Taylor Hawkins: One of his last interviews before he died at 50

A clip from one of Taylor Hawkins’ latest interviews was shared on Thursday morning.

Posted in the video by The everyday beastTaken from the upcoming documentary Let There Be Drums!, the late Foo Fighters drummer spoke of his admiration for The Grateful Dead and explained how they changed his musical outlook.

The artist died last March at the age of 50 in Bogota, Colombia.

Hawkins began the interview by saying that he was initially put off by the open nature of a Grateful Dead show.

“At first I thought, what’s going on?… They’re jamming. Is everyone on stage yet? Everyone throws energy,” he recalled.

The drummer then said that once he began to understand the way the Grateful Dead performed, he was particularly impressed.

“I’m like, oh okay, they don’t know how they’re going to start this song. They just do that improv jazz thing. That did me good,” he said.

Concerned: Hawkins started the interview by commenting that he was initially put off by the open nature of a Grateful Dead show; Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart perform in 2002

Realization: The drummer then said that once he began to understand the way the Grateful Dead performed, he was particularly impressed; he will be seen in 2021

Hawkins further stated that the performance left a lasting impression on him that revealed itself on a subsequent string of concert dates.

“Three days after that show I had to go to Europe for a two week tour with the Foo Fighters, and I just started taking a lot more risks and I had some of the best shows I’ve had,” he said.

The late performer died at the Four Seasons Casa Medina hotel in Bogota, where the Foo Fighters were touring.

Hawkins’ cause of death was not immediately released, although a toxicology test revealed that he had numerous substances, including opioids, benzodiazepines and THC, in his blood when he died.

Departed: The late performer died at the Four Seasons Casa Medina hotel in Bogota, where the Foo Fighters were touring; he is seen in 2022

The artist went on to become the subject of numerous tributes from various figures in the entertainment and music industry.

The Foo Fighters gave two tribute concerts in his memory, and his son, Oliver Shane, filled in for his father while the band played their song My Hero.

Justin Kreutzmann, director of Let There Be Drums, spoke to The Daily Beast and stated that he bonded with Hawkins during the production of his documentary.

“He made me feel really comfortable and welcome. I loved hearing someone who wasn’t from the jam band world react to a Dead experience,” he said.

Grateful: Kreutzmann made a point of stating that he was “honored to have spent even that little bit of time with a cool guy like Taylor”; Hawkins is seen in 2016

The filmmaker, the son of longtime Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, said the late musician’s interview had changed tone after his death.

What has changed are certain parts of his interview that I used in the film when he talks about the future and his children. Those moments used to be very fun and lighthearted. Now it feels different,” he said.

The director added: “I want to make it clear that we didn’t change the cut once Taylor passed. This is the movie exactly as I sent it to Taylor. Adding more stuff or taking stuff out would have felt wrong.’

Kreutzmann made a point of stating that he was “honored to have spent even a little bit of time with a cool guy like Taylor.”