Taylor Hawkins, the drummer for the Foo Fighters, may have been killed by drugs, police said today, after he collapsed and died in a hotel room at the age of 50.

The band described themselves as “devastated” by the tragedy, which forced them to cancel a gig in Colombia and their South American tour.

Fans gathered outside the Casa Medina hotel north of Bogota on Friday night as a coroner’s ambulance removed his body.

According to local reports, the father-of-two rocker experienced chest pains but was already dead by the time medical personnel arrived.

“The cause of death has yet to be determined,” police in Bogota said today.

“According to those close to him, his death could have been caused by drug use.”

His bandmates – Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, and Rami Jaffee – announced the shocking news on Twitter last night.

According to the band: “Taylor Hawkins’ tragic and untimely death has devastated the Foo Fighters family.

“His musical spirit and contagious laughter will live on in all of us for the rest of our lives.

“Our hearts go out to his wife, children, and family, and we respectfully request that their privacy be respected during this unbearably difficult time.”

The Foo Fighters statement did not specify how he died, but concert promoters stated that he died as a result of “a very serious medical situation.”

Today, fellow rock legends were in mourning.

“@TaylorHawkins was truly a great person and an amazing musician,” Ozzy Osbourne tweeted.

“My heart, love, and condolences go out to his wife, children, family, band, and fans.” “I’ll see you on the other side, Ozzy.”

Billy Idol posted a photo of Taylor and wrote, heartbroken, “So tragic.” Taylor, rest in peace.”

Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine captioned a photo of himself with a friend: “Taylor Hawkins, may God bless you.

“I admired your spirit as well as your unstoppable rock power. My friend, may you rest in peace.”

Taylor and the band’s fans expressed their sorrow on social media.

One person wrote: “This has devastated us. Our thoughts are with his family and the Foo brothers.”

Another person stated: “Taylor Hawkins’ death has left us in utter shock and disbelief. I’ve always had a lot of respect for him.

“Amazing drummer and a real gem of a guy who was always a pleasure to be around. I’m devastated…my heartfelt condolences to his bandmates and family.”

The Picnic Stereo Fest, a major music festival in Bogota, had previously announced that the Foo Fighters would be unable to perform.

“It is with a broken heart that we come to tell you some very sad news,” it tweeted.

“Foo Fighters will not be able to perform tonight and have cancelled the remainder of their South American tour due to a very serious medical situation.”

‘Live fast die young’

Taylor previously opened up about his drug problems, revealing that he overdosed on heroin in 2001.

In 2018, he stated: “I was having a lot of fun. I wasn’t a junkie in the traditional sense, but I was a party animal. There was a year when the partying got a little out of hand.

“On some level, thank God, this guy gave me the wrong line with the wrong thing one night, and I woke up thinking, ‘What the f**k happened?’ That was a watershed moment for me.”

In an interview with Kerrang last year, he said, “I used to do a lot of f***ing drugs.” You complete the task.”

“I bought into the myth that if you live hard and fast, you will die young.

“I’m not here to preach against drugs because I used to enjoy them, but I got out of control for a while and it almost killed me.

“I was on a path that would take me to even worse places. Everyone has their own path, whether they’re sober, like a glass of wine with dinner, want a bottle of Jägermeister before going onstage, or like to smoke doobies all day long, and I went too far.

“It’s a good thing it got hit on the head at that point. I wouldn’t take anything away from what I’ve done or been through, because it’s all part of who I am.

Icon’s legacy

Taylor only recently announced new music.

His most recent Instagram post featured a video teasing a new single by Navarro Hawkins Chaney, a trio Hawkins formed with Dave Navarro and Chris Chaney.

“I see we’re back to our old games,” says the video text. “Remove the dead whore from the closet.”

Taylor joined the Foo Fighters in 1997, after the band’s original drummer, William Goldsmith, left the band.

During his career, he also played the drums with a number of other well-known musicians.

He toured with Alanis Morisette during the height of her career in the 1990s.

Later, he expressed gratitude to her for his “big break,” adding, “I’d be delivering pizza if it wasn’t for her.”

Taylor made an appearance in an episode of HBO’s Music Box based on the Ironic songstress, recalling his time in her band.

Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders began as a side project while still in the band.

The musician is survived by his wife, Alison Hawkins, and their three children, Oliver, 16, Annabelle, 13, and Everleigh, 8.