Late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins remains an integral part of the band, according to his former colleagues.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, guitarists Pat Smear and Chris Shiflett, along with bassist Nate Mendel, stated that Hawkins — who passed away in 2022 at the age of 50 — made such a significant impact on the band that he is effectively still with them.
“It was strange that Taylor wasn’t there; super strange that he was there,” Smear remarked about the recording sessions for Foo Fighters’ upcoming album Your Favorite Toy, adding that Hawkins was “manifested in his absence.”
Mendel noted that Hawkins is “still part of the band … and he left an imprint early on that continues to influence how we are as a band. A conversation that went something like: Hey, what if we don’t suck anymore?”
READ MORE: Underrated Foo Fighters: The Most Overlooked Song From Each Album
How Taylor Hawkins Helped Foo Fighters ‘Embrace That Classic Rock Thing’
Shiflett explained that Hawkins’ presence in the band allowed Dave Grohl to embrace his role as frontman, enabling Foo Fighters to evolve into the monumental rock band they are today.
“It was his idea: ‘We have to be a tight unit so Dave can be the guy out front, and we’re the ones holding it down,’” the guitarist said. “Taylor made Dave feel comfortable being a frontman leading the show.”
He continued: “Even when I joined the band [in 1999], there was still that residue of ’90s indie-rock guilt about success. Like when we did our first arena tour: should we be doing this? Taylor was like: ‘Absolutely, we should! We need bigger lights. We’re playing London? Let’s get Brian May to play a song with us. Let’s embrace that classic rock thing.’”
What Josh Freese and Ilan Rubin Did for Foo Fighters
Following Hawkins’ death, Foo Fighters quickly brought in drummer Josh Freese, who toured with them from 2023 until his unexpected dismissal in mid-2025. Freese then rejoined Nine Inch Nails (with whom he had previously played from 2005 to 2008), while NIN drummer Ilan Rubin transitioned to Foo Fighters.
Rubin proved to be an excellent addition to the lineup, Smear explained. “As soon as we got Ilan, I looked at Dave and thought, ‘Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen him genuinely happy in a year.’”
READ MORE: 11 Rock Bands That Got Rid of Their Drummers in 2025
When asked if it’s true that Freese wasn’t informed about why he’d been let go, Mendel replied: “Yeah. We made a decision that it was best for all parties. To delve into the personal details [with Freese], of why that didn’t necessarily sync up, just didn’t seem beneficial for anyone. Some things are acceptable to state: this is what’s best for us, and we’re moving in a different direction.”
Still, Mendel praised Freese for “coming into a situation and doing exactly what needed to be done musically to make it work” in terms of keeping the band together after Hawkins’ death.
Foo Fighters will release Your Favorite Toy on April 24.
See how we’ve ranked every Foo Fighters album below:
Foo Fighters Albums Ranked
From the one-man-band debut to their sprawling, chart-topping classics, a look at the studio releases by Dave Grohl and band.
Gallery Credit: Corey Irwin
