In June, Foo Fighters announced that they were working with the Hawkins family to organize tribute concerts for the late Taylor Hawkins. Today (August 17), Paramount+ has announced that it is partnering with Foo Fighters and the Hawkins family to bring the first of two tribute events to viewers.
The first concert will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 3. Paramount will broadcast the event live on Paramount+ in the United States, on Pluto TV internationally, and on MTV’s YouTube channels. The concert will also be available on-demand via Paramount+ starting September 3, with streaming options available on Pluto TV and MTV on-demand beginning the week of September 5.
The first event will feature performances from Liam Gallagher, Joshua Homme, Travis Barker, Chrissie Hyde, Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor, Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Supergrass, Mark Ronson, Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, and more. Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Blink-182’s Travis Barker, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, Kesha, and Dave Grohl’s daughter Violet have also been added to the lineup. Proceeds from the September 3 concert will go to two charities chosen by the Hawkins family: Music Support and MusiCares. The London concert will be followed by another tribute concert at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum on September 27.
“Music is a powerful connector and we are honored to commemorate Taylor Hawkins’ enduring legacy,” Paramount CEO Bob Bakish shared in a statement. “From our broad mix of platforms to the universal strength of our brands, Paramount is uniquely positioned to maximize the reach and impact of content worldwide, and we look forward to sharing this meaningful music experience with audiences across every touchpoint.”
Hawkins died in March while on tour with Foo Fighters in Bogotá, Colombia. His official cause of is still pending. He was 50 years old. In the days following his death, Hawkins’ friends Chad Smith (of Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Matt Cameron (of Pearl Jam) discussed his final days. Both friends later apologized for the quotes they gave in an interview.