UPDATE 5/17/2022 8:30 PM: Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has issued a statement regarding quotes attributed to him in the Rolling Stone feature piece on Taylor Hawkins.
Smith shared the following via his Instagram:
“Taylor was one of my best friends, and I would do anything for his family. I was asked by ‘Rolling Stone’ to share some memories of our time together, which I thought was going to be the loving tribute he deserved. Instead, the story they wrote was sensationalized and misleading and had I known I never would have agreed to participate. I apologize to his family and musical friends for any pain this may have caused. I miss Taylor every day.”
ORIGINAL STORY
Matt Cameron has issued a statement saying his quotes were taken out of context in a recently published feature from Rolling Stone titled Inside Taylor Hawkins’ Final Days as a Foo Fighter.
The over-arching theme of the feature highlighted Hawkins allegedly having concerns about the Foo Fighters' touring schedule and wanting to dial back his time with the band. Cameron was one of 20 people interviewed for the feature. Among the quotes attributed to Cameron were, “[Hawkins] had a heart-to-heart with Dave [Grohl] and, yeah, he told me that he ‘couldn’t f—ing do it anymore’ — those were his words. So I guess they did come to some understanding, but it just seems like the touring schedule got even crazier after that.”
Since the publishing of the feature, the Pearl Jam drummer issued the following statement via his Instagram:
“When I agreed to take part in the ‘Rolling Stone’ article about Taylor, I assumed it would be a celebration of his life and work. My quotes were taken out of context and shaped into a narrative I had never intended. Taylor was a dear friend and a next level artist. I miss him. I have only the deepest love and respect for Taylor, Dave [Grohl] and the Foo Fighters families. I am truly sorry to have taken part in this interview, and I apologize that my participation may have caused harm to those for whom I have only the deepest respect and admiration.”