DAVE GROHL

It's safe to say that Dave Grohl learned more about leading a band--both what to do and what to avoid--during his time working with Kurt Cobain in Nirvana.  While many consider Grohl one of the finest drummers of his generation, the Foo Fighters continue to dominate the airwaves and dazzle sold-out stadium crowds across the globe, in large part due to the drumming of TAYLOR HAWKINS.  

Since he joined the Foo Fighters in 1997, fresh off a gig as Alanis Morissette's touring drummer, Hawkins has incrementally assumed more responsibility in the band, rising to the role of lead Grohl confidant, collaborator, and rough demo co-pilot.   Together, they routinely meet to assemble the skeletal structures of new music prior to the rest of the band arriving to flesh out finite terrain.  Parlaying these experiences, Hawkins has blossomed not only as an adventurous drummer but also as a confident band leader of several side projects, in the spirit channeled by Grohl years ago when he laid the foundation of the Foos, in between Nirvana production and performance commitments.    

Have no worry, The Birds of Satan (an off-shoot of Chevy Metal) and, before that, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders aren't diversions from the Foo Fighters, who are riding high on their groundbreaking RockDoc and supporting concept album, Sonic Highways.  These side gigs are passion projects and serve as opportunities to explore new terrain, evolve as an artist, and bring more creative insight to the Foos table when the band reconvenes.  

Hawkins is an amazing drummer who plays with energy, precision, and panache . Growing up in Laguna Beach, CA, Hawkins had ambitions to be one of the best drummers in the world.  Although he's not chasing that title anymore, his body of work speaks for itself.  It turns out, he's also an amazing singer and arranger of songs.  Check out "Pieces of the Puzzle," a song Hawkins wrote, drums on, and sings for The Birds of Satan. He cites Phil Collins (Genesis), Stewart Copeland (The Police), Roger Taylor (Queen), Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction), and Neil Peart (Rush) as his biggest influences.  Interesting company: none of these drummers took a backseat, content to be confined to the throne, for their legendary bands.      ​