Justin Hawkins of The Darkness shared his personal experience regarding the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert in an interview with Rolling Stone UK. Taylor’s passing deeply affected the band because of his role as godfather to The Darkness’ drummer Rufus Taylor.
“When Taylor died, it was devastating for us because he was Rufus [Taylor, drummer]’s godfather,” Hawkins revealed. “We were on the road in Canada and it was an awful moment, so we did our best to support Rufus through that time.”
“I got a call from Dave Grohl, and I was kind of petrified in a way because he meant so much to me, and there was so much at stake,” he continued. “I didn’t want to f*ck it up, because I am someone who famously likes to self-sabotage. So, I booked a studio, I prepared it for it properly, and that’s very unlike me.”
“I had to get it right, and it was extremely well received, and I think that’s when people started to see me a little bit differently,” Hawkins added. “I performed with Brian Johnson from AC/DC too, and he rang me after just to chat, and I saw him at an awards do recently. It blows my mind to think I’m considered a national treasure, but it blows it even more to think I’m on first-name terms with one of my actual heroes!”
The tribute concert became a defining moment for both Justin Hawkins and the music community. Artists from various genres united to honor Taylor Hawkins’ legacy.
Historic Gathering At Wembley
Reports from Paramount highlighted the monumental scale of the tribute concert. The event drew over 80,000 fans to Wembley Stadium. Millions more watched through global streaming platforms including Paramount+, MTV, and Pluto TV.
The massive attendance demonstrated Taylor Hawkins’ profound impact on the music industry. The event successfully raised funds for charitable causes selected by his family.
Musical Legacy Celebration
Documentation from Kurt Writes Things detailed performances from Taylor’s musical projects. These included The Coattail Riders and Chevy Metal.
The celebration created unprecedented collaborations across generations. Musicians from different genres came together to showcase the breadth of Taylor’s musical influence.
Global Impact
Consequence chronicled the event’s emergence as a pivotal moment in rock music history.
The memorial combined intimate personal memories with grand-scale performances. This unique combination created an unforgettable tribute to both the professional musician and beloved friend that Taylor Hawkins represented in the industry.
