Taylor Hawkins started drumming at age 10 and played for a few cover bands before joining a short-lived experimental band called Sylvia, which had been fronted by Riz Story of Anyone. After drumming around L.A. with Sylvia, he quit to be part of Canadian Sass Jordan's touring band. received word that Alanis Morisette's tour band, Sexual Chocolate were in need of a drummer. Hawkins auditioned and scored the gig.

Taylor toured with Morisette for 18 months before joining the Foo Fighters shortly after the recording of The Colour and The Shape in 1997, later stating that he simply "wanted to be in a band." Hawkins had immediate impact. For 1999's album release, There Is Nothing Left To Lose, both he and bassist Nate Mendel earned themselves songwriting credit. By this stage, he was leading a crazy lifestyle, which by his own admission was a "stupid rock 'n' roll idiot thing". His insane lifestyle lead to Hawkins overdosing on painkillers in 2001 and almost dying.

Since then he has been clean, doing all the drumming on the latest album One by One. Hawkins relationship with Dave Grohl is a close one; he sees the frontman not only as a bandmate but as a mentor and best friend. Considered in some circles as one of best and hardest hitting modern days drummers he also sings lead vocals on a number of the bands B-side covers including Have a Cigar and I Feel Free. Not only has Hawkins played on stage with the likes of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and his heroes Queen, he has his own band, Coattail Riders.