The first song Taylor Hawkins remembers hearing
Taylor Hawkins epitomised the quintessential rock and roll deity: sporting long locks, possessing powerhouse vocals, delivering thunderous beats, and exhibiting an unwavering adoration for bands like Queen, Led Zeppelin, and Van Halen. Paired with his comrade Dave Grohl, Hawkins stood as an unrivalled advocate for hard-hitting rock, unmatched by any other musician.
Hawkins’ tenure with the Foo Fighters produced numerous hits and acclaimed albums, including There Is Nothing Left to Lose, One by One, In Your Honor, and Wasting Light, among many others. Hawkins’ drumming prowess became a defining element of the Foo Fighters’ success, earning him widespread recognition and adulation from fans and peers alike.
Beyond his role in the Foo Fighters, Hawkins also explored his musical talents through various solo endeavours. He released solo albums, such as KOTA and Red Light Fever, showcasing his versatility as a musician and songwriter. These solo ventures allowed Hawkins to express his creativity beyond the confines of a band while revealing his depth as an artist.
In terms of personal influences, Hawkins cited many over the years. In 2016, during an interview with NME, Hawkins revealed significant songs from his life, including the first song he recalls ever capturing his affection. This was considerably serene, so much so that the title encapsulates the mood: ‘Have You Never Been Mellow’ by late Australian pop sensation Olivia Newton-John.
“I love her so much, oh my God,” Hawkins said. “My daughter loves her too – we took her to see Olivia about three or four months ago. She’s just got this angel voice and she was just so hot when we were kids. She was the most perfect woman when I was, like, seven.”
While Hawkins named ‘Have You Never Been Mellow’ as his first musical love, the first song he ever heard was significantly different. The first song he remembers hearing was The Kingsmen’s ‘Louie Louie’, and it frightened him: “I remember this one song as a kid and it just scared the shit out of me,” he said. “‘Louie Louie’ or something… I don’t know, there’s just something in their voices that sounded evil to me.”
True to form, Hawkins followed the rock greats, recalling the first album he ever bought as being a Queen record. “The first album I purchased with my own money? I think it was Queen. It was either The Game or the Star Wars soundtrack – one or the other.”
