Fans wearing Foo Fighters were everywhere on the final day of Lollapalooza Brazil . Sunday the 27th was supposed to end with a two-hour show by the band on the festival's main stage, but the unexpected death of Taylor Hawkins changed all plans.
The event organizers had to deal with the unexpected, but also with a personal loss, since the band had been to the festival several times and everyone who knew Taylor had only good memories, as the tributes paid to the drummer in recent days show .
A tribute show to the musician was organized , with Emicida accepting the role of master of ceremonies for the tribute. On social media, the predominance of rap and hip-hop artists among those confirmed to take the stage displeased some fans, who would have preferred to leave it in the hands of rock artists, without understanding the logistical limitations of the moment.
Tribute to Taylor Hawkins at Lollapalooza Brazil
The Budweiser stage lit up with the message “Taylor Hawkins: 1972 – 2022” at the time Foo Fighters were scheduled to take the stage. The tribute began with an emotional message from Perry Farrell, creator of Lollapalooza, in which he spoke about his friendship with the drummer alongside his wife, Etty Lau Farrell.
“He was one of the most passionate drummers I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” Perry said. “He has a huge piece of my heart that I’ve reserved for him. When we became friends, I accepted him into my heart because he was such a pure guy, so pure of heart.”
Perry's video included photos from her personal archive with Taylor and a video of the two of them playfully singing Queen ." Finally, Etty showed the last voicemail message she received from the drummer before his death: "Take care of each other. And I'll take care of myself. And I'll see you in São Paulo. I love, love, love you. Sleep well," Taylor said in the audio.
Before the show led by Emicida began with a version of “My Hero,” the audience watched a clip from the first Lollapalooza in Brazil, held in 2012, which featured Foo Fighters in the lineup. In the video, Dave Grohl introduces Taylor Hawkins on drums, and the musician interacts with the audience before taking over the vocals for “Cold Day In The Sun” – and the audience at Lolla 2022 reacted as if it were all happening. An amateur recording of the moment shown can be seen here .
Closing show
Emicida began the show with beautiful words about life and how music connects souls, inviting everyone present to demonstrate their appreciation for the artist.
After that, stars of Brazilian rap, hip-hop, hardcore, and rock took to the stage for a party filled with political protests against Jair Bolsonaro. The show featured Drik Barbosa, Bivolt, KL Jay, Ice Blue, DJ Nyack, Criolo, Mano Brown and Ice Blue from Racionais MC's , Djonga , and Rael . Following them, Planet Hemp took the stage.
Rock was represented by Ego Kill Talent , who performed the track "We All" and delivered an emotional rendition of Foo Fighters' "Everlong." The band has already toured with Taylor Hawkins' band and recorded their latest album at Dave Grohl's studio .
To close the night, the audience watched a performance of "Best of You" from the 2012 Lollapalooza edition, as a way to connect with the band and give fans a little of what they needed to express so many feelings.
Without trying to make the night about rock – or even just about the Foo Fighters – the performance focused on the power of music, and each guest did what they knew best, turning a difficult moment into a celebration with the necessary respect, giving the band's fans an opportunity for closure during a difficult time.
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