Jimmy Page remembers Taylor Hawkins and that live with the Foo Fighters

In 2008 the Foo Fighters wrote one of the most important pages of their career by holding two concerts on 6 and 7 June of that year at Wembley Stadium in London. The second of the two dates at the historic London stadium also marked one of the most memorable moments for Dave Grohl's band, who on that occasion invited Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones on stage as guests to play together two classics from the Led Zeppelin repertoire .

Sixteen years after those concerts, the guitarist of the legendary British group recalled on social media the live collaboration with the group of Kurt Cobain's former friend and paid homage to the Foo Fighters drummer, who passed away on March 25, 2022.

During the second date at Wembley Stadium in London, shortly before the end of the show entrusted to their beloved “Best of you”, the Foo Fighters played “Rock and roll” and “Ramble on” by Led Zeppelin together with Page and Jones. For the first of the two covers, the microphone was entrusted to the drummer of the “Everlong” band, while Dave Grohl took his place behind the drums. Subsequently, for the second Zeppelin song, Foo Fighters frontman and drummer returned to their original positions.

On Instagram, the Led Zeppelin guitarist recalled how he was asked to play with Grohl and co after he returned to the stage with Robert Plant and John Paul Jones at London's O2 Arena for a one-off concert in tribute to the late Atlantic Records president Ahmet Ertegun.

“On this day in 2008 I performed at Wembley Stadium with the Foo Fighters,” Page wrote on Instagram: “⁣I was asked to play with them after the Led Zeppelin show at the O2, which Dave Grohl attended John Paul Jones and I played 'Ramble On' and Dave sang with Taylor Hawkins on drums. Then Taylor swapped drums with Dave and he sang 'Rock and Roll'.” ⁣In the message, accompanied by a photograph of him together with Taylor Hawkins, the guitarist then remembered the late Foo Fighters drummer and reads:
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“I had seen and heard Taylor playing the drums many times – he shone with his powerful role in the band – and together we made these two songs. It was very nice to play with him. I really admired him and he was a brilliant musician: his technique, his energy and lively enthusiasm. Rest in peace, Taylor.”

In memory of Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters held two tribute concerts, one in September 2022 at Wembley (here is our story from London), which featured the participation of – among others – John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, who with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme brought Them Crooked Vultures back to life for the occasion, and another show in Los Angeles.

Following the passing of Hawkins and the two live shows in his honour, Grohl and his companions released the album “But here we are” in June 2023 and at the same time they also returned to play in Europe for two dates (here is our story from Rock am Ring in Germany). The Foo Fighters, back on tour with Josh Freese as their new drummer, have so far announced a series of concerts of the “Everything or nothing at all” tour for the next few months in America, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe, however, no dates have been confirmed in Italy at the moment.