And Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker remembers Hawkins as a man who helped persuade him he had potential.
They and scores of others in rock and music royalty have been collectively struggling with the news that Hawkins is gone.
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Hawkins’ death has drawn an outpouring of sorrow on social media from fellow musicians and fans. His fellow drummers, especially, expressed a kinship with him.
On Instagram, Blink 182’s Barker recalled his early drumming days, when he was cutting his teeth in California’s Laguna Beach while Hawkins drummed for Alanis Morissette in the mid-1990s
“Years later we toured together with Blink and Foo’s in Australia and I have the best memories of smoking cigarettes in the restroom of flights we were on together and watching your set every night. To say I’ll miss you my friend isn’t enough. Till the next time we talk drums and smoke in the boys room … Rest In Peace.”
Ulrich recalled a phone conversation the two shared a week ago: “I will always be appreciative for you championing our community as in your parting words … ‘Drummers stick together!'”
“Coolest dude ever,” Questlove wrote about Hawkins. “God bless & comfort his family, his bandmates, his friends & all his loved ones. … Rest In Beats.”
Matt Cameron, the Pearl Jam and ex-Soundgarden drummer, wrote Hawkins “brought so much joy and happiness to my life.”
‘Unstoppable rock power’
The Foo Fighters had been scheduled to play at Lollapalooza Brasil on Sunday. Miley Cyrus is also on the bill, and said in an Instagram Story that she would dedicate her performance in São Paulo to Hawkins.
She also shared a photo of Hawkins playing the drums, captioning it, “This is how I’ll always remember you.”
“He was an incredible musician and the kindest, warmest person who always had the biggest smile in the room,” Jetts’ statement reads. “We send our love to his wife, children, Dave, Pat, Chris, Rami, Nate and the entire Foos’ Family. We love you guys and we will miss Taylor immensely.”
CNN’s Sara Smart, Nadeem Muaddi and Aya Elamroussi contributed to this report.
