Foo Fighters announce their first Australian tour since 2018 and death of drummer Taylor Hawkins  

The Foo Fighters have announced their first Aussie and New Zealand tour since 2018 and the tragic death of the band’s beloved drummer, Taylor Hawkins.

The American rockers will be travelling Down Under in November and December 2023, before heading to Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in January 2024.

The band will kick off their Aussie stadium shows in Perth on November 29, before travelling to Adelaide to play on December 2, Melbourne December 4, Sydney December 9 and Brisbane December 12. 

It comes after the release of the band’s new album But Here We Are, in which front man Dave Grohl sings about his grief over losing his best friend Hawkins. 

Hawkins died suddenly in his hotel room last year at the age of 50, just hours before Foo Fighters were due to perform at a festival in Colombia. 

The Foo Fighters have announced their first Aussie and New Zealand tour since 2018 and the tragic death of the band’s beloved drummer, Taylor Hawkins . Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins pictured March 20, 2022 in Santiago, Chile

Tickets for all shows will go on sale on Thursday 15 June, while the American Express Pre-sale begins Friday 9 June.

The band took time out to remember Hawkins during their show at the Boston Calling Music Festival last week.

Not only did they honor him with a performance of Cold Day In The Sun, which is a song Hawkins sang before his tragic death in March 2022, but they also brought up his 17-year-old son, Shane, to play drums on a Foo Fighters classic.

Foo Fighters tour dates Australia/New Zealand 

November 11: Perth HBP Park with special guests The Chats / Teenager Joans

December 2: Adelaide Coopers Stadium with special special guests The Chats/Body Type 

December 4: Melbourne AAMI Park with special guests Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers/Hot Milk 

December 9: Sydney Accor Park with special guests The Chats/ Hot Milk

December 12: Brisbane Suncorp Stadium with special guests The Chats/Hot Milk

January 20: Auckland Go Media Stadium

January 24: Christchurch Orangetheory Stadium

January 27: Wellington Sky Stadium

After being introduced, the crowd went wild, especially when the large monitors showed the teenager behind the drums getting prepared to rock.

In an unscripted moment, frontman Dave Grohl walked towards Shane, they shared a few words, then he flashed a big smile and began to laugh, and made his way to the microphone at center stage.

With his guitar strapped over his shoulder, ready to break out into the next song on the setlist, Grohl, 54, confessed: ‘He just told me, hey, say something, I’ve got to fix the snare [drum].’ 

After the band and the crowd laughed out loud, the Times Like These star proceeded to show off his flare for comedy, in order to stall for time, by dropping some of the cliche lines frontmen of bands have used over the years.

‘So anyway… ahhhhh yeah. Hello Boston,’ the former Nirvana drummer said with a joking tone to his voice, which got a rise from the audience, 

‘How’s it going over there?’ he asked Shane, adding, ‘Earlier I was at my dressing room and I heard this audience go absolutely f***ing bonkers for someone. And I was like, “Who the f**k is playing?’

After some more small talk about missing the performance of The National earlier in the festival, Grohl strummed his guitar a couple of times and turned back to the teen, ‘How’s it going over there, Shane?’ 

It comes after the release of the band's album But Here We Are, in which frontman Dave Grohl sings about his grief over losing his best friend Hawkins, far right. The band are pictured in June 2021

It comes after the release of the band’s album But Here We Are, in which frontman Dave Grohl sings about his grief over losing his best friend Hawkins, far right. The band are pictured in June 2021  

Still lightly strumming a chord, all while the other four members of the band stood patiently on stage during anpause, the singer and guitarist again addressed his guest musician.

‘Oh my God, there is a curfew Shane,’ he said in a joking tone and manner. ‘What are we doing?’

Getting the cue from the Shane that he’s ready to play, Grohl began to set up the title of the next song: ‘This is an old song from out first record and when we play it…,’ but the band leader was cut off in mid-sentence with Shane’s rousing snare lick into the band’s song I’ll Stick Around. 

Taylor Hawkins left behind his wife Alison Hawkins and their three children – Shane and sisters sisters Annabelle and Everleigh – following his death at the age of 50 in March 2022.

The drummer and percussionist passed out unconscious at his hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, just hours before their scheduled concert, and soon after died.

Taylor Hawkins was 50 when he died while in his hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, just hours before their scheduled concert

Taylor Hawkins was 50 when he died while in his hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, just hours before their scheduled concert

Foo Fighters only just announced Josh Freese as the replacement for Taylor Hawkins on drums in a funny video that dropped on May 21

Foo Fighters only just announced Josh Freese as the replacement for Taylor Hawkins on drums in a funny video that dropped on May 21

A cause of death was not announced, but a preliminary toxicology report claimed that he died with 10 substances in his system, including marijuana, benzodiazepines and opioids, according to  Us Weekly

Following his death, Foo Fighters canceled their tour and took a hiatus before returning to the stage for star-studded tributes to the late drummer last September. In one of the more touching and emotional moments, Shane got to play My Hero with his dad’s pals and bandmates.

Foo Fighters only just announced Josh Freese as the replacement for Taylor Hawkins on drums in a funny video that dropped on May 21.

And then just days later the band kicked off their tour, which comes ahead of the release of their 11th studio album, But Here We Are, on June 2.

 

 

 

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