Thirty years after the Foo Fighters’  debut hit the shelves, the band finds itself at a crossroads between memory and momentum. The moment isn’t just a career milestone, it’s a deeply personal one. While the celebration marks a journey that began with a scrappy self-titled album in 1995, it also carries the unmistakable presence of someone missing: Taylor Hawkins, their longtime drummer and friend, who passed away in 2022.

To mark the occasion, the band dropped a new single titled “Today’s Song.” It’s not just a track, it’s a letter to the past and a hand stretched toward the future. In an emotional message shared with fans, Dave Grohl spoke openly about Hawkins, saying his name still comes up daily. “Sometimes we smile, sometimes we cry: but we always remember,” Grohl wrote. “He’s still with us, in everything we do.”

Echoes From the Start

The first Foo Fighters record was raw and solitary, written and recorded almost entirely by Grohl in the aftermath of Nirvana’s end. It wasn’t supposed to be the start of a band, let alone a legacy. But it was.

Three decades later, “Today’s Song” doesn’t try to recapture the early days. Instead, it feels like an evolution: built on the same emotional core but shaped by years of life, loss, and learning. It’s a song that understands what it means to miss someone and still move forward.

Their 2023 album, But Here We Are, was a direct response to grief. It carried the heaviness of Hawkins’ absence like a wound. This new single feels more like a scar, still tender, but healing.

More Than a Drummer

In the message accompanying the release, Grohl didn’t just focus on the music. He acknowledged the drummers who’ve helped shape the band over the years, from early member William Goldsmith to current drummer Josh Freese. But Hawkins? Hawkins was different.

He joined the band in 1997, and from then on, he brought more than just rhythm. He brought chaos, joy, and soul. His drumming had edge and control in equal measure. He lit up rooms and stages with the same wild spark.

Taylor wasn’t just behind the kit; he was part of the pulse. His chemistry with Grohl was legendary. Offstage, their friendship was genuine and brotherly. Onstage, it was explosive.

The Song Goes On

“Today’s Song” doesn’t try to fill the space Hawkins left behind. Instead, it keeps him in it. The track hums with that familiar energy, fueled by grit, love, and memory. It’s not about trying to move on. It’s about carrying someone with you.