Saturday’s concert was the first time the band played together since Hawkins’ death.
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl was in tears as he told the crowd at London’s Wembley Stadium, according to the UK’s PA Media news agency: “Taylor loves to improvise and record with anyone and everyone. He loves to play every day. Music. “He’s never mixed with a lot of people. So these collections of friends and family and musicians, he brought along, and we are all connected here today by that person. “
The theme of family runs through the entire play. Sixteen-year-old Oliver Sean Hawkins joined his father’s band for a powerful rendition of the Foo Fighters song “My Hero”.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have another drummer coming up and playing with us,” Grohl said as he welcomed Hawkins’ son to the stage. “Let me tell you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone play drums like this guy, but other than that, he’s a part of our family. He needs to be with us all tonight, and I think he It makes sense to come up and play with us.”
Some of the biggest names in music ended up paying tribute to Hawkins, including Queen’s Roger Taylor and Brian May, Rush, and AC/DC singers Brian Johnson and Nile Rogers. The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, pop star Kesha, Eurovision star Sam Ryder and The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins also joined the celebration.
In the pre-recorded message, Elton John called Hawkins “an incredible drummer” and recalled that he “played on my last album, which I was thrilled and honored with. ”
John added: “Tonight is a tribute to him, a tribute to him and never to be forgotten.”
Comedians Dave Chappelle and Jason Sudeikis also took to the stage with anecdotes about their relationship with Hawkins’ music.
Hawkins joined the Foo Fighters in 1997 and made his first tour with the band in support of their second album, The Color and the Shape.
CNN’s Chloe Melas contributed to this story.