Some of the biggest names in music will come together this weekend for the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert.
The late Foo Fighters drummer, who tragically died in March this year, will be remembered in true rock and roll style – with a night of live music.
The all-star concerts have been organised by Hawkins’ bandmates, including frontman Dave Grohl, as well as his bereaved family.
Two shows are set to take place – one at London’s Wembley Arena, and another in Los Angeles.
Famous faces taking to the stage to honour the rock legend will include Liam Gallagher, Brian May, Mark Ronson and Supergrass, to name a few.
The Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts will start this week. Credit: Facebook, Taylor Hawkins
The Foo Fighters themselves will also be performing on what’s set to be an emotional night.
The band cancelled all tour dates, including a date in Manchester, in the wake of Hawkins’ death, so this weekend will be a rare chance to see them perform again.
Here’s how you can watch the show from Manchester.
How to watch the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert
Although the actual gig is taking place down in London, Foo Fighters and the Hawkins family have arranged for it to be live-streamed across the planet.
The gig will begin at 4.30pm on Saturday 3 September.
You’ll be able to watch it live through the MTV YouTube channel below when the concert starts.
MTV will also air a one-hour special across its channels around the world starting on Sunday 4 September.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOnjLuBBkhU
Who’s headlining?
As one of the most famous and respected musicians in the industry, Taylor Hawkins and his Foo Fighters bandmates aren’t short of famous friends wanting to pay their respects.
It’s led to a bumper bill of rock royalty, who will perform alongside Foo Fighters at Wembley.
In alphabetical order, this is who you’ll see on stage on Saturday.
Travis Barker (Blink-182)
Nandi Bushell
Martin Chambers (The Pretenders)
Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction)
Chevy Metal
Stewart Copeland (The Police)
Josh Freese
Liam Gallagher
Violet Grohl
Omar Hakim
Justin Hawkins (The Darkness)
Shane Hawkins
Joshua Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age)
Chrissie Hynde
James Gang
Alain Johannes
Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
Kesha
Greg Kurstin
Geddy Lee (Rush)
Alex Lifeson (Rush)
Brian May (Queen)
Krist Novoselic (Nirvana)
Nile Rodgers
Mark Ronson
Luke Spiller (The Struts)
Supergrass
Roger Taylor (Queen)
Rufus Taylor (The Darkness)
Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
Wolfgang Van Halen
Plus a special guest appearance from Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock
The gigs have been created to raise money for Music Support and MusiCares, as well as to honour the late Taylor Hawkins.
Music Support is a charity that provides help and support for those who work in music and live events affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction.
MusiCares’ website states that they ‘help the humans behind music because music gives so much to this world’.
The charity provides critical health and welfare services to the music community in three key areas: mental health and addiction recovery services, health services and human services.
All merchandise sold will also benefit the two charities.
What Taylor Hawkins’ loved ones say
Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl with the Foo Fighters. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
A statement from Foo Fighters said: “As one of the most respected and beloved figures in modern music, Taylor’s monolithic talent and magnetic personality endeared him to millions of fans, peers, friends and fellow musical legends the world over.
“Millions mourned his untimely passing on March 25, with passionate and sincere tributes coming from fans as well as musicians Taylor idolized.
“The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts will unite several of those artists, the Hawkins family and of course his Foo Fighters brothers in celebration of Taylor’s memory and his legacy as a global rock icon.”
A statement from the Hawkins family said: “As Taylor’s wife, and on behalf of our children, I want to share how much you meant to him and how dedicated he was to ‘knocking your socks off’ during every performance.
“Taylor was honored to be a part of the Foo Fighters and valued his dream role in the band every minute of his 25 years with them. We consider every band member and the extended Foo Fighters team our family.
“Taylor’s endearing spirit and deep love of music will live on forever through the collaborations he so enjoyed having with other musicians and the catalog of songs he contributed to and created.
“In celebration of his life, it is now up to all of us who loved him most to honor Taylor’s legacy and the music he gave us.
“Thank you all again for your love and sympathy. Taylor loved all of you & we love you too. With gratitude, Alison Hawkins.”
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
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Beloved British boy band Five are BACK in FULL for the first time in 25 years
Danny Jones
No, your eyes don’t deceive you: all five members of the beloved British boy band Five are set to reunite for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Formed way back in 1997 and dominating the charts throughout the period in and around the millennium, the iconic pop group was the UK’s answer to the Backstreet Boys and NSNYC, as well as a much-needed replacement for Take That just after their split.
And they did exactly that for a number of years, with hit tracks like ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Keep On Movin”, ‘Everybody Get Up’, ‘If Ya Gettin’ Down’ and more still firmly stuck in our memories.
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, we still remember all the words and the dance moves to go along with them – and we’ll be able to prove it when the Five UK reunion tour comes to Manchester.
Although the London-formed group has reformed every now and again in different configurations over the years for special occasions, anniversary events, etc., this is the first time that the original lineup has been together for 25 whole years.
That’s right, Abz Love, J Brown, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon will all be reuniting on stage for a limited UK arena tour – because anything less simply wouldn’t be enough to mark this throwback celebration.
More importantly, if you don’t think every single one of these massive rooms is going to sell out in a flash, then you clearly can’t count to five.
As for the Manchester crowd, fans will be welcomed inside the equally legendary AO Arena for the ‘KEEP ON MOVIN’ 2025’ Tour later this year and we can’t wait.
Fellow domestic DJ and producer Naughty Boy will also be joining them as the main support act. We’re rolling back all the memories this autumn.
You can see the rest of the tour dates below, including equally massive shows at The O2 in London, the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, a First Direct Arena date in Leeds and more.
We really can't wait to get back on stage together and see you all in person, it's gonna go OFF!! Let's goooooo! International fans, make sure to sign up there so we know where in the world you are too 👀
Scott says: “This has been a long time coming and it really does feel right for all of us now – 25 years on and we’re so ready for it. Reconnecting as a 5 over the last year has been special and I know I speak for all the boys when I say we can’t wait to do this all over again. Hope you’re ready!”
Another fifth of the throwback boy band, Abz, added: “We really can’t wait to get back on stage together & see the fans, it’s gonna go OFF! Buzzing to have Naughty Boy on tour with us too… 5 bad boys and a naughty boy, that sounds like a lot of fun. Let’s gooooo!”
General admission for Five’s 2025 UK reunion tour goes live on Friday, 7 March from 10am but die-hards can access the exclusive pre-sale window on Wednesday, 5 March by signing up for the mailing list.
2000s indie rock icons The Enemy continue comeback trail with must-not-miss UK tour
Danny Jones
For fans of old-school indie and noughties contemporary rock, you do not want to miss the one because The Enemy are not just back making music but they’re heading out on a pretty big UK tour and, of course, they’ll be stopping right here in Manchester.
The Enemy first reformed back in 2022 for a limited run of shows, but it turns out the Coventry-formed trio were satisfied with a one-off reunion and a fifth studio album officially being worked on, the fierce Brit rock throwbacks have announced a series of pretty large UK tour dates.
Following on from some hugely successful comeback performances at TRNSMT, Isle Of Wightand a headline slot at Godiva Festival 2023, not to mention the instantly hit ‘Indie Til I Die’ shows last year – including an absolute stormer at Victoria Warehouse – they returning for more.
One of the few bands to make their way back to the live music circuit fully intact, with all three members still performing together, nothing has changed other than a few more grey hairs.
If you weren’t there at the outset, The Enemy’s debut LP We’ll Live And Die In These Towns (2007) was one of the most seminal domestic releases of its time, with songs like ‘You’re Not Alone’ going on to become indie anthems of the era.
To be honest, we’d argue their sophomore outing Music For The People just two years later is the better album, with tracks such as ‘Be Somebody’, ‘Elephant Song’ and ‘No Time for Tears’ still in plenty of our playlists to this day – but, you know, each to their own.
The point is, we’re very glad these lads are back and having played with everyone from Oasis and The Killers to even The Rolling Stones, we’d wager lots of other music lovers are too.
Set to play New Century Hall in Manchester as well as the legendary Leadmill in Sheffield, Beckett Students’ Union in Leeds, Rock City in Nottingham and more, it’s going to be a big tour.
We're absolutely buzzing to be back on tour & in some of our all time favourite venues.
We'll be trying out new material for the first time in years ahead of the new album we're making, we're all really excited to try some new tunes and see what you think whilst we finish it!
Frontman Tom Clarke, who has put out two solo records of his own in past years, said of the announcement: “We’ve been working long days in the studio recording new material, so we’re really excited to get out on the road again.
“The plan is to experiment with some of the new tunes, maybe different ones on different shows to see how the crowds react and which ones connect with fans, and let that guide the track listing on the record which is nearing completion.”
Co-songwriter and bass player, Andy Hopkins, added: talking about the upcoming tour: “My favourite part of being in a band is having those nights with the fans where the atmosphere is electric – I think this tour is going to be really special for the 3 of us.
“It’ll be the first time we’ve been back to some of these cities in a long time, in venues we absolutely love and have been really important to us on the way up – Electric Ballroom was the first venue we ever played in London supporting The Fratellis, I drove us there with all the amps & guitars in my Fiesta!”
The Enemy come to New Century, one of our favourite live music venues in all of Greater Manchester, on Saturday, 1 November.
Pre-sale has already been snapped up in the blink of an eye, which is no surprise whatsoever, but general admission will go live from 10am this Friday, 28 February.
Daisy Jackson -
1st September 2022 
