ode to his daughter Annabelle. “She’s like my mini-
me,” he says. “She wears Queen T-shirts and she’s
just rad. The whole song’s about being a middle
child. It’s a beautiful song.” Although
acknowledging it as a potential single in the UK,
Hawkins clarifies: “And we’re talking about singles
that don’t really matter, because I don’t expect it to
win a Grammy or be top ten on KROQ.” He
pauses, then adds: “But it matters to me and it
matters to her.”S
oon Hawkins will start work on
the next Foo Fighters album.
Although this rules out touring
with the Coattail Riders, he’s immensely
grateful for Dave Grohl’s friendship and
support over the years. Which made
Grohl’s participation in the record all
the more meaningful.
“Dave was very sweet about what
I was doing,” he says. “He said: ‘Dude,
this is some genuinely creative,
awesome shit that you’re doing.’ In the
Foo Fighters we don’t sit around giving
each other hand jobs, but here’s the guy
who’s taught me half of everything
I know about recording music and how
to be in a band and stuff, and he gave
me the thumbs-up. That was amazing.”Looking back on a career that once saw him
sharing an apartment in Venice with three other
musicians, unable to find a gig, Hawkins first
draws a reflective deep breath, and then speaks
softly for the first time all afternoon.
“Fame, and those things you think are going to
change you and finally complete you into this
person you imagined David Bowie to be or Roger
Taylor to be or Steward Copeland or Alex Van
Halen... You think you’re going to feel differentafter. You think you’re going to find the hole in
your soul being filled. But it’s not. You’re still the
same person.”
Hawkins embodies this truth. He has played for
millions of adoring fans, he’s notched a boatload of
accolades, and he counts among his closest friends
some of the brightest luminaries in music. So what
does he feel remains for him to accomplish?
“As far as the Foo Fighters are concerned,” he
replies, “to continue being a good live rock band.”
He pauses and then continues: “Being a dad.
Raising my kids, doing what I do... There’s a lot
of pitfalls and mazes and things that I have to walk
through with my kids to make sure they’re not
entitled assholes and to make sure that they know
the value of earning a buck, all while we go flying
around on private jets with the Foo Fighters.
That’s my main goal now – getting my
kids from this point to adulthood,
not fucked up.”
He’s taking his wife to see Joker
tonight, and says he needs to throw on
a pair of pants, “so I don’t look like a
total fucking loser, ha ha”. But before
I leave he gives me a couple of bro hugs
then walks me to the door. One more
hug, then I’m out into the cool autumn
night and into the car. Looking back,
I see him through the large window, his
little dog Francisco nipping at his heels
as gets ready for date night – just an
ordinary, average guy living an
extraordinary life.Get The Money (reviewed on p84) is
out now via Shanabelle/Columbia.MA
IN:
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TTY
“Dave Grohl said: ‘Dude, this is some genuinely
creative, awesome shit that you’re doing...’
That was amazing.”
Trappings of success: Hawkins at
home, surrounded by some of his
large collection of guitars and basses.
From drum stool
to frontman has
been a relatively
easy transition.
74 CLASSICROCKMAGAZINE.COM
TAYLOR HAWKINS