Grunge legend Matt Cameron says Rolling Stone story on Taylor Hawkins' death took his quotes out of context

by Mike Usinger on May 18th, 2022 at 12:34 AM

1 of 1 2 of 1

Pearl Jam drummer and grunge pioneer Matt Cameron has accused Rolling Stone of manipulating his quotes about the death of Taylor Hawkins. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has also suggested that the magazine twisted his words to fit a story titled "Inside Taylor Hawkins’ Final Days as a Foo Fighter".

Hawkins died at his hotel before a Foo Fighters concert near Bogatá, Colombia on March 25 after complaining of chest pains. A forensic report said a toxicology test found 10 substances, including THC, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and opioids in his urine.

The much-loved 50-year-old drummer had been a member of the Foo Fighters ever since Dave Grohl put the band together in the mid-’90s following the end of Nirvana.

In a story titled "Inside Taylor Hawkins’ Final Days as a Foo Fighter", journalists Andy Greene and Kory Grow cast Cameron as someone who was worried that Hawkins’ was headed for tragedy.

In the article Cameron is quoted as saying, “He had a heart-to-heart with Dave [Grohl] and, yeah, he told me that he ‘couldn’t fucking 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.”

He then added: “(A band like that) is a big machine (with) a lot of people on the payroll. So you’ve got to really be cognizant of the business side of something when it’s that big and that has inherent pressure, just like any business.” (Read more here.)

Cameron took to Instagram this afternoon to suggest that Rolling Stone twisted his words to fit a story that it had already decided the direction of.

Titled “My statement”, Cameron’s Instagram post reads:

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 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.”

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith was also quoted in the Rolling Stone article as saying Hawkins told him “I can’t do it like this anymore.”

Smith took to Instagram today with the following: