Tributes pour in for Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins who has died aged 50

Tributes have poured in for the long-time Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins after the confirmation of his death at age 50.

The rock band said it was devastated by the "untimely loss” and asked for the privacy of his family to be respected.

“The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,” the band’s official account tweeted. “His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever."

At the time of Hawkins' passing, the group were on tour in South America, with the band due to perform in Bogota, Colombia, on Friday night – the day his death was announced.

He was discovered in his hotel room in Colombia.

Musicians have been among those to take to social media to pay their respects.

Ozzy Osbourne, who rose to fame in rock band Black Sabbath, praised Taylor Hawkins as a “great person and an amazing musician,” and promised to “see him on the other side.”

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr also expressed his condolences for Hawkins’ family and bandmates. “God bless Taylor,” he wrote. “Peace and love to all his family and the band peace and love.”

Liam Gallagher, former frontman of rock band Oasis said he was “devastated to hear the sad news” alongside rock band Biffy Clyro who tweeted their condolences.

Adding to the tributes, Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello praised Hawkins’ “unstoppable rock power” in a tweet. “God bless you Taylor Hawkins,” he said, sharing a picture of them together.

Members of rock band Nickelback said they were in “utter disbelief” at the news, as they expressed their condolences to the drummer's family, friends and bandmates.

“This is so incredibly sad," the band tweeted.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor, meanwhile, compared Hawkins death to “losing a younger favourite brother”.

“He was a kind brilliant man and an inspirational mentor to my son Rufus and the best friend one could ever have. Devastated,” he said.

Hawkins starred in The Foo Fighters alongside singer Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee.

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The band were scheduled to perform at the Grammys on April 3 and were due to begin a new tour of North America in May.

Hawkins, who joined The Foo Fighters in 1997, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with them in 2021 by Sir Paul McCartney.