Travis Barker invited Taylor Hawkins to collaborate on drumming together shortly before Hawkins’ untimely death.
Travis Barker has reflected on his interactions with the late Taylor Hawkins, the drummer for the Foo Fighters.
Speaking to The LA Times, Barker, who drums for Blink-182, shared that he had recently talked to Hawkins just before his untimely death. Hawkins passed away at the age of 50 in March 2022, discovered in his hotel room shortly before Foo Fighters were scheduled to headline a festival during their South American tour. The cause of death remains undisclosed.
Both residing in the San Fernando Valley, Barker recounted how Hawkins proposed they go mountain biking together. In response, Barker suggested they also collaborate on drumming.
“[Hawkins] was like, ‘I’m not practicing. I’m already as good as I’m ever gonna get,’” Barker recalled. “Like, not f— true. I told him, ‘You’re already a beast, and you’re just gonna keep getting better.’”
To honor Hawkins’ passing, the Foo Fighters arranged a series of tribute concerts in London and LA. Among the attendees paying homage to the late drummer were Barker, Joan Jett, Miley Cyrus, and Liam Gallagher. The recording of the London concert has earned an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special.”
In recent updates, Blink-182 released their latest album ‘One More Time’ in October. NME gave it a three-star rating, noting, “They remain close to their roots – three friends making noise and having a riot. While not revolutionizing pop punk, that may not have been the goal. In 2023, they’re just as enjoyable as ever, likely giving fans the old Blink they crave.”
Barker shared insights into conquering his fear of flying, attributing it to “the power of love.” He credited his partner, saying, “Kourt made it so I fly; my kids fly now. She healed us.” The drummer faced a plane crash in 2008, resulting in four fatalities.
“It brings up all this old trauma, and sometimes I question, ‘Is this worth it?’ But I dislike anything having power over me. I don’t want fear, and I don’t want my past dictating my future.”