Foo Fighters lead singer Dave Grohl opened Saturday’s tribute concert to the band’s late drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died in March at 50 years old. Hawkins was found dead in his hotel room in Colombia, where the band had a show scheduled.  In an emotional opening speech, Grohl said: “For those of you who knew him personally, you know that no one else could make you smile or laugh or dance or sing like he could. And for those of you that admired him from afar, I’m sure you’ve all felt the same thing. So tonight, we’ve gathered with family and his closest friends, his musical heroes and greatest inspirations, to bring you a gigantic [expletive] night for a gigantic [expletive] person.”

The all-star Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert went on for more than five hours Saturday, closing the night out with an emotional Foo Fighters set at London’s Wembley Stadium, where Grohl fought back tears as the group sang its first song of the night, ‘Times Like These.‘

Also taking the stage at Wembley Stadium were members of Metallica, Queen, Paul McCartney, AC/DC, plus Nile Rodgers and Liam Gallagher. Travis Barker, Rufus Tiger Taylor and Hawkins’s own teenage son Shane all took turns playing drums with Foo Fighters throughout the evening. Grohl said as the night came to an end:“I hope that you guys felt all the love from all of us and all of the performers because we felt it from you, for Taylor, tonight. I don’t really know what else to say.  This one’s for Taylor. Let’s hear it big and loud for Taylor f**** Hawkins right now,” he said, concluding a great night of music with Foo Fighters’ “Everlong.”

The concert was streamed worldwide on MTV’s YouTube channels. Paramount+ screened the show in the United States. A similar concert is scheduled for Los Angeles later this month, with proceeds from ticket sales from both concerts going towards charities chosen by Hawkins’ family.

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