"And I wonder When I sing along with you If everything could ever feel this real forever If anything could ever be this good again" - Foo Fighters
The news of Taylor Hawkins' death hit me hard and I am not quite sure why. In the past, I have felt sadness and loss with the death of personal heroes like Neil Peart, but this was different. I have never been more than a casual fan of the Foo Fighters, but the news of their drummer's death felt like a punch to the gut.
I will admit that the news came at a time when I am feeling raw emotionally. A cat that had followed me home during the pandemic and adopted our family was hit by a car earlier this month and I am not sure that I fully processed the loss. The kids, who all hated that cat when he first made himself at home, had grown to love him and were crushed by his death. Instinctively, I fell into the role of being strong for them. I suppressed my emotions as I lifted his body off the road and brought him to the vet for cremation.
But it was more than being strong for the kids that directed my emotional response that morning. As I saw his lifeless body on the road I felt the tears well up and then felt immediate guilt. How could I feel sad for this cat when there are lives being ripped apart needlessly in Ukraine? How could my loss compare to a parent having to bury their baby as the country they call home teeters on the edge of extinction?
The news out of Columbia also brought thoughts of concern for Dave Grohl. The Foo Fighters were born out of tragedy, starting out as a way for Grohl to work through the death of his Nirvana bandmate, Kurt Cobain. However, these self-recorded tapes soon took on a life of their own, spawning not just a second act for Grohl's career, but an enviable friendship with Hawkins. How is it that he could be burdened with such a devastating loss for the second time in his life?
It could not have been easy for Hawkins to find his place on the drum throne in the Foo Fighters. The pressure to play in a band where the leader is himself an accomplished drummer (who bashed his way through Smells Like Teen Spirit with reckless abandon) must have been immense. The fact that Grohl and Hawkins could work through that pressure and end up inseparable is a testament to the power of their friendship. The loss for Grohl must be unbearable.
The pair were also superfans and never hid their enthusiasm for getting a chance to play with their personal heroes. This was on full display as they inducted two of my favorite bands, Queen and Rush, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When their turn came to receive the honor, it was bestowed on them by Paul McCartney.
While I have never seen the Foo Fighters live, I did have a chance to see Hawkins as the drummer for Alanis Morissette. I did have tickets to see the band later this year, but understandably the tour has been canceled. I look forward to the day that they are able to return to the state although it will certainly not be the same without the bundle of energy that was Taylor Hawkins.
Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for students with special education needs and public education. He is an elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council and serves as the Education Chair. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
