He’s one of the most iconic drummers in rock music, but Foo Fighters percussionist Taylor Hawkins has revealed how he almost joined another group of legends.
Back in 1997, the Foo Fighters were just about to release their second studio album, The Colour And The Shape. With drummer William Goldsmith leaving the group due to tension between himself and Dave Grohl, the steadily-rising band were without someone to sit behind the kit for their live shows.
After calling up his friend Taylor Hawkins while in search of a drummer, Grohl’s search was over before it began, with Hawkins volunteering himself.
Since then, he’s been a permanent fixture of the band’s rhythm section, gaining fame as one of the most iconic drummers in rock music. However, Hawkins’ tenure with the band was almost short-lived, with a rather large offer coming his way soon after joining the Foo Fighters.
Speaking to Louder recently, Hawkins revealed how he was in London around the turn of the millennium with the Foo Fighters, only to receive a call from his mother who told him that a representative from Guns N’ Roses was trying to get in touch.
“Axl [Rose] was trying to get together a new version of Guns N’ Roses, and I think he was checking around for people,” Hawkins explained. “They wanted to know if I would come in and try out or whatever. It was kind of otherworldly.”
Check out ‘Learn To Fly’ by the Foo Fighters:
Feeling somewhat conflicted between sticking with his new band or accepting a huge opportunity, Taylor Hawkins explained that he called up Queen drummer Roger Taylor for advice.
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Te classic rocker revealed how he had been approached by Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson of Mott The Hoople in the early ’70s, hoping to recruit him for a new group prospectively titled Hunter Ronson Taylor.
However, with Queen not yet the superstars we know them to be, Roger Taylor explained that he had too much faith in his band to call it quits, noting that he couldn’t imagine being in a band without the presence of Freddie Mercury and Brian May nearby.
“And he said, ‘I see you and Dave onstage and there’s something you can’t buy there,'” Hawkins recalled. “‘There’s something between you guys that might not be there with Axl Rose.’ And he was right.’”
If you’re playing at home though, Axl Rose eventually settled on the talents of the prolific Bryan “Brain” Mantia for the new era of Guns N’ Roses, though he was eventually replaced by Frank Ferrer back in 2006.
In related news, Taylor Hawkins released Get The Money, his latest album with The Coattail Riders just last Friday. Check out one of the new songs below!
Check out ‘Crossed The Line’ by Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders:
