Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has died, according to the band’s rep. No cause of death or further details were immediately announced, although a rep says the band was preparing to perform in Bogota, Colombia on Friday night at the time of his death. He was 50.

What I remember about Taylor when I met him at the VH1 Honors Awards was he was so happy and always joking around with the rest of the guys. A very sweet and positive person. This is really a shock.

Hawkins, who joined the band in 1997 after two years as Alanis Morissette’s drummer, was a key element of the Foo Fighters’ sound and image. An imaginative and rock-solid drummer, he had the seemingly thankless task of playing drums behind Foos singer-guitarist Dave Grohl, who is one of the greatest drummers in rock history. Hawkins filled that role with aplomb, bringing his own hard-hitting, time-juggling style to the band’s straight-ahead rock sound without trying to emulate Grohl. He was also a strong singer and frequently took the mic during the band’s concerts and on B-sides, often on cover versions (such as a 2008 team-up with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, when Grohl went behind the drum kit at Hawkins took the mic). He also cowrote many of the band’s songs.

With Dave Grohl being the monster drummer he is after Nirvana. The world was wondering who would be the drummer in Dave’s new band (Foo Fighters) Taylor filled that spot with energy, stamina, showmanship, style and power.

RIP Taylor, We will miss you.

Sally Steele