Batterie Magazine numéro 195

All the media, even the most generalist ones, talked about it. On September 3rd, after having applauded a bunch of mythical drummers (Omar Hakim, Stewart Copeland, Roger Taylor, Travis Barker, Josh Freese, Lars Ulrich...) who came to say goodbye to Taylor Hawkins on the Wembley stage, the London audience saw a young teenager with an unfamiliar face: "Ladies and gentlemen, we have one more drummer coming to play with us and 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," Dave Grohl explained to the crowd. "He needs to be here tonight with all of us. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. Shane Hawkins on drums." To the cheers of the fans, the 16-year-old son of the Foo Fighters drummer sent out the intro to "My Hero" and its nimble bass drum pattern with impressive power and confidence. The famous refrain "There goes my hero, watch him as he goes" was taken up in chorus by the stadium, completely electrified by this crazy sequence that went viral on social networks. Giving the replica with panache to uncle Dave Grohl, Shane whose mimicry with his father proved to be disturbing, showed a breathtaking professionalism, despite the weight of emotion that, we imagine, must have been immense. A wonderful way to pay tribute to Taylor, who no doubt would have been overwhelmed by a sense of pride.
It's hard not to make a connection with the drummer on the front cover of this issue. Jay Weinberg also inherited the immeasurable talent of his father, Max Weinberg, the legendary drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band, whom he replaced on stage several times at the age of 18, long before he knew he would one day join his favorite band, Slipknot. At 32, Jay is one of the most adored drummers of his generation: his incredible technique, his showmanship and his sharp sense of communication have allowed him to build an army of followers. A phenomenon that reminds us of the wave caused by a certain Joey Jordison, twenty years earlier. The circle is closed.