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Few young musicians face the spotlight as early as Taylor Hawkins’ son, Shane Hawkins, did. Shane Hawkins has followed his father’s path as a drummer and taken over duties in Chevy Metal, the band Taylor co-founded. His powerful performances with Chevy Metal and the Foo Fighters quickly caught the attention of rock fans worldwide. Could Shane be writing the next chapter of the Hawkins family legacy?
Shane Hawkins performs live on stage during BottleRock at Napa Valley Expo in Napa, California. Photo: Jim Bennett (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images TABLE OF CONTENTS Key takeaways Shane Hawkins’ profile summary Who is Taylor Hawkins’ son, Shane Hawkins? A look into Shane Hawkins’ drumming journey The Wembley moment that stunned the world Joining the Foo Fighters onstage in London Shane Hawkins’ role in Chevy Metal Is Shane Hawkins joining the Foo Fighters? What does Oliver Shane Hawkins do beyond music? FAQs Wrapping up Key takeaways Shane Hawkins is the eldest son of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins and inherited his father’s passion for drumming from an early age. His performance of “My Hero” at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium in September 2022 earned him Drumeo’s Performance of the Year award. Shane became the drummer for Chevy Metal after Taylor Hawkins’ death, helping preserve the cover band his father co-founded in the early 2000s. Despite speculation following Josh Freese’s departure, Shane did not join the Foo Fighters; the band instead appointed Ilan Rubin as its drummer in 2025. Shane Hawkins’ profile summary Full name
Oliver Shane Hawkins
Gender
Male
Date of birth
4 August 2006
Age
19 (as of May 2026)
Zodiac sign
Leo
Place of birth
Seattle, Washington, USA
Current residence
Hidden Hills, California, USA
Nationality
American
Ethnicity
Mixed
Religion
Christianity
Height in inches
5’4”
Height in centimetres
163
Weight in pounds
121
Weight in kilograms
55
Hair colour
Blonde
Eye colour
Dark brown
Father
Taylor Hawkins
Mother
Alison Hawkins
Siblings
2
Marital status
Single
Occupation
Musician, drummer, model
Oliver Shane Hawkins is the eldest child of the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. His parents, Taylor and Alison Hawkins, married in 2005 and welcomed Shane in August 2006.
Shane grew up alongside his younger sisters, Annabelle, born in May 2009, and Everleigh, born in November 2014.
Music played a central role in Shane’s upbringing. He regularly attended Foo Fighters events and spent time in recording studios where his father worked. That early exposure to one of rock music’s most respected drummers helped shape his technique, instincts, and passion for drumming.
Quick facts about Shane Hawkins. Photo: @FooziesFooNews on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: Original In 2018, Taylor Hawkins invited his then 11-year-old son onto the stage during a Chevy Metal performance. Addressing Shane in front of the audience, Hawkins said:
Shane, come on up here. This is going to be your band someday. Few anticipated how significant those words would later become. Following Taylor Hawkins’ death on 25 March 2022, the light-hearted remark took on a much deeper meaning.
A look into Shane Hawkins’ drumming journey Shane began playing drums at a young age, and his father ensured he learned from real-world experiences. Taylor introduced him to Chevy Metal audiences in 2018, giving him an early taste of live performance.
In December 2018, the American drummer joined Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl at a Chevy Metal fundraiser for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. During the event, he performed “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones alongside his father and the Foo Fighters frontman.
Shane Hawkins, watching and admiring his father, Taylor Hawkins, performing on stage. Photo: @GrungeRock90s on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC Before stepping onto larger stages, Shane performed regularly with Chevy Metal. Those smaller club shows helped him gain confidence and prepare for the high-profile opportunities that followed.
The Wembley moment that stunned the world On 3 September 2022, thousands gathered at Wembley Stadium in London for the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert. The event featured numerous music legends, including Liam Gallagher, Brian May and Roger Taylor.
Before Shane took his place behind the drum kit, Dave Grohl addressed the crowd. As documented by iHeart Radio, Grohl said:
Now, we’ve got the little guy. Let me tell you, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone hit the drums as hard as this person. But beyond that, he’s a member of our family and he needs to be here tonight with all of us, and I think it makes sense that he’s going to come up and play with us tonight. Shane then delivered a powerful performance of “My Hero”, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.
Among those watching was Stewart Copeland, who had seen Shane during rehearsals. Speaking to CBS Mornings, Copeland recalled:
I started crying. He’s got such power, enthusiasm. He’s got his father’s stance, musical language. That was really emotional to see young Shane up there. The performance later earned Shane Drumeo’s 2022 Performance of the Year award. Regarding the performance, Drumeo noted:
16-year-old Shane Hawkins did just that, pouring his heart and soul into a live performance of ‘My Hero’ at a tribute concert dedicated to his late father and Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins. It touched millions of people and showed how much love, energy, and spirit can come out on the drum kit. The recognition placed Shane alongside notable drummers such as Chad Smith and Jay Weinberg.
Joining the Foo Fighters onstage in London Shane Hawkins delivers a performance on the drums for Chevy Metal during the Lexus US Open. Photo: @FooziesFooNews on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC Nearly two years later, Shane reunited with the Foo Fighters during their 20 June 2024 concert at London Stadium. Before launching into I’ll Stick Around, Dave Grohl welcomed him onstage, saying:
Thank you for waiting three hours to come play drums with us. Shane joined the band during the encore after Grohl had dedicated Aurora to the Hawkins family earlier in the evening.
Unlike Wembley, which centred on tribute and remembrance, the London performance showcased Shane as a confident drummer performing alongside one of rock’s biggest bands during a standard tour date. Shane also performed “I’ll Stick Around” with the Foo Fighters at Boston Calling in May 2023.
Shane Hawkins’ role in Chevy Metal Chevy Metal began in the early 2000s as a side project for Taylor Hawkins and his Foo Fighters drum technician, Wiley Hodgden. Guitarist Brent Woods later joined the group.
Taylor’s death in 2022 initially raised doubts about the band’s future. Memorial performances in London and California appeared to mark the end of Chevy Metal. Instead, Shane stepped into his father’s role behind the drums.
The current lineup consists of Wiley Hodgden on bass, Brent Woods on guitar, and Shane Hawkins on drums. Speaking to Blabbermouth, Shane said:
It’s been so awesome playing with Wiley and Brent in Chevy Metal and keeping my dad’s legacy alive. It’s also super cool to cover songs from these legendary bands whose songs we perform. I can’t wait for our first tour. I’m really excited to bring my own vibe to the music. Is Shane Hawkins joining the Foo Fighters? Speculation intensified after the Foo Fighters parted ways with Josh Freese in May 2025. Many fans wondered whether Shane could become the band’s next drummer, especially after several acclaimed performances with the group.
Online discussions gained momentum, while social media activity added to the rumours. Shane eventually addressed the speculation indirectly when promoting Chevy Metal’s 2025 tour. On Instagram, he wrote:
@chevy_metal gunna be a blast The announcement indicated that his primary focus remained with Chevy Metal. The Foo Fighters later appointed Ilan Rubin as their drummer. Dave Grohl confirmed the decision during the band’s September 2025 show in San Luis Obispo, California.
Shane Hawkins performing on a drum set at The Dead Famous music venue and lounge. Photo: @FooziesFooNews on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC According to People, Grohl told the audience:
Everybody else has said it. I finally get the opportunity to say, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome… Ilan Rubin, is playing drums in the Foo Fighters. It’s official.’ Rubin’s appointment effectively ended speculation about Shane joining the band.
What does Oliver Shane Hawkins do beyond music? Shane has expanded his profile beyond drumming. On 28 September 2024, he made his runway debut during the Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show in Paris.
He has also appeared in publications such as US Weekly and Spin magazine. Rather than relying solely on his father’s reputation, Shane continues to build his own career through music, fashion, and live performance.
FAQs Who is Taylor Hawkins’ son? Taylor Hawkins’ son is Oliver Shane Hawkins. How old is Shane Hawkins? The American musician is 19 years old as of May 2026. Does Taylor Hawkins’ son play drums? Taylor Hawkins’ son, Shane Hawkins, is a drummer who performs with Chevy Metal. Is Shane Hawkins in a band? He serves as the drummer for Chevy Metal alongside Wiley Hodgden and Brent Woods. Is Shane Hawkins the new Foo Fighters drummer? The Foo Fighters appointed Ilan Rubin as their drummer after Josh Freese’s departure in 2025. Did Shane Hawkins win any awards for drumming? He won Drumeo’s 2022 Performance of the Year award for his performance of “My Hero”. When did Shane Hawkins first perform publicly with a band? Shane first performed publicly in December 2018 when he joined Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl at a Chevy Metal fundraise
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