Paul McCartney Salutes 'True Rock And Roll Hero' Taylor Hawkins In Tribute

Paul McCartney offered an emotional tribute to Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in a statement released Wednesday morning.

Taylor died suddenly this past Saturday in his hotel room in Bogotá, Colombia, while on tour with the Foo Fighters. He was 50 years old.

"Taylor's sudden death came as a shock to me and the people who knew and loved him," McCartney wrote. "Not only was he a GREAT drummer but his personality was big and shiny and will be sorely missed by all who were lucky to live and work alongside him."

McCartney, who inducted the Foo Fighters into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last fall, looked back on his session with Taylor on the Foo's Concrete and Gold album.

"I was asked by the Foo Fighters to play on one of their tracks ['Sunday Rain']. It turned out that they wanted me to play drums! - on one of Taylor’s songs. This request came from a group with TWO amazing drummers! It was an incredible session and cemented my relationship with Taylor and the guys."

He then recalled performing The Beatles' "Get Back" with the Foo Fighters at the Rock Hall, and what it was like to feel Taylor playing drums live.

"Taylor provided a powerhouse drum part. I’ll never forget that night," McCartney continued. "All of which made it much more of a desperately sad shock to hear he had died. So thanks Taylor for sharing some glorious minutes with me. You were a true Rock and Roll hero and will always remain in my heart.⁣"

Tributes to Taylor have continued pouring in since the Foo Fighters confirmed his tragic passing. His cause of death is still under investigation.

Foo Fighters cut short their South American tour and returned to the U.S. on Sunday. Two days later, the band announced it was canceling all of its upcoming tour dates "to grieve, to heal, to pull our loved ones close, and to appreciate all the music and memories we've made together."