Tributes to the late Taylor Hawkins continue to pour in as Hayley WIlliams is the latest to open up on the impact he had.
Listen to Paramore Radio, now on Audacy
Williams’ latest episode of her BBC podcast Everything Is Emo saw her discussing the influence the music of Foo Fighters and Hawkins had on Paramore early in their career.
“[Foo Fighters] are a really important band to everyone, the whole world,” Williams said. “But such an important band to Paramore. When I first met the guys, there were a few albums that we talked about a lot, that we referenced a lot, Foo Fighters was a band that always came up.”
Related
Williams then recalled the time that Paramore drummer Zac Farro and Taylor Hawkins became forever linked. Farro was in need of “a good drum kit” when Paramore began to play shows. He was gifted a kit that used to belong to Hawkins.
“A friend that lived in town leant him a drum kit, which he ultimately gave to him, and it belonged to Taylor Hawkins first,” she said. “For our first shows and tours, it’s like we stole a blessing from Taylor Hawkins. It’s like we took it as him saying, ‘Yes, go forth and continue.’”
Listen to Foo Fighters Radio, now on Audacy
“I think about Taylor Hawkins a lot, when I think about Zac’s playing,” Williams continued. “I don’t want to center myself or Paramore in the conversation around Taylor Hawkins’ death, but it’s just to say that he meant a lot to so many people and there are so many stories I’m sure we’re yet to hear about him, and things that he’s done for people, ways that he’s touched peoples’ lives.”
“More than anything, as a music fan and as a Foo Fighters fan, I love what [Hawkins] did for Dave Grohl. I listen to his album There’s Nothing Left To Lose and I know it’s the first record that Taylor played on,” she continued. Williams opined that Hawkins’ playing “brought out something in Dave Grohl’s voice” and impacted his songwriting.
“It just really resonates with me and I loved this record so much as a teenager,” she concluded.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign up and follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram