Taylor Hawkins' heart weighed DOUBLE that of men his age when he died

Taylor Hawkins’ heart weighed DOUBLE that of men his age when he died: Foo Fighters drummer suffered ‘cardiovascular collapse’ in Colombia hotel room after binging on cocktail of drugs including heroin, marijuana, and opioids, investigators say

Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins was found dead in hotel room in Bogota, Colombia, on Friday
Forensic experts say autopsy revealed his heart weighed ‘at least 600 grams’ – double the average size
Investigators concluded Hawkins suffered ‘cardiovascular collapse’ after binging on a cocktail of drugs
Foo Fighters just completed host of tour dates in South America and were due to appear at Grammy’s in April
The band said it was ‘devastated by the untimely loss’ and asked for the privacy of his family to be respected
Foo Fighters were on tour in South America and the band had played in San Isidro, Argentina, last Sunday

Taylor Hawkins’ heart weighed double that of men his age as an autopsy finds the Foo Fighters drummer suffered a ‘cardiovascular collapse’ after binging on a cocktail of drugs including heroin, marijuana, and opioids, investigators have said.

Forensic experts are said to have discovered it weighed ‘at least 600 grams’, double the average of 300 to 350 grams, during an examination following his shock death at a luxury hotel in Colombian capital Bogota on Friday.

Investigators have concluded the 50-year-old suffered cardiovascular collapse after binging on a cocktail of drugs, respected Colombian news magazine Semana reported.

It also said authorities had confirmed the Foo Fighters drummer had overdosed on heroin mixed with antidepressants and benzodiazepines which are psychoactive drugs known as benzos.

Colombia’s Attorney General’s office (AGO) has already confirmed an initial autopsy carried out on Saturday revealed traces of 10 different drugs in Hawkins’ urine, including opioids which can range from heroin to fentanyl and morphine.

In a statement, it also revealed marihuana and antidepressants had been detected.

Well-known Colombian journalist Luis Carlos Velez, the Bogota-based director of radio station FM, said earlier today that a police officer who entered Hawkins’ room at the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina had told prosecutors he saw a ‘cocaine-like’ white powder.

However, the AGO did not mention cocaine in its post-autopsy statement.

Concerns about the drummer’s health first arose on Friday night when he began complaining of chest pains prior to the band’s headline performance at the Estereo Picnic Festival in Bogota.

His condition subsequently deteriorated and efforts to revive him by a private doctor and city emergency responders failed.

In its statement released late on Saturday, Colombia’s AGO said: ‘Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins was found dead in a hotel room on Friday in Bogota.

‘After concluding an initial forensic examination of the body the AGO would like to communicate the following:

‘1) Preliminary results of the urine toxicology test indicate the presence of 10 different substances: THX (Marihuana), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and opioids among others.

‘2) The National Institute of Forensic Medicine continues to conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death.

‘3) The AGO will continue to investigate and will duly inform the findings of forensic examinations in due time.’

Taylor Hawkins (left), daughter Annabelle Hawkins (centre) and wife Alison Hawkins (right) pictured together at the Los Angeles Premiere of Studio 666 last month

Hawkins and wife Alison pictured at the State Department dinner for The Kennedy Center Honours om December 1 last year

Taylor Hawkins is pictured with a young fan in Paraguay days before his death. He helped Emma Sofía, nine, fulfil her dream of playing drums with his band, Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters hold lit candles fans outside Casa Medina Hotel today where band’s drummer Taylor Hawkins was found dead

Colombian newspaper El Tiempo said a confidential report it had been informed about pointed to hallucinogens – mind-altering drugs that can include LSD – being found inside the hotel room. (Pictured, file image of a hotel room at Casa Medina)

Members of the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) remove the lifeless body of the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins, at the Casa Medina hotel, in Bogota, Colomia

Hawkins, a father-of-three, suffered a heroin overdose in London in 2001 that left him in a come for around a week.

In an interview last year he admitted: ‘Everyone has their own path and I took it too far. I was partying in London one night, and I mistakenly did something and it changed everything.

‘I believed the bull***t myth of live hard and fast, die young.

‘I’m not here to preach about not doing drugs, because I loved doing drugs, but I just got out of control for a while and it almost got me.’

It follows the results of an initial autopsy in which the AGO said it found ’10 types of substances’ in a toxicology test.

The statement added: ‘Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office can confirm the following after the initial autopsy on the body of Taylor Hawkins.

‘That in the toxicology test on Taylor Hawkins’ urine 10 types of substances were preliminarily found, including marihuana, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and opioids.

‘The National Institute of Forensic Medicine is continuing its medical studies to be able to completely clarify the facts that led to Taylor Hawkins death.

‘Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office will continue with the investigation and reveal the results obtained as part of this investigation as appropriate.’

One unconfirmed local report said several glasses were found inside the drummer’s room, sparking speculation he had been entertaining guests before his death.

Colombia’s State Prosecution Service, in its first official comments on the tragedy, confirmed: ‘As soon as we were made aware of the death of foreign national Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer, who was staying at a hotel in the north of Bogota, a team of prosecutors and investigators was mobilised to deal with urgent matters and support the investigation.’

Prosecution officials have not yet made any official comment regarding the speculation the musician’s death may be drug-related.

The drummer who has a history of drug use died in a hotel room in the north of Colombia’s capital.

The Metropolitan Police of Bogota, in a statement carried by several Colombian newspapers, said: ‘The cause of death has yet to be established. According to those close to him, the death could be related to the consumption of drugs.’

Local reports said hotel staff called the emergency services after Hawkins suffered chest pains but he was already dead by the time medical responders arrived. Foo Fighters had been scheduled to play at a concert in the Colombian capital.

Hawkins, a father to two teenage children, had openly discussed his drug and overdose struggles years before what the band called his ‘tragic and untimely’ death.

Taylor Hawkins was pictured in what is believed to be for the final time on social media on Wednesday. He is seen on a plane with band member Pat Smear (left) and Samantha Sidley (right) who was working for the band on Wednesday March 23, 2022

White powder ‘similar to cocaine’, and hallucinogens, were allegedly found in the five-star Casa Medina hotel room of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who has died aged 50. (Above, file image of a hotel room at the Casa Medina in Bogota)

Four years after joining Foo Fighters, Hawkins overdosed on heroin and ended up in a coma in 2001 which he later described as the result of him ‘taking it too far’.

Colombian music and entertainment journalist Alejandro Marin tweeted as news of the drummer’s death emerged: ‘Don’t begin to blame the country because Taylor died in Colombia if he died of an overdose. Don’t be so stupid.’

Shortly after Hawkins’ death was announced, dozens of fans together with journalists and videographers began to gather outside the hotel where the band had been staying. Many appeared to be in complete shock at the news with some lighting candles.

Ambulances and police cars could be seen stationed outside of the property. Later on Friday night, Hawkins’ body was finally brought out of the hotel, placed into a coroner’s van and driven away.

The group had been scheduled to play at the Festival Estéreo Picnic in the Colombian capital where an announcement told concert-goers that the band would not be playing due to a ‘serious medical condition’.

Hawkins, who was married to his illustrator wife Alison and a father to three children, Oliver, Annabelle and Everleigh, had just completed a host of tour dates in South America with the band last playing in San Isidro, Argentina, last Sunday.

Health chiefs in Bogota appeared to be signalling last night that Hawkins suffered a heart attack.

The Secretariat of Health issued a statement which confirmed the Foo Fighters drummer had sparked a medical emergency after suffering ‘chest pains’.

It said: ‘With regards to the death of the American musician Taylor Hawkins in the neighbourhood of Chapinero, which happened on Friday night, the City Health Department states the following:

‘The city’s Emergency Regulation Centre received an alert about a patient with chest pain in a hotel located in the north of the city.

‘An ambulance was sent to attend to this case. However when the health department teams arrived, they found a mobile response unit from the company EMI at the scene.’

A sheet is held up as the body of Hawkins is moved to a coroner’s van by forensic technicians outside the Casa Medina hotel

No cause of death was immediately announced but the band revealed they were ‘devastated by the tragic and untimely loss’ (pictured left) in a tribute shared on their social media page. Pictured right: an announcement on stage where Foo Fighters were due to perform on Friday told audiences that the band would not be performing due to a ‘serious medical situation’

People react outside the Casa Medina hotel, where Taylor Hawkins, drummer of the band Foo Fighters was staying

‘The health professional that was dealing with the emergency indicated attempts to revive the patient had been carried out but there had been no response and the patient was pronounced dead.

‘The relevant authorities removed the body and started work on the investigations required as part of these types of incidents.

‘We regret the death of this talented and world-famous drummer and send a message of condolences to his family, bandmates and fans.’

It made no mention of drugs in its statement, despite the fact police had alluded to Mr Hawkins’ death possibly being drug-related earlier in the day.

Local reports had already referred to hotel staff at Casa Medina, the luxury hotel Hawkins was staying at, calling in emergency response teams after the drummer suffered chest pains.

Hawkins joined the band in 1997 after the group completed their second album, The Colour and the Shape.

Prior to being in Foo Fighters, Hawkins played drums for Alanis Morissette from whom he was recruited by frontman Dave Grohl – Nirvana’s own legendary drummer.

Some fans said prayers and lit candles to the legendary drummer who died in his hotel room on Friday night

Grohl formed his second band Foo Fighters in 1994 in the wake of an earlier tragedy, just months after Kurt Cobain, Nirvana’s frontman, took his own life.

After Cobain’s suicide in April, Grohl retreated and was unsure if he wanted to stay in the music industry but created Foo Fighters in October that year after penning a 15-track demo and signing with Capitol records.

In Grohl’s 2021 book ‘The Storyteller,’ he called Hawkins his ‘brother from another mother, my best friend, a man for whom I would take a bullet.’

‘Upon first meeting, our bond was immediate, and we grew closer with every day, every song, every note that we ever played together,’ Grohl wrote. ‘We are absolutely meant to be, and I am grateful that we found each other in this lifetime.’

When Hawkins came aboard in 1997, Foo Fighters moved from the alternative rock scene to achieve mainstream success, regularly packing out arenas and stadiums.

The police were on site quickly at the hotel in northern Bogota where Hawkins and his bandmates were staying

Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters perform during day one of Lollapalooza Chile 2022 at Parque Bicentenario Cerrillos on March 18, 2022 in Santiago, Chile. This is believed to be one of the last publicly known photos of him performing

Foo Fighters’ charismatic drummer, Taylor Hawkins, has died at the age of 50. Pictured: Taylor on stage in October 2021

An imaginative and rock-solid drummer, he had the seemingly thankless task of playing drums behind Foos singer-guitarist Dave Grohl, who is one of the greatest drummers in rock history.

Hawkins filled that role with aplomb, bringing his own hard-hitting, time-juggling style to the band’s straight-ahead rock sound without trying to emulate Grohl.

He was also a strong singer and frequently took the mic during the band’s concerts and on B-sides, often on cover versions (such as a 2008 team-up with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, when Grohl went behind the drum kit at Hawkins took the mic).

As well as the nine albums he put out with Foo Fighters, Taylor also had three albums with his band Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders and an additional album with side project The Birds of Satan.

Hawkins had spoken frankly about his drug use in the past and had openly discussed his overdose in 2001 which saw him land in a coma for two weeks.

In a 2021 interview with Kerrang! Hawkins shared the harrowing details and described how he had been ‘heading down a road that was going to lead to even worse paths’.

He told the publication: ‘I was partying in London one night, and I mistakenly did something and it changed everything.

‘I believed the bull***t myth of live hard and fast, die young.

‘I’m not here to preach about not doing drugs, because I loved doing drugs, but I just got out of control for a while and it almost got me.

‘I was heading down a road that was going to lead to even worse paths. Whether someone’s sober, or they like a glass of wine with dinner, or they want a bottle of Jägermeister before they go on stage, or they like to smoke doobies all day long, everyone has their own path, and I took it too far.

‘I’m glad it got knocked on the head at that point. I wouldn’t take anything away that I’ve done or been through either, because it’s all part of the trip and the journey. I’m trying to be as candid as I can be.’

In a separate interview in 2018, Hawkins told Beats 1 of the overdose: ‘I was partying a lot. I wasn’t a junkie per se, but I was partying. There was a year where the partying just got a little too heavy.

‘Thank God on some level this guy gave me the wrong line with the wrong thing one night and I woke up going, ‘What the f**k happened?’ That was a real changing point for me.’

Hawkins said he now goes mountain biking to clear his head and, although he was ‘not an AA dude’, he said he developed a system that ‘works for [him]’.

The Foo Fighters are pictured in their last song in their more performance last Sunday, March 20 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Hawkins could be seen in his usual position behind the drum kit at the Lollapalooza music festival in Buenos Aires

‘In utter disbelief at the news of Taylor Hawkins. Our deepest condolences to his family, his bandmates, his team, his friends and everyone that was ever touched by the music he created with @FooFighters, @Alanis and so many others. This is so incredibly sad,’ wrote Nickelback on Instagram. Miley Cyrus shared a black-and-white snap of the late Foo Fighters drummer

Billy Idol tweeted, ‘So tragic. Rest in peace Taylor’ in a simple yet poignant message

Ozzy Osbourne praised Taylor Hawkins as a ‘great person and an amazing musician,’ and promised to ‘see him on the other side.’

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker posted a playful backstage photo with his band and Foo Fighters, as Taylor flashed his trademark grin

Tributes to Hawkins poured in immediately on social media from fellow musicians including Nickelback, Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Idol.

Ozzy Osbourne praised Taylor Hawkins as a ‘great person and an amazing musician,’ and promised to ‘see him on the other side.’

‘@TaylorHawkins was truly a great person and an amazing musician,’ Osbourne wrote on Twitter.

‘My heart, my love and my condolences go out to his wife, his children, his family, his band and his fans.

‘See you on the other side – Ozzy.’

Sharing a picture of Hawkins online Idol wrote: ‘So tragic. Rest in peace Taylor.’

Miley Cyrus announced on Instagram that she would be dedicating her next concert to the drummer.

She shared a black-and-white image of Taylor rocking out on his drum set on stage as he flashed his trademark smile.

‘This is how I’ll always remember you…’ she captioned her photo, before adding, ‘My show tomorrow is dedicated to Taylor Hawkins.’

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker joined in the somber tributes by sharing a sweet photo of his band meeting up with Hawkins and other Foo Fighters members.

‘God bless you Taylor Hawkins. I loved your spirit and your unstoppable rock power,’ wrote Rage Against the Machine frontman Tom Morello. ‘Rest In Peace my friend.’

‘I’ve always had so much admiration for him,’ former drummer with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy tweeted

‘Amazing drummer & a gem of a guy who was always fun to be around,’ said producer Steve Albini

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker joined in the somber tributes by sharing a sweet photo of his band meeting up with Hawkins and other Foo Fighters members.

Hawkins could be seen grinning while the group’s front man Grohl mugged for the camera.

‘I don’t have the words. Sad to write this or to never see you again,’ he addressed the fallen drummer. ‘I’ll never forget Laguna Beach days when I was a trash man playing in a punk rock band and you were playing with Alanis.

‘You’d come watch me play in dive bars and be like, ‘kid you’re a star’. And I thought you were crazy but you gave me so much hope and determination,’ Barker wrote.

‘Years later we toured together with Blink and Foo’s in Australia and I have the best memories of smoking cigarettes in the restroom of flights we were on together and watching your set every night. To say I’ll miss you my friend isn’t enough. Till the next time we talk drums and smoke in the boys room … Rest In Peace.’

‘God bless you Taylor Hawkins. I loved your spirit and your unstoppable rock power,’ wrote Rage Against the Machine frontman Tom Morello. ‘Rest In Peace my friend.’

‘I’ve always had so much admiration for him,’ former drummer with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy wrote.

Billie Eilish’s brother and collaborator Finneas praised Hawkins’ kindness and generosity in a sweet tweet

Richard Marx wrote that he was ‘gutted’ by the news after he had recently collaborated with the drummer

Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden simply wrote that he had ‘no words’ while adding a broken-hearted emoji

Full House star John Stamos shared his final conversation with Taylor with his Twitter followers as he mourned his missed opportunity to catch up with his friend one last time

Kiss cofounder Paul Stanley wrote that he was ‘speechless and gutted’ from the news of Hawkins’ death

Actor Josh Brolin simply shared a closeup photo of Taylor and captioned it, ‘No,’ while adding a crying emoji

The musician and legendary record producer Steve Albini wrote that Hawkins’ death had left music ‘lessened’ and ‘duller.’

‘Taylor Hawins was a terrific drummer with a gorgeous disposition, seemed always to be having the time of his life. I didn’t know him well but I know music is lessened by his passing, made duller and smaller. Requiescat,’ he wrote.

Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator Finneas paid tribute to Hawkins on Twitter.

‘So heartbroken to hear about Taylor Hawkins’ passing, what an incredible talent, who didn’t also need to be so kind and generous and cool but was all those things too anyway,’ he wrote.

‘The world was so lucky to have his gifts for the time that it did, Rest In Peace.’

Actor Josh Brolin simply shared a closeup photo of Taylor and captioned it, ‘No,’ while adding a crying emoji.

Kiss cofounder Paul Stanely wrote that he was ‘speechless and gutted’ from the news of Hawkins’ death.

‘Taylor was a great guy, a dad and a husband. My heart goes out to them, Dave and the band. What awful news.

Full House star John Stamos shared his final conversation with Taylor with his Twitter followers as he mourned his missed opportunity to catch up with his friend one last time.

‘This was Taylor Hawksin’ last text to me: ‘Ya We’ve yet to fully have a hang -Got a put that s*** together before we die’ Wise words from my friend- put that s*** together! I’m so f***ing sad. Another one gone too soon,’ he wrote.

Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden simply wrote that he had ‘no words’ while adding a broken-hearted emoji.

Richard Marx wrote that he was ‘gutted’ by the news after he had recently collaborated with the drummer.

‘Gutted. Completely gutted. We just recorded something together a month ago. Can’t even process this right now. Let’s hold Taylor wife and children close to our hearts.’

Fans of the band were also in shock with one writing: ‘We are devastated by this. Our hearts go out to his family & Foo brothers’ while a third responded: ‘Is this real? What?’

Another Twitter user said: ‘In absolute shock & disbelief over the passing of Taylor Hawkins. I’ve always had so much admiration for him.

‘Amazing drummer & a gem of a guy who was always fun to be around. I’m absolutely gutted…my deepest condolences to his bandmates & family.’

Hawkins had spoken openly about his battle with drugs and had given a candid interview on the subject last year. Hawkins is pictured in November 2021 in Monterrey, Mexico

Hawkins had spoken openly about his battle with drugs.

‘I used to do a lot of f**king drugs. You get the work done,’ he said in interview with Kerrang last year in which he spoke of ‘living fast and dying young’.

‘Everyone has their own path and I took it too far. I was partying in London one night, and I mistakenly did something and it changed everything.

‘I believed the bulls**t myth of live hard and fast, die young. I’m not here to preach about not doing drugs, because I loved doing drugs, but I just got out of control for a while and it almost got me.

‘I was heading down a road that was going to lead to even worse paths. Whether someone’s sober, or they like a glass of wine with dinner, or they want a bottle of Jägermeister before they go onstage, or they like to smoke doobies all day long, everyone has their own path, and I took it too far.

Foo Fighters were scheduled to perform at the Lollapalooza Festival in Brazil on Sunday and at the Grammy Awards a week later, on April 3.

The band also has multiple tour dates scheduled through December in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Hawkins and his wife have three children, one of whom is pictured here, Taylor Hawkins, left and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters are pictured prior to the Grammy awards in 2014

Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, and Nate Mendel pose backstage as Foo Fighters reopen Madison Square Garden in June 2021

‘The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time,’ the band wrote in a statement.

At the time of his death, Foo Fighters were on tour in South America. The band had played in San Isidro, Argentina, last Sunday and were due to perform in Bogota, Colombia, on Friday night – the day his death was announced.

Pictures on social media showed fans gathering in front of the stage at the Estereo Picnic festival, with lit candles being placed on stage.

The band were scheduled to perform at the Grammys on April 3 and were due to begin a new tour of North America in May.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Foo Fighters in 2021 by Sir Paul McCartney.

Following the release of their most recent album, Medicine At Midnight, the band filmed a spoof-horror film titled Studio 666, in which Hawkins starred alongside his bandmates.

Born Oliver Taylor Hawkins in Fort Worth, Texas, he had worked as a touring drummer for the likes of Alanis Morissette and Sass Jordan before joining Foo Fighters in 1997.

His career went from strength to strength and he was named Best Rock Drummer in 2005 by magazine Rhythm.

Taylor then joined the band after the singer Dave Grohl fell out with the drummer William Goldsmith. Goldsmith then left the group.

Grohl had also previously been the drummer in Nirvana and the group ended up re-recording an album they made with Goldsmith, with Grohl playing the drum parts himself before reaching out to an acquaintance when looking for recommendations for a new drummer, who suggested Taylor.

Grohl was under the impression Taylor wouldn’t want to leave Morissette’s touring band but Taylor decided to join the band stating that he had long wanted to be the drummer in a rock band.

Taylor also provided vocals, guitar and piano for the band on various recordings.

Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters performs onstage at the after party for the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Studio 666’ at the Fonda Theatre on February 16, 2022 in Hollywood, California

(From left-right) Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee of Foo Fighters attend the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in October 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio

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