Foo Fighters sure know how to spice up their show with some very special guests! One night in New Orleans, the band invited Rufus Tiger Taylor, the son of Queen drummer Roger Taylor, up to jam with the band on “Under Pressure.” This surprise appearance was made even more special, as Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins took the mic and sang the lead vocals on the Queen tune, and if you didn’t know, the sticksman can really sing!
Of course, it’s a big ask to sing Freddie Mercury’s vocal parts, and Hawkins showed some impressive range when tackling the vocals to “Under Pressure.” The late Hawkins was Rufus’s godfather, as well as the world’s biggest Queen fan, so you know the performance meant a lot to him. Just like his dad, Rufus is a beast on the drums, which will come as no surprise if you’ve seen him tour with Queen and Adam Lambert.
Watch the video down below and don’t forget to share this beautiful song with your friends and family…
Foo Fighters welcomed Rufus onstage at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on October 28, 2017. The whole performance had a fun vibe to it, kind of like a bunch of kids having a laugh while the teacher was out of the classroom. Hawkins has quite the vibe as a frontman too, and he’s definitely a natural performer who really took the role like a duck to water. Foo Fighters’ live take on “Under Pressure” with Rufus was quite the hit on YouTube, where it attracted 4.8 million views.
Fans loved seeing Rufus sit in, and added comments such as “Roger Taylor is one of the best drummers in the world and to see his son up there doing the song he did was awesome. Rufus was brilliant” and “Foo Fighters: down-to-earth yet talented musicians. Love them. Having the son of Roger Taylor on drums is a seller.” Another performance that is dear to the heart of fans is when Hawkins’s son Shane Hawkins performed “My Hero” live with Foo Fighters at the tribute concert for his late father.
Taylor Hawkins has made no secret about his love for Queen, and he frequently geeked out about the legendary English rock band in interviews. He’s often said that Queen is not only his favorite band but also the greatest band of all time.
It won’t surprise The Music Man readers to know that Hawkins has frequently named Queen’s Roger Taylor as his main idol as a drummer and told NME in 2016 that the band’s song “Keep Yourself Alive” inspired him to become a drummer.
The American drummer told Rhythm magazine in 2003 that “Under Pressure” held a special place in his heart. “The drumming is not the main part of the show here, but this is my favorite Queen track ever,” he said. “It’s such a cool, deep song, and it’s one of Roger’s favorites too. It’s got a great dancey, pulsey groove, and it’s a very simple drum track with some great fills.”
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