The music world was stunned over the weekend by the death of Taylor Hawkins.
The beloved Foo Fighters drummer was just 50 years old.
Hawkins, who passed away while the band was on tour in Bogota, Colombia, had no known health issues ahead of his untimely death.
Fans have been desperately seeking answers, and new information revealed by medical examiners serves to shed light on the musician’s tragic final hours.
We should note that the results of a full autopsy are still pending, but according to an initial toxicology report, at the time of his death, Hawkins’ body contained “10 types of substances, including THC, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and opioids.”
That information comes to us courtesy of the Attorney General’s Office of Colombia.
“The National Institute of Forensic Medicine continues to conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death,” reads a tweet from the office that was translated to English by People magazine.
“The Attorney General’s Office will continue to investigate and will duly inform the findings of forensic examinations in due time.”
A press release from Colombia’s District Secretary of Health reveals that an ambulance was sent to Hawkins’ hotel after authorities “received a report about a patient with chest pain in a hotel located north of the city.”
Hawkins was unresponsive when paramedics arrived on the scene, and they were unable to revive him.
The father of three was pronounced dead on the scene.
“The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,” read a statement that was posted to the band’s social media accounts.
“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.”
A wildly gifted rock star who was known as much for his sparkling personality as for his talent behind the drum kit, Hawkins is being mourned by a legion of fans the world over.
Countless fellow musicians have shared heartfelt tributes and memories of their time with Hawkins, with one of the most moving tributes coming from Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.
“I don’t have the words. Sad to write this or to never see you again,” Barker wrote on Instagram on Friday.
Barker went on to reveal that his association with the late Foo Fighters’ veteran dates back to the days when Hawkins was the drummer for Alanis Morisette’s band.
“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,'” Travis recalled.
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,” Barker continued.
“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.”
Hawkins suffered a heroin overdose in 2001, and he’s spoken openly about the incident in the years that followed.
He often referred to it as a moment of youthful foolishness and explained that his hard partying days were well behind him.
There’s no reason to doubt that claim, and it appears that what happened in Colombia was merely a confluence of bad luck and a momentary lapse in judgment.
Hawkins is survived by his wife and three young children.
Our thoughts go out to his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.