Dave Navarro on Taylor Hawkins

Dave Navarro has returned to Jane's Addiction after a year-long hiatus from playing guitar, a period marked by grief over the death of his close friend, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. Following Hawkins' passing in March 2022, Navarro struggled with mental health issues and found it too painful to pick up his instrument. He explained that after a year, during which he was also battling long COVID, he began to rediscover his passion for music by studying influential guitarists and relearning his own songs from the past. Navarro's time away allowed him to explore new guitar techniques and tones, particularly those of Eddie Van Halen. He made his live return with Jane's Addiction in May and is set to embark on a co-headlining tour with Love & Rockets. The emotional toll of Hawkins' loss remains significant for Navarro, who describes him as a profoundly inspiring artist.