FOR OUR DEAR FRIEND, OUR BADASS BANDMATE, OUR BELOVED BROTHER...
SUPPORTING...
MEET THE PERFORMERS...
TRAVIS BARKER
“Taylor and I go way back to our days in laguna beach together. He was a dear friend and brother to me and it will be a huge honor to be able to pay tribute to him.”
Travis Barker is an American musician and producer who has sold millions of records with his bands Blink-182, Transplants, +44, and as a solo artist.
NANDI BUSHELL
"Taylor was the greatest role model I could ever have had. I only met him for a short time but he made such a massive impact on my life. Taylor was a true hero, kind, loving, generous and awesome. Sharing a special moment on stage with Taylor at the Forum will forever be one of the greatest moments of my life. I am truly honoured to have been asked to perform at his tribute show. I hope I make him proud. We are going to give him the most EPIC rock show ever."
Nandi Bushell is a multi-instrumentalist, most Badass drummer in the world, song writer, actor, singer.
Be respectful, be loving, work hard and have fun.
MARTIN CHAMBERS
The drummer in the rock band, the Pretenders. He was part of the original band line-up which also included Chrissie Hynde (vocals / guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (guitar / vocals / keyboards) and Pete Farndon (bass guitar / vocals). Hynde and Chambers are the only two surviving original members, and he has served two separate tenures with the group.
CHRIS CHANEY
"Taylor Hawkins was the most passionate musician I have ever know, he lived and breathed music from the moment he woke up until he fell asleep. He made me a better musician and had an energy that drew out the best in everybody. He never settled for anything less than great. Although he was known for his otherworldly drumming, most people didn’t realize what a prolific and accomplished songwriter he was. In our 27 years as friends and musical collaborators I cherish all of our experiences and look back with only the greatest memories. He was also one of the most quick witted and funniest people, never holding back a hilarious comeback or jab if given the opportunity. He had an encyclopedia-like mind for music in all genres and pushed everyone to the limit of their musicality. He was a once in a lifetime friend and I’m hurting everyday over his passing. I love the Hawk more than words can ever convey."
Chris Chaney has been a touring and session bassist for over three decades. His first major gig was playing with Alanis Morissette on her Jagged Little Pill tour in 1995. He then went on to become a member of Jane’s Addiction in 2002. In addition to his band and tour work he has played on countless records, with everyone from Joe Cocker, Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Joe Satriani, Slash, Glen Campbell, Sara Bareilles, Shakira, Avril Lavigne, Regina Spector, Beth Hart, The Pretenders, John Fogerty and many others. Film scores include, The Hangover, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Get Him To The Greek, 300, Fifty Shades of Grey, Spy, Horrible Bosses, The Greatest Showman and many more. He first met Taylor Hawkins in 1995, and was a collaborator and group member in Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders. They recorded several records and had a strong bond as a rhythm section that would last 27 years. His latest project was NHC with Taylor and Dave Navarro.
DAVE CHAPPELLE
Dave Chappelle is an American comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, and actor. Recognized as one of the greatest comedians of all time, Chappelle was awarded the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2019. Chappelle’s work in stand-up comedy, writing, producing, and acting has earned him more than 30 nominations and awards in television and film for projects that include his groundbreaking sketch comedy television series, Chappelle’s Show, guest appearances on Saturday Night Live, and his comedy specials, which have collectively earned five Emmy Awards. In audio content, Chappelle has won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album three years in a row, 2018 through 2020. In 2017, Netflix cited Dave Chappelle: Collection 1 as the most-viewed comedy special ever on their network.
Photo Left to Right: Chris Chaney, Brent Woods, Wiley Hodgden, Taylor Hawkins & John Lousteau
Chevy Metal is a 70s dirt rock cover band. We play deep cuts off albums by Sabbath, Van Halen, Queen and The Stones, to name a few.
WILEY HODGDEN
"Taylor was a selfless guy. He always pushed me to be better at whatever I was doing, and he included all of us in all aspects of his life. We were all lucky to be his friend. "
JOHN "LOU" LOUSTEAU
"Over the past 17 years I’ve been lucky enough to be Taylor Hawkins’ record producer, recording engineer, co-songwriter, drummer, tour manager, and friend.
I started working for Foo Fighters as an assistant engineer in 2006, and Taylor and I were instant friends. In 2009 Taylor asked me to record his next Coattail Riders album (Red Light Fever), and from there, he and I continued to make all of his solo music up until March of 2022.
Starting around 2010, Taylor asked me to tour manage his cover band “Chevy Metal.” I can honestly say that Chevy Metal weekend trips were some of the best times of my life. We would fly all over the world to play gigs, (Hawaii, Chili, Milwaukee!!, to name a few). We would travel with just the band, myself, and sometimes Tim-Fly. We would play on rental gear, that we would all set up ourselves, and we would “eat at Denny’s and stay at motel-6’s” as Taylor would often say. He loved it.
One day we were driving to do a Chevy Metal show in San Diego at an amphitheater, and Taylor said to me “can you play “you really got me”, and “ziggy stardust” today? I want to go up front and
sing.” I had played drums in a lot of bars, clubs, and studios, but I had never played at an amphitheater or festival in front of a lot of people like that. I ended up playing drums and singing at almost every Chevy Metal show from that day forward. We played in a few different countries, and in front of some really large audiences. I’d always wondered what that feeling was like to perform to big crowds, and my friend Taylor was the guy who handed me that opportunity. I am forever grateful for that.
…and just look at Chevy Metal now, here we are playing Wembley Stadium and The Forum, and it’s all because Taylor Hawkins brought a couple of his buddies along for the ride. That’s just the way Taylor was. Love and miss you every single day, dude…."
BRENT WOODS
"Taylor was my dear friend and I was fortunate enough to have been a member in two of his bands, Chevy Metal and, The Coattail Riders.
I’ve never met or worked with anyone with more passion, drive, tenacity and integrity in music.
He was extremely prolific and always had a positive energy when collaborating. His love and knowledge in ALL styles of music was so vast that I would learn something new about a band or an artist every time we were together.
I’m going to miss our times on stage, in the studio and his random FaceTime calls with a new song idea, but most of all I’m just gonna miss hanging out with him. He was so funny, so generous and giving, but most of all he was an amazing husband and father.
He loved his family very much.
Thank you for the great times Taylor,
I love you and I will miss you!!!"
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STEWART COPELAND
"Losing Taylor was a jolt to the cosmos.
He was the connecting tissue for all brothers of the stick because he was such a fan of anyone who ever banged a drum. Above all Taylor was an enthusiast and he was most charged up by exchanging mojo with his heroes - who were actually his chuckle buddies. A force of nature like him just isn’t supposed to stop. I wish he could come back."
Stewart Copeland has spent more than three decades at the forefront of contemporary music as a rock star and acclaimed film composer, as well as in the disparate worlds of symphony, opera, world and chamber music. This year he won his sixth Grammy. Recruiting Sting and Andy Summers in 1977, Copeland is renowned as the founder of The Police, a band that became a defining force in rock music from the ‘80s onwards.
Copeland’s career includes the sale of more than 60 million records worldwide and numerous international awards. He has been recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the top ten drummers of all time, and was also elected to the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013.
JOSH FREESE
“Taylor and I were acquaintances for a while but really became better friends in the past 6 or 7 years. We just had so much in common….it’s a miracle we weren’t closer sooner. We were basically the same age, both from Orange County, both hyper drummers, both songwriters and really grew up loving the same stuff. In recent years he’d FaceTime me out of the blue. We’d sit there talking and an hour would just blow by! Sometimes it was shorter, sometimes longer but eventually one of us would have to run. We’d geek out over Alex Van Halen and Stewart Copeland (total fan boys) but then switch up and share our experiences with having kids….being Dad’s and trying to balance family and our careers. Of course with all of this, a lot of laughing. Always lots of laughing. His humor, enthusiasm, and obvious zest for music and life was infectious. I always answered the phone if I saw him calling. I knew it would put me in a better mood…no matter HOW I was feeling at that moment. I hate that he’s gone. I really fucking do.”
Josh Freese is a drummer and songwriter from Southern California. He’s appeared on over 400 records and is known for working with a wide variety of bands and artists for over 3 decades. He’s spent most of his career recording and touring with A Perfect Circle, Devo, Nine Inch Nails, Sting, Weezer, Danny Elfman, The Offspring and The Vandals. In addition he’s recorded with artists ranging from Guns n Roses to Michael Buble. Suicidal Tendencies to Bruce Springsteen. Miley Cyrus to 100 Gecs, Chris Cornell, Evanescence, Ween, Katy Perry, Glen Campbell, Sublime, Avril Lavigne, The Replacements and many others. Josh joined the musicians union when he was 12 and after working in a cover band at Disneyland for 3 years, started making records and touring at the age of 15.
LIAM GALLAGHER
"I met Taylor a few times and we kept in touch often. He was a top lad and amazing musician and its an absolute honour and privilege to open the show at Wembley. I still cant quite believe this is actually f*cking happening, him and his music will live forever."
Liam Gallagher is one of the best-known men in the world, having been a member of the Britpop band Oasis for 18 years alongside his brother Noel Gallagher. In 2017, he began his solo career with As You Were, and followed it up with Why me? Why not?, with which he topped the UK chart in 2019.
VIOLET GROHL
OMAR HAKIM
"Taylor was one of my Favorite Drummers. A powerful and exciting personality on the instrument. His performances were an inspiration to both the fans and his musician colleagues. A true Giant! He will be deeply missed. RIP ❤️"
Drummer, Percussionist, Producer, Composer has worked with some of the most legendary artists of the last 40 years. He has recorded and/or performed with David Bowie, Sting, Weather Report, Dire Straits, Miles Davis, Kate Bush and Daft Punk just to name a few!
JUSTIN HAWKINS
"Taylor came to see us perform at Wembley a few years ago and offset his unwavering support for our musical endeavours by introducing us to the crowd with the immortal line “You wanted the best, but instead you got The Darkness!”
We loved him, his beautiful smile, his prodigious talent and his encyclopedic knowledge of Queen (surpassing even my own). We shared a surname, a passion for all things rock and many, many laughs. He was a hero to us all and I’m honoured to have a chance to help celebrate his extraordinary life."
Justin Hawkins sings and plays guitar with UK Rock Band The Darkness. He curates a successful YouTube channel and is a devoted father.
JOSHUA HOMME
"Taylor used call me at 6:30 in the morning to tell me what a great drummer Phil Collins was. He was such a fan of music... & Phil Collins. I used to tell him how I’d kill him if he ever called me that early again... so, he called me kept calling me at 6:30... for years....bastard.
How I miss those calls..."
Joshua Homme, affectionately known as Baby Duck, is best known as founder and frontman of Queens of the Stone Age. He’s also 1/3 of Them Crooked Vultures, the occasionally active band in which he sings and plays guitar alongside Dave Grohl & John Paul Jones. In 2016 he produced and co-wrote Post Pop Depression with Iggy Pop and served as bandleader for Iggy’s limited and uniformly epic series of live shows supporting that album.
Homme’s musical odyssey stretches back to his emergence from the desert with Kyuss, after whose dissolution he would form QOTSA and co-found Eagles of Death Metal with childhood friend Jesse Hughes.
In keeping with his unyielding need to keep us musically satiated, Homme created The Desert Sessions, a long running series of albums featuring various artists captured in sessions recorded in the Palm Desert.
CHRISSIE HYNDE
Ohio born singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Chrissie Hynde formed The Pretenders in London in 1978, with Hereford natives, James Honeyman-Scott on guitar, Pete Farndon on bass, and drummer Martin Chambers.
Their debut album, released in January 1980, was the first UK number one album of the decade and garnered critical acclaim in Europe, The US, Australia and beyond.
The group's personnel and dynamic has changed over the years, initially with the drug related deaths of Honeyman Scott and Farndon in 1983. Hynde has remained a constant force as the band’s focal point, maintaining the original Pretenders unique guitar-based sound in the style of Honeyman Scott.
She’s recorded 17 studio albums, primarily as Pretenders, and has guested with numerous other artists, including Frank Sinatra and Moreno Veloso.
The Pretenders latest album Hate for Sale, released July 2020, has ensured they continue to enjoy international airplay. They regularly tour the world to sold out venues.
JAMES GANG
"Taylor was like my little brother who was always asking questions. He had an insatiable curiosity about playing hard and loud like we used to do in the 70s. We spoke a lot about being in a three-piece, how we recorded James Gang Rides Again and what life was like for a musician before he was even born. He thought I was pretty cool and the feeling was mutual. I loved him and miss him." -- Joe Walsh
The James Gang is one of classic rock's earliest power trios. Though the band's line-up changed numerous times during a seven-year existence, rock historians and fans cite the line up of Joe Walsh, Jim Fox, and Dale Peters as the James Gang's definitive line up. Combining catchy boogie guitar riffs, funky time changes and a heavy rock rhythm, the James Gang were one of America's first bands to be called hard rock in the early 1970s. This show marks their first time playing together in more than 15 years.
Alain Johannes
"Taylor's amazing energy and superb talent as a musician, composer and singer will be deeply missed. I was blessed to have shared musical adventures and good times with him."
Alain Johannes has worked with a list of musicians that reads like an encyclopedia of California rock history. In high school he was in bands with Flea, Hillel Slovak, Jack Irons and Anthony Kiedis, all of whom would later play with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Later Alain formed Eleven with Natasha Shneider and Jack Irons. They toured with Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Queens of the Stone Age. In the recording studio, Alain has worked with Chris Cornell, No Doubt, Mark Lanegan, Jimmy Eat World, Queens of the Stone Age, Spinnerette and Arctic Monkeys. Alain has been a touring member PJ Harvey’s band, as well as Them Crooked Vultures which featured Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, and John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin.
BRIAN JOHNSON
"Okay here we go.
Taylor was a lovely man, his smile was legend, his drumming intense and brilliant, and he could sing as well.When we gather to salute this man and his family we do it as friends, we do it for Him, and we do it with his Band the Foo Fighters, who I know will do him Proud. I’m honored to be part of it."
Brian Johnson is the lead vocalist of AC/DC, the most successful rock band of all time. They have sold an estimated 200 million albums worldwide and played live to millions of people around the world. Their most recent album, Power Up, was released in 2019 and reached number one in 21 countries.
When not playing with the world’s biggest rock band, Brian can be found fronting various TV series, including On The Road, the last episode of which was a special featuring Dave Grohl.
Brian spent lockdown writing his autobiography, The Lives Of Brian, which will be published by Penguin & Harper Collins in October 2022.
JOHN PAUL JONES
"I remember Taylor as a brilliant drummer and a really great guy, but the look on his face when he knew he had nailed the lead vocal for “Rock and Roll” live onstage at Wembley, with myself, Jimmy Page and Dave on drums, that will stay with me forever."
A prolific session musician in the 1960s, John played, arranged and recorded with artists including Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Cat Stevens. He was a founder member of Led Zeppelin and following his unparalleled career with them, he worked as a performer, arranger and producer for artists and groups including Diamanda Galas, REM, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and La Fura dels Baus. He released his debut solo album, Zooma, in 1999 followed by The Thunderthief (2001). In 2004, John contributed to the Foo Fighters “In Your Honour” album, playing on two tracks. His sonic explorations have also led him to perform as part of John Cage’s Musicircus at the Barbican, touring with bluegrass trio Nickel Creek, and working as co-composer and performer for choreographer Merce Cunningham’s Nearly Ninety. In 2008, John performed at Wembley Stadium with the Foo Fighters, where Taylor Hawkins sang “Rock And Roll” and played drums on “Ramble On”.
In 2009 he co-founded the band Them Crooked Vultures, with Dave Grohl and Joshua Homme, releasing a universally acclaimed album and touring the world to sold-out venues.
Since then John has appeared and performed in numerous musical groups, contributed to many recordings, as well as being commissioned to compose for some of the leading classical festivals and venues around the world. Most recently he appeared in a very special recording to benefit the charity “Playing For Change”, performing a new version of “When The Levee Breaks”.
KESHA
"The first time I ever met Taylor the first thing I noticed about him was his playfulness. He took the time to say hello to me backstage at Madison Square Garden before they played. Tik Tok had just come out and I was definitely not comfortable in the role of being backstage talking to my idols. All the boys in the band were so happy. I think he could sense that I was kinda nervous so he made it a point to include me in the conversation. He offered me some of Dave’s homemade moonshine. He was so funny and easy to talk to. I was playing a festival in Rio and we ended up having a late night hangout on the rooftop with my band and dancers till the sun came up. The Foo Fighters was his family, the guys were his brothers. The love and respect between these guys was palpable. He was so fucking funny! His hair was always overly bleached to hell and his skin tanned from years in the California sun. He always looked ready for an outdoor adventure. He was always laughing. My favorite memory of Taylor was in Japan. We ended up at the same underground rock bar in Tokyo the night my album ‘Rainbow’ came out. We had all played a festival in Tokyo together earlier that day and I had watched him drum from the side of the stage. He was a monster on drums. That night I ended up downstairs in one of my favorite bars in the world, with one of my favorite people, celebrating another massive show for him and massive career milestone for me. He always was so humble and made sure to make other people feel special in their victories, to the point that you could almost get over the nerves of talking to one of the best drummers of all time. His spirit lives on in the music, in every song he touched. There is an infinite amount of people he has influenced in his life and he will never be forgotten."
Kesha attracts a diverse, passionate, and socially-engaged global audience who believe in the messages behind her music. Over her career, she has earned 10 Top Ten singles, over a billion views on YouTube, 2 number one albums, 4 number one songs at top 40 radio, and nearly 40 million followers across social media. Kesha’s last album 'High Road' was called a body of work “wise and wild in equal measure” (Billboard), that “electrifies from the inside out” (American Songwriter) and “strikes a believable balance between vulnerability and the bluster she made her name on” (Stereogum). Her previous album 'Rainbow', called "an artistic feat" by Entertainment Weekly and "the best music of her career" by Rolling Stone, earned Kesha the first GRAMMY nominations of her career.Kesha’s ventures outside of music include, an award-winning film a book, a cruise, a cosmetics line, and her forthcoming paranormal reality show on discovery+ “Conjuring Kesha”.As a songwriter she has penned her own music as well as songs for artists including Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, The Veronicas, and Miley Cyrus. Kesha is an animal rights crusader as the Humane Society International's first Global Ambassador and a passionate advocate for equality, being honored with the 2016 Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. In 2016 she won Billboard's Women in Music Trailblazer Award and in 2018 she was named one of Time Magazine's Time 100, their list of the most influential people in the world.
GREG KURSTIN
"The amount of people who loved and connected with Taylor is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. He was the most fun to be around. His passion for music was colossal.
When we were making “Concrete and Gold” I looked forward to jamming in the live room with Taylor before each day’s recording session. I’d play piano and look over at him on drums while jamming Queen’s “Play the Game”. We would always talk about what we were listening to or discovering, and Taylor would turn me on to songs he loved that I’d never heard. His thirst for finding music was endless! He loved creating, writing and recording his music so much that it seemed like if only his friends got to hear it, that was enough.
Taylor was such a bright light. I miss him tremendously."
Greg Kurstin is an American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. He has won nine Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical in 2017 and 2018, and written and produced four songs that have reached No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100, including Adele’s “Easy on Me” and “Hello.”
Kurstin produced the Foo Fighters albums 'Concrete and Gold' and 'Medicine at Midnight' and has worked closely with Dave Grohl on their annual “Hanukkah Sessions.”
Most recently, Greg has produced music for Gorillaz, Liam Gallagher, Paul McCartney, and Beck, among others. He also continues to collaborate with Inara George in their long-running band, the bird and the bee.
GEDDY LEE
"I shall never forget Taylor’s super-charged excitement on that day in 2013 when both he and Dave inducted Rush into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There was such unbridled JOY coursing through his veins coupled with that megawatt grin…I thought he was going to jump right out of his shoes! That was the Taylor I knew. First and foremost, a deeply passionate music lover to his very core. Despite his own obvious monster talents and tremendous success, he never lost that youthful enthusiasm - and I loved and admired him all the more for it."
Geddy Lee is a Canadian musician and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. Lee joined Rush in September 1968, at the request of his childhood friend and guitarist Alex Lifeson, followed by drummer and lyricist Neil Peart that formed the acclaimed rock trio for over four decades. Inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2013, he has also been made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996 and received the Governor’s General Performing Arts Award in 2012. In addition to their commercial success, Rush has also been recognized with a number of JUNO Awards and multiple GRAMMY® nominations, including one for the acclaimed documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage and the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. Lee has also made cameo appearances in the film, I Love You Man and documentary The Mind of the Collector.
An award-winning musician, Lee’s style, technique, and skill on the bass guitar have inspired many rock musicians. An avid collector of many things, Lee added author to his list of accomplishments when releasing “Geddy’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass” in 2018 that landed on best-seller lists in Canada, UK and USA and was followed by an unprecedented sold-out book tour in 5 countries that was cut short by the pandemic. His memoir is set for release in 2023.
ALEX LIFESON
"I first met Taylor at Nick Raskulinez’s home in Los Angeles in early 2007. We were all invited to watch the Super Bowl and celebrate Nick’s birthday. As is often the case with casual encounters, they can be fleeting but Taylor had that special ability to make you feel like an old friend. He had such an easy smile and his eyes truly sparkled when he spoke about his love of being a musician and the joy of performance. Over the years, our paths would cross and each time it was like connecting with an old, dear friend; the warmth, the smile and the generosity of spirit that marked the man he was. It was my privilege to be his friend."
When Alex Lifeson was growing up in Toronto, Canada, he received a guitar for Christmas and by the summer of 1968 had co-founded the band that would become Rush.
In 1971, Lifeson made his film debut as himself under his birth name, Alex Zivojinovich, in the Canadian documentary film Come on Children by Allan King. King’s film enjoyed a resurgence when decades later an amazing clip was featured in the documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage, that captured Alex having a teenage argument with his parents on the merits of leaving high school to pursue his dream to play guitar in a band as a career.
Clearly his dream paid off as he has been the lauded guitar player for Rush for over 45 years. The bulk of Lifeson's work in music has been with Rush, although he has contributed to a body of work outside of the band as a guitarist and producer including his latest project Envy of None. In addition to music, Lifeson is a painter, a keen golfer, and licensed aircraft pilot. He is also known for his comedic virtues, which have been highlighted in various cameo film roles over the years including one in the Canadian-cult mockumentary series The Trailer Park Boys.
Along with his bandmates Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, Lifeson was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996, received the highest Canadian artistic honour by receiving the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2012, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Lifeson ranks third in the Guitar World Readers poll of ‘100 Greatest Guitarists’ and is also included in Rolling Stone’s ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time’.
BRIAN MAY
“My favourite memory of Taylor is our session for recording ‘Have a Cigar”. Taylor had this vision for a hard- rock version of the Pink Floyd classic, and he and Dave descended on my little studio in the country to make it happen. We set up Mr Grohl’s drum kit in my dining room and my amps in the hallway, with everything wired up to the control room - which is a converted snooker room. We crashed away at deafening volume until we felt we had everything ‘on tape’. Taylor singing, joyfully tearing his throat to bits. Me using multiple preamps to get more gain than I’d ever used, to make the guitar scream. Dave a massive powerhouse - like no other. I had to leave at the end of the evening to go to an astro meeting 100 miles away. When I got back at 5am Taylor was still mixing the track - squeezing every last drop out of it. So I joined him, with a kind of euphoria that comes when you feel you are going some place that nobody’s ever been. I love the track. I forgot to say —- we laughed the whole way through … great times."
Brian May, CBE, PhD, FRAS is a founding member of Queen, world-renowned guitarist, songwriter, producer and performer, also a Doctor of Astrophysics, 3-D stereoscopic photographic authority and advocate for animal rights.
Queen remains one of the most successful bands to this day with five decades of staggering sales and awards. Brian penned 22 Queen top 20 hits and is now remastering solo works as part of his Gold Series reissue.
A continued passion for Astronomy saw Brian resume his studies after a break of thirty years, achieving his PhD from Imperial College, London in 2007.
Brian heads his own fine arts publishing house, The London Stereoscopic Company. Whilst specialising in Victorian 3-D Photography, publications also include books on Astronomy and Queen in 3-D. All include Brian’s own patented design OWL stereoscopic viewer.
A lifelong advocate and campaigner for animal welfare, Brian set up the Save Me Trust to champion predominantly British wildlife and has been a leading inspiration in the fight against fox hunting and badger culling.
Brian was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 for ‘services to the Music Industry’ and for his charity work. He enjoys interacting with his fans on Instagram @brianmayforreal.
KRIST NOVOSELIC
“Taylor was a rock music history scholar. I miss talking music with him. His mind was full of facts and accounts of musicians, bands and music industry lore. He was a great drummer, pianist and songwriter with wit. I miss playing music with him.”
Krist Novoselic was born on May 16, 1965 in Compton, California and grew up in Los Angeles, Croatia and Aberdeen, Washington. He was a founding member of the legendary rock band Nirvana. Along with bandmates Kurt Cobain and David Grohl, Novoselic helped to change the course of music history in 1992 when Nirvana snapped up Billboard magazine's number-one spot with their highly acclaimed album Nevermind, which went on to sell millions of copies around the world. Nirvana opened the doors for a new generation of musicians and bands.
Krist’s current band is 3rd Secret. He is a pilot and avid gardener.
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NILE RODGERS
“The Foo Fighters are one of the most important and beloved bands in the world and Taylor meant the world to us so I’m delighted to be joining Dave and the guys in London to celebrate Taylor and his amazing love of music.”
Nile Rodgers is truly exceptional. He’s a multiple GRAMMY-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist who’s been inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. As the co-founder of CHIC Rodgers pioneered a musical language that generated charttopping hits like “Le Freak,” (the biggest selling single in the history of Atlantic Records) and sparked the advent of hip-hop with “Good Times”.
Nile transcends all styles of music and has made amongst the most important and successful albums in the careers of Diana Ross, David Bowie, Madonna, Duran Duran, Daft Punk and Beyonce, amongst a legacy that is responsible for over 500 million record sales.
His unforgettable live performances with CHIC cover his entire discography and have been included in “festival best performances” at both Glastonbury and Coachella resulting in a BBC Music Awards nomination for “Best Live Performance”, and the LA Times stating, “Nile Rodgers influence stretches all over Coachella, beaming the sound of a better future."
MARK RONSON
"I met Taylor in 2016. I was producing Villains for Queens of the Stone Age and The Foos were making Concrete and Gold next door and Dave and Taylor would come crash our sessions. Josh and Dave would instantly fall into a rap because they have so much history and they’re essentially rock n roll deities and I would end up talking to Taylor the whole time. It feels so redundant to say this because everyone reading this program will know it but he was just about the most warm, engaging, funny, non-judgey and enthusiastic dude I’ve ever met. Plus, he’s one of the greatest rock n roll drummers of all time. Groove, chops, shred, taste – he had all of it. I loved his solo records because they encapsulated all that energy, the drummer and the man.
We did a few records together over zoom during the pandemic. Listening to him pound skins from 2500 miles away and then run and jump on Facetime all sweaty and ask in his kind, effusive way, “Was that any good?” was my musical highlight of 2020. I wish I could tell him a hundred more times, “Any good? It was the absolute fucking best."
Mark Ronson is an internationally renowned DJ and Oscar, Golden Globe and seven-time-Grammy-Award-winning artist and producer.
Ronson spent the first eight years of his life growing up in London, England before moving with his family to New York City. Already a keen student of music, and a huge fan of hip hop, he was 16 when he first began creating mixtapes and trying his hand at DJing. That early passion set him on a path to music production, recording and songwriting that has resulted in a career highlighted by work on a multi-Grammy-winning album by Amy Winehouse, as well as his own Grammy-winning, global smash hit with Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk." Along with releasing five successful albums under his own name, his resume includes production work for some of music’s biggest names, including Adele, Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Duran Duran and more. He helmed Lady Gaga’s acclaimed fifth album, Joanne and Queens Of The Stone Age’s lauded Villains. In 2018 he released a string of singles with Diplo under the name Silk City, including the worldwide hit “Electricity” with Dua Lipa, which earned him a Grammy Award for “Best Dance Recording” in 2019.
He is a co-writer of the song “Shallow,” recorded by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper for the movie A Star Is Born, for which he earned an Academy Award for “Best Original Song,” a Golden Globe Award for “Best Song Written for a Motion Picture,” and 2 Grammy Awards.
He collaborated with Miley Cyrus, Camila Cabello, Lykke Li, YEBBA and more for his fifth and most recent studio album Late Night Feelings, which was released in June 2019 to rave reviews.
In addition to his own albums, and writing and producing work with other artists, Mark has contributed to the soundtracks of HBO’s Euphoria, the 2016 Ghostbusters, the 2018 A Star Is Born, Suicide Squad, Disney’s 2016 live-action Jungle Book. He also hosts The FADER Uncovered Podcast, which features his interviews with some of music’s biggest names including Pharrell, J Balvin, Big Boi, David Byrne, Questlove and more. Mark also served as executive producer and host of the Apple TV+ critically acclaimed docu-series WATCH THE SOUND.
Mark is currently based in New York where he operates his record label, Zelig Records, home to fast rising stars including King Princess. To date, Ronson has 1 Academy Award, 7 Grammy Awards, 2 Brit Awards, 1 Golden Globe Award and 1 MTV VMA Award to his name.
LUKE SPILLER
"Taylor was just the greatest. From the first moment that I met him, we were very much kindred spirits, musically. He had such an encyclopedic knowledge of music, and he turned me onto a lot of bands I never expected I'd listen to - Alice In Chains, for one.
Some of my best memories are performing with him and his covers band Chevy Metal or just rocking out to Queen or the Faces in the rehearsal room at his house by the pool. The outpouring of love for him on social media after he died was a real testament to how much he was loved, and how many people he touched. He was such a warm-hearted and welcoming soul, and I'm honoured to be a part of these shows."
Luke Spiller is the frontman and lead vocalist of British Rockband, The Struts. Formed in Derby, England, in 2012, The Struts have earned a reputation as a must-see live band. They’ve opened for the Rolling Stones and Foo Fighters, played festivals like Lollapalooza and Governors Ball, and headlined their own globe-spanning tours, mesmerizing fans with their onstage swagger and Spiller’s unbridled energy.. In 2020, the group released the album Strange Days, featuring collabs with Robbie Williams, Tom Morello, and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott and Phil Collen. The Struts, with 300 million U.S. artist streams, just released their new single, "Fallin With Me."
SUPERGRASS
"We are deeply honoured to have been asked to be part of the celebration and remembrance of our great friend and musical brother Taylor.
We have had so many amazing memories over the years touring with Taylor and the rest of the Foo Fighters, and have had plenty of unforgettable times, including riding huge rickety rollercoasters in America on our days off, talking at length about Dennis Wilsons Pacific Ocean Blue album (which he was obsessed with) and lots of hilarious moments spent listening to him trying to master the Ian Dury Cockney accent.
We always saw Taylor as a kindred spirit, he supported and believed in us which felt really special. If you walked into a room and Taylor was there, you would always be greeted with a cheerful smile, always upbeat, enthusiastic and encouraging…he was such a great guy to be around. A real one off and we will miss him very much."
Formed in Oxford UK in 1993, the Brit, Q, NME and Ivor Novello-winning outfit released their Mercury-nominated No.1 debut album I Should Coco in 1995. Fourth single, ‘Alright’, was a pop masterpiece and became a massive hit, catapulting the band to global success. Supergrass subsequently released another five acclaimed studio albums: In It For The Money (1997), Supergrass (1999), Life On Other Planets (2002), Road To Rouen (2005), Diamond Hoo Ha (2008) as well as top 5 best of, Supergrass Is 10 (2004). Other top 20 singles include: ‘Lenny’, ‘Going Out’, ‘Richard III’, ‘Sun Hits The Sky’, ‘Pumping On Your Stereo’, ‘Moving’ and ‘Grace’. They scored an unbroken run of five Top 10 albums, among them three platinum sellers generating millions of worldwide sales spawning ten Top 20 singles,and scored the biggest-selling debut for Parlophone since The Beatles.
Almost a decade since they split, the band members went on to lead successful solo careers: Gaz Coombes released solo albums Here Come The Bombs in 2012, Matador in 2015 and World’s Strongest Man in 2018; Mick Quinn has been playing with his own group, DB Band, and been a member of Swervedriver since 2015, Danny Goffey has released solo material including album Schtick in 2018 and recently Bryan Moone’s Disco Punk in 2022.
Supergrass appeared at Glastonbury Pilton Party 2019 to announce their reunion, in secret special performance. They embarked on a worldwide tour to support the release of deluxe box set 'The Strange Ones: 1994-2008' but the pandemic curtailed many of the planned dates. In response the band released 'Live On Other Planets' a live recording from the tour, donating the proceeds to the Save Our Venues campaign. Supergrass are Gaz Coombes, Mick Quinn, Danny Goffey and Robert Coombes. They continue to delight and entertain festival goers throughout 2022 including their recent, and much celebrated 50th anniversary Glastonbury performance.
ROGER TAYLOR
“My whole family and his whole family were very close. He was, my wife called him, sunshine in human form. He was the most wonderful man and I can’t quite believe that I’m not going to see him again.
“He’s done a lot to help my son, who’s a great drummer, and he actually sort of mentored him. We’re going to miss him so much.”
Although best known for his powerhouse role in Queen, Roger Taylor is anything but a drummer confined to his kit. With rock n’ roll in his veins he has always been a highly active member of Queen. He famously wrote Queen’s landmark hits “Radio Ga Ga” “A Kind Of Magic”, and “Sheer Heart Attack”, among other of Queen’s best known tracks.
Drummer, multi-instrumentalist, Taylor became fascinated with music at a young age. He enjoyed a brief taste of things to come in a pre-teen skiffle band.
In 1968 Taylor formed the group Smile with Middlesex guitar ace Brian May. Smile played sporadically over the next few years. With the additions to the line-up of John Deacon and Freddie Mercury in 1971, Smile became known as Queen, and the rest, as they say, became history making.
1977, the landmark year in which Queen released “We Are The Champions” and “We Will Rock You”, Roger became the first member of Queen to launch a solo career with the single “I Wanna Testify”.
His solo album “Fun In Space” followed in 1981, tailed in 1984 by “Strange Frontier”. Both reached the Top 30. In 1987 Roger formed his own band The Cross, after more than 20 years finally resuming the role of lead singer. The band released three albums between 1987 and 1991.
Following the loss of Freddie Mercury, Taylor assumed a solo career, releasing the album “Happiness”. “Electric Fire” followed in 1998. The most active of the Queen members as a solo artist, Taylor returned in 2013 with the more politically and socially conscious “Fun On Earth”. Taylor has also released a series of solo singles all rooted in his observational songwriting style, most recently, “Isolation”.
Taylor and fellow band member Brian May returned to touring under the name of Queen in 2005 adding vocalist Paul Rodgers and performing extensively between 2006 -2009 releasing one album together.
These days Taylor and May perform mega shows across the world fronted by Adam Lambert. To date Queen + Adam Lambert have played 218 shows to an audience close on 4 million.
Marking his first live performances outside Queen in over two decades, 2022 saw Taylor return to touring to play 14 shows across October shows coinciding with the release of his latest solo album Outsider.
Roger also oversees and produces The Queen Extravaganza, the official Queen Tribute act. The Queen Extravaganza is a spectacular touring concert show designed to take the music and live experience of Queen and bring it to generations of fans.
RUFUS TAYLOR
“At twelve years of age, I sat behind Taylor and watched him play and I was mesmerised. I wanted to be him - me, my Dad and he were the ‘three Taylor’s’ and I am beyond proud to call him my godfather.”
From 2011 to 2012 Rufus played drums in the Jeff Beck band. Alongside this in 2011 he joined his Dad and fellow band mates on a Queen + Adam Lambert tour, which then lead to him becoming a regular as they went on to play Kiev, London and then into Australasia and Europe, ending in 2015 when Rufus joined The Darkness as their drummer.
LARS ULRICH
"Thank you Taylor...
Thank you for always having the biggest warmest smile on your face and for lighting up every room with your infectious energy and good vibes.
Last time at the BottleRock festival, I had the best seat in the house right above you and once again stood in amazement watching as you effortlessly steered Foo Fighters through a two hour set with the perfect balance of swing, swagger, bounce and insane chops.
Your phone call a week before you left us touched and inspired me, and I will always be appreciative for you championing our community as in your parting words…
“Drummers stick together!”
Damn right brother.
Except now the community is lesser without you."
Lars Ulrich is the co-founder and drummer of Metallica.
NATE WOOD
"Touring with Taylor was like going to band camp. The Coattail Riders were ALWAYS talking about music: listening, discussing, arguing. One thing I’ve noticed about musicians worthy of legend is that they all seem to love music more than anyone. Taylor was one of those guys, his love of music was infectious and relentless.
I grew up in the same town as Taylor, in Southern California. Taylor was a beach bum through and through (that’s why he wore swimming trunks for most of his life!) There is a way the light looks after you’ve been at the beach all day. Taylor had that light in everything he did: whether it was his drumming, singing, songwriting or just talking to him. There is a reason everyone was attracted to him both as a person and a musician. Truly one of a kind."
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WOLFGANG VAN HALEN
“It is truly an honor to be asked to take part in this incredible event to celebrate Taylor with so many talented artists and amazing people. Taylor’s influence on me and so many others is immeasurable."
First impressions last a lifetime. Wolfgang Van Halen has prepared a lifetime to make his first impression. The songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist worked tirelessly towards the introduction of MAMMOTH [Explorer1], his self-titled 2021 debut album. Playing every instrument and singing each and every note, his music presents a personal and powerful perspective, balancing memorable hooks and tight technicality. As many times as audiences have experienced his talent alongside the likes of Tremonti, Clint Lowery, and of course, Van Halen, they meet Wolf as an individual for the very first time now.
“You only have one chance to make a first impression, and I wanted to do so to the best of my abilities,” he affirms. “Throughout the whole process, I was finding who I am musically and by the end, I got a pretty good handle on a sound I can claim for myself.”
His father often played guitar against his mother’s pregnant belly, and Wolf absorbed those vibrations from the womb. At the age of 10, his Pop gave him a drum kit for his birthday. To this day, Wolf considers himself “a drummer before anything else.” As he developed as a musician, he learned how to play guitar in order to perform “316” — which his father penned for him — at a 6th-grade talent show.
It may come as a surprise, but outside of his father teaching him one drumbeat from an AC/DC song, Wolfgang taught himself every instrument. “My dad wasn’t the best teacher,” he laughs. “I would ask him to play something, and then he would just proceed to be Eddie Van Halen. He would look at me and say, ‘Do that.’ to which I would laugh and sarcastically reply, ‘Sure thing, no problem.”
In the summer of 2006 when he was 15 years old, Wolf grabbed a bass and began noodling. While at the legendary 5150 Studios, his impromptu woodshedding inspired Eddie and Uncle Alex. Endless family jam sessions followed. By summer’s end, Wolfgang phoned David Lee Roth’s manager and by winter Roth showed up for rehearsal. They rocked “On Fire,” and “That’s how the 2007 tour began,” says Wolf.
Not only did Wolf canvas the world with Van Halen while in high school, but he also held down the low end on 2012’s A Different Kind of Truth—which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200. When not on tour with Van Halen, he cut bass for Tremonti’s critically acclaimed Cauterize [2015] and Dust [2016] in addition to joining the band on the road. In 2019, Wolf handled drums and also played bass on half of the 10 songs for Clint Lowery’s solo debut, God Bless The Renegades.
In the midst of all this, at the beginning of 2015, Wolf broke ground on what would become MAMMOTH with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette [Alter Bridge, Slash] behind the board. Wolf began to embrace his voice, inspired by everyone from his father, to bands like AC/DC, Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, TOOL, and Jimmy Eat World. “I’ve been singing my whole life, but it wasn’t until MAMMOTH that I really found my voice. Elvis was great, and he helped me gain the confidence to become a lead vocalist.”
“The name Mammoth is really special to me.” says Wolf. “Not only was it the name of Van Halen before it became Van Halen, but my father was also the lead singer. Ever since my dad told me this, I always thought that when I grew up, I’d call my own band Mammoth, because I loved the name so much. I’m so thankful that my father was able to listen to, and enjoy the music I made. I!m really proud of the work I!ve done and nothing made me happier than seeing how proud he was that I was continuing the family legacy.”
WATCH THE TAYLOR HAWKINS
TRIBUTE CONCERT LIVE
SATURDAY SEPT. 3RD
