FOOS HAWKINS ON CHALLENGE OF VOX AND DRUMS

Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins is preparing to tour startin March 8 with his band, The Coattail Riders, but he’s got his work cut out for him. Unlike his main band where Dave Grohl eschewed his drummer’s seat to be a frontman, Hawkins is intent to remain behind the kit while singing the songs.

Aside from Grohl, other notable drummers who have put their sticks away include Godsmack’s Sully Erna and 3 Doors Down’s Brad Arnold. Hawkins said that the Coattail Riders songs work better behind the kit — but he has to practice before hitting the road.

“I did not want to go out front and be frontman guy because a lot of this music is based in playing. I wanted to be a real player in this situation and I want the songs to naturally stretch out a little bit more. Because a lot of the music that I grew up with, Mahavishnu Orchestra and some of the prog-rock corny stuff — Yes and Rush and all that stuff which I love, still, was based in that, and even back to Cream, was based in, not just rock and pop song writing but stretching out musical pieces. It sounds pretentious, but you know…”

Hawkins and The Coattail Riders album is slated for a March 21st release on Thrive Records. The band is currently in rehearsals, but Hawkins also has committed to dates this year with Foo Fighters for their acoustic tour.