Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has revealed that the band plans to honor their late friend and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins during their set at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz Fest.
Smith also revealed that they plan to bring Hawkins’ wife, Alison, along to the festival.
Red Hot Chili Peppers were tapped in to replace Foo Fighters at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz Fest.
Foo Fighters were set to headline the festival on Sunday, May 1, but they pulled out of their upcoming tour dates and festival appearances after the death of Hawkins on March 25.
“It’s going to be a celebration,” Smith told Billboard. “That’s what [Alison] wants. She doesn’t want it to be anything other than, ‘Let’s celebrate music, let’s celebrate our friends, let’s celebrate Taylor. This is what he would want and he would be very happy that you guys are playing and he would want it be nothing but a positive experience.'”
“So we’re going to do all that and she’s going to be part of that and I’m very honored that we can do that with her,” he added. “We’re going to play our hearts out.”
RHCP will perform on Sunday, May 1 and it will be the band’s first performance at the event since 2016. The 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is scheduled for April 29 to May 8.
Stevie Nicks, The Who and Willie Nelson will headline on other days. Other performers include The Black Crowes, Jason Isbell, Elvis Costello, Death Cab For Cutie, Norah Jones, Randy Newman and Kool & The Gang among many others.
(Photo: Sven Mandel)
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