Streams of Foo Fighters‘ songs vaulted by 346% following the announcement of the death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins, according to preliminary reports to Luminate, formerly MRC Data.
Foo Fighters’ song catalog earned 8.5 million official U.S. on-demand streams March 26, the day after Hawkins’ died at age 50, and the day that many first heard the news, as word of his passing originally broke late on March 25.
The sum represents a 346% surge from March 25, when the Dave Grohl-fronted act’s catalog accrued 1.9 million song streams.
Leading the way, “Everlong,” from Foo Fighters’ sophomore album, The Colour and the Shape and a No. 3 hit on Billboard‘s Alternative Airplay chart in 1997, earned 960,000 official U.S. streams March 26, up 139% from March 25. Notably, Hawkins does not appear on the studio version of the song, as he joined the group following the album’s recording; however, he appears in the song’s official video.
“My Hero,” another Colour single (and, like “Everlong,” not featuring Hawkins’ drumming on its studio version), follows with 580,000 streams March 26, up 265%. Then comes the first song of the rundown on which Hawkins performed: “The Pretender,” from 2007’s Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, with 532,000 streams, up 227%.
“Best of You,” from 2005’s In Your Honor (517,000 streams, up 267%), and “Learn to Fly,” from 1999’s There Is Nothing Left to Lose (505,000, up 268%), round out the top five.
The band’s digital downloads also gained after Hawkins died. On March 26, the group’s song catalog totaled 6,600 downloads sold, an increase of 1,364%. On March 27, the band sold 4,000 downloads.
“Hero” was the sales frontrunner, posting a two-day count of 1,300 downloads March 26-27, followed by (after rounding off) “Fly,” also at 1,300. “Everlong” followed at 1,000 sold.
As for albums, Foo Fighters’ 10-studio set catalog, as well as a greatest hits package, live album and other releases, grew to 3,000 in album sales March 26, up 904% from March 25. On March 27, the group sold 1,000 copies. The band’s Greatest Hits, released in 2009 (following the release of its sixth LP, Echoes), made up the bulk of the sales, with 2,000 copies sold March 26-27.
Hawkins’ other projects saw gains in streams, as well. On March 26, Taylor Hawkins & the Coattail Riders drew 75,000 official U.S. streams, a 2,993% leap, while NHC, a supergroup that he formed with Dave Navarro and Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction, racked up 25,000 streams March 26, up 1,117%. The Birds of Satan, a band that Hawkins formed with Mick Murphy and Wiley Hodgden, logged 7,000 streams March 26, a jump of 5,960%.
Further impacts for Foo Fighters are expected to show on Billboard charts dated April 9, which will reflect the March 25-31 streaming and sales tracking week.
Hawkins died March 25 while on tour with Foo Fighters in Bogotá, Colombia.
