London CNN —
The Foo Fighters will continue as a band following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins last year, although it will be a “different” group, they have said.
In a statement posted to Instagram over the weekend, the rock band called 2022 “the most difficult and tragic year” they’ve known.
They said they were grateful for “the people we love and cherish most and for the loved ones who are no longer with us.”
“(We) were formed 27 years ago to represent the healing power of music and a continuation of life,” the band wrote, adding that fans had “built a worldwide community, a devoted support system that helped us all.” has to get through the darkness of time together.”
Hawkins died last March at the age of 50 while on tour in Colombia. Back then the Foo Fighters tweeted “His musical spirit and infectious laugh will live on in all of us forever.”
In this latest post, they paid tribute to their former drummer, saying, “Without Taylor, we would never have been the band we were – and without Taylor, we know we’ll be a different band in the future.”
“He will be with all of us in spirit every night,” they added.
Hawkins played drums for Alanis Morissette before joining the Foo Fighters in 1997, three years after frontman Dave Grohl formed the group.
In September, six months after his death, the Foo Fighters played at London’s Wembley Stadium in a star-studded celebration of Hawkins. Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher and Brian May were among the biggest names in music to perform at the concert.
When it came to the band’s performance, Hawkins’ son Oliver Shane Hawkins, who was 16, joined them and picked up the drumsticks for a rendition of their song “My Hero.”
The Foo Fighters held a second tribute in Los Angeles later that month.