Dave Navarro Opens Up About Lengthy Health Battle and the Death of Taylor Hawkins

While known for his time with Jane’s Addiction, Dave Navarro also took the stage with bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Deconstruction, and the Panic Channel. Some might even know Navarro as the host and judge of Ink Master, which can be streamed on Paramount+. Over the past few years, Navarro helped form another group, NHC. While the musician stayed busy, Navarro took a step away from the spotlight when he battled prolonged health symptoms from the pandemic. And to make it worse, Taylor Hawkins passed away. Working with the drummer, Navarro recently discussed how the musician’s death caused him to struggle when trying to recover.

Speaking with Guitar World, Navarro recalled how Hawkins passed away just a few months after he became ill. “I’d just completed making a record with Taylor Hawkins and Chris Chaney. We mixed and mastered it – and then we lost Taylor. That was in the middle of [2020], and it was actually very painful for me to pick up the guitar after that. … I didn’t pick up the guitar for about a year.”

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Dave Navarro Finds His Way Back To Music

Although many knew Hawkins as a drummer, Navarro insisted the musician’s talent went far beyond the drums. “Not only was he a phenomenal drummer, but he was also an amazing songwriter and lyricist … he was just one of those humans that everybody loved. Everybody loved him.”

While mourning the loss of his friend and fighting his long health battle, Navarro eventually found peace and started to play again. “For the first year after losing Taylor, I didn’t play. …Then, about a year into it, I picked up the guitar, started playing some cover songs, and just kind of got used to the instrument in my hand again.”

Back in March 2022, Hawkins was scheduled to take the stage with the Foo Fighters when he complained about chest pains. Wanting him to get checked out, medical professionals were called in, but when they arrived – they found Hawkins unresponsive. Although performing CPR on the musician, he sadly passed away at just 50 years old. His death caused a shockwave through the music industry with many taking a moment to honor the rockstar.

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