Drum circle on the beach honors Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters drummer and SoCal native

The sound of beating drums stuffed the salty night air, the rhythmic crashing of waves including to the beachside memorial below gloomy skies.

Mourners gathered on Thursday, March 31, at Aliso Seashore to pay tribute to Laguna Seashore native Taylor Hawkins, the native musician who rose to fame as drummer for the Foo Fighters.

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  Mike Pittman performs guitar throughout a drum circle to honor the late Taylor Hawkins at Aliso Creek State Seashore in Laguna Seashore on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Picture by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

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  Followers of the late Taylor Hawkins depart him messages throughout a memorial drum circle at Aliso Creek State Seashore hosted by KX FM radio in Laguna Seashore on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Picture by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

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  From left, Russ McKelvey and Jojo Quinn take part in a drum circle to honor the late Taylor Hawkins at Aliso Creek State Seashore in Laguna Seashore on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Picture by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

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  From left, Michelle Barisoff, Mike Pittman and Mary Wynn take part in a drum circle to honor the late Taylor Hawkins at Aliso Creek State Seashore in Laguna Seashore on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Picture by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

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Hawkins, 50, died on March  25 whereas the Foo Fighters have been on tour in Columbia.

The drum circle tribute, hosted by Laguna Seashore radio station KX FM, was an opportunity for the area people to honor considered one of its personal. They performed music round a bonfire and wrote the drummer messages on a memorial.

When not touring the world play music, Hawkins was ceaselessly seen across the artsy seaside city the place he grew up and acquired an ocean-front residence. The sun-kissed blond surfer might typically be discovered using waves at Thalia Avenue.

“He was simply probably the most real, constructive, respectful individual you would think about,” mentioned James Pribram, who went to Laguna Seashore Excessive Faculty with Hawkins and mentioned the 2 reconnected after the drummer bought a house within the metropolis.

He described Hawkins as a musician who by no means thought-about himself a rock star. “That’s why he was so beloved by many, he resonated with all people.”

Taylor Hawkins with Chevy Metallic performs on the BeachLife Competition at Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Seashore on Saturday, Might 4, 2019.(Picture by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer) 

“He was very all the way down to Earth,” Pribram mentioned, noting Hawkins was the primary to name with condolences after his father’s passing a number of months in the past. “There was nothing about him that mentioned rock star.”

Then a number of months in the past, Pribram mentioned he obtained to see Hawkins carry out reside for the primary time, with a brand new band, NHC, made up of Hawkins and Jane’s Dependancy’s Dave Navarro and Chris Chaney.

“To see him remodel to this individual on stage who simply so got here to life, he was so alive up there,” Pribram recalled. “It was wonderful. He was so gifted and humble and so candy.”

Hawkins will likely be remembered not only for his musical expertise, Pribram mentioned, however for the connections he made at residence in Laguna Seashore and all over the world.

“An amazing man who was loving and sort who simply occurred to be one of the gifted and in style rock stars on this planet.”