Taylor Hawkins' friends have claimed he was "exhausted" by Foo Fighters' touring schedule before he died

Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron told Rolling Stone magazine: "He had a heart-to-heart with Dave and, yeah, he told me that he 'couldn't f****** do it anymore'-those were his words.

"So I guess they did come to some understanding, but it just seems like the touring schedule got even crazier after that...

"He tried to keep up. He just did whatever it took to keep up, and in the end he couldn't keep up."

And a friend who wanted to remain anonymous added: "The fact that he finally spoke to Dave and really told him that he couldn't do this and that he wouldn't do it anymore, that was freeing for him.

"That took f****** balls. That did take a year of working up the guts to do."

However, a representative for the band insisted Taylor had never raised such issues.

The spokesperson said: "No, there was never a 'heart-to-heart'-or any sort of meeting on this topic-with Dave and [Silva Artist Management]...

"He never 'informed Dave and [management]' of anything at all like that."

The report also claimed the sticksman lost consciousness on a plane in Chicago in December 2021 - which the band's spokesperson denied - and Red Hot Chili Peppers star Chad Smith claimed it was a turning point for his friend.

He said: "He just said he was exhausted and collapsed, and they had to pump him full of IVs and stuff. He was dehydrated and all kinds of stuff."

And Chat claimed his fellow drummer told him: "I can't do it like this anymore."