talent hold them...
".
Hawkins was commissioned to complete an unfinished recording of a song by Beach Boys' drummer Dennis Wilson
Dennis Wilson
Dennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...
entitled "Holy Man" by writing and singing new lyrics. The recording was released in June 2008 as part of a deluxe edition of Wilson's lone 1977 solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue
Pacific Ocean Blue
Pacific Ocean Blue is Dennis Wilson's only solo album, released in 1977. After several attempts, starting in 1970, to release his own project, some of which made it to the finished album, Wilson recorded the bulk of Pacific Ocean Blue in the months spanning the fall of 1976 to the following spring...
.
While the Foo Fighters were on break, Hawkins played in a three piece cover band, Chevy Metal, that played lesser known tracks by ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
, Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
.
Taylor Hawkins appears on Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
's solo album Slash released in 2010, providing backing vocals on the track "Crucify the Dead" featuring Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
.
Influences
Hawkins has said that his drumming has been chiefly influenced by Roger TaylorRoger Meddows-Taylor
Roger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
of Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, Stewart Copeland
Stewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
of The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
, and Neil Peart
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
of Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
.
- "My earliest Queen memory is of the movie King Kong. I went to see that movie when I was six years old and a typical 70s kid. On the drive home with my parents I heard We Will Rock You on the car radio. Somehow in my mind there was now a correlation between King Kong and the sound of Roger Taylor's drums. Somehow they fitted so well with the image of this monster stomping through the city that I couldn't separate the two".
Taylor is also a fan of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
stating,
- "To be honest, I'm probably more of an older U2 fan. I was a really huge fan of 'Boy', 'October', 'War' and 'The Unforgettable Fire'. I like their new stuff here and there, but my favorite stuff is really the early, underproduced stuff."
Equipment
This is a list of equipment in Hawkins' current tour kit.Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
drums:
- 18" x 22" Bass Drum
- 6.5" x 14" Brass Snare Drum
- 6x 6" concert tom
- 6x 8" concert tom
- 7x 10" concert tom
- 9" x 13" Rack Tom
- 16" x 16" Floor Tom
- 16" x 18" Floor Tom
Zildjian cymbals:
- 15" K Light Hi-Hats
- 19" K Custom Hybrid Crash
- 21" Avedis Sweet Ride
- 20" A Custom EFX Crash
- 20" A Custom China (modified with three oblong 5" holes by drum tech Yeti Ward)
Hawkins also uses DW
DW
DW may refer to:* DW Stadium, formerly known as the JJB Stadium and where Wigan Athletic play football* Deadweight tonnage, a ship measurement for capacity, tonnage* Deutsche Welle, a German international broadcasting organization...
Hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
, Remo
Remo
Remo is a male given name of Latin origin - see Romulus and Remus.Remo may also refer to:* Remo, an American drum skin company* Remo , another name for the German wine grape Riesling* Remo language, a Panoan language of Brazil and Peru...
drum heads, Latin Percussion
Latin Percussion
Latin Percussion, also known as LP, is a brand of percussion instruments, specializing in ethnic instruments engineered and manufactured to withstand the rigors of use in a drum kit, orchestral percussion section, and similar applications...
Percussion, North drums
North Drums
North drums are horn shaped drums that were designed to project their sound outward, so the audience can hear the most direct qualities of the drum.-History:...
, Shure
Shure
Shure Incorporated is an American corporation originally founded by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. The company became a consumer and professional audio-electronics manufacturer of microphones, wireless microphone systems, phonograph cartridges,...
drum microphones and Zildjian Taylor Hawkins Signature sticks.
Personal life
Hawkins and his wife Alison have a son named Oliver Shane and a daughter, born in the winter of 2009. They currently reside in Topanga Canyon, California.External links
- taylorhawkins.com
- Hawkin's Poor Brain - a collection of Taylor's interviews
- Grohl and Hawkins Interview on The Hour with George StroumboulopoulosGeorge StroumboulopoulosGeorge Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos is a Canadian television and radio personality, best known as the host of CBC Television's George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight and being a VJ for Canadian music television channel MuchMusic...