Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has paid tribute to singer-actor Trini López, who died early Tuesday from complications of COVID-19 at 83.
“Today the world sadly lost yet another legend,” Grohl wrote in an Instagram post. “Trini not only left a beautiful musical legacy of his own, but also unknowingly helped shape the sound of the Foo Fighters from day one. Every album we have ever made, from the first to the latest, was recorded with my red 1967 Trini López signature guitar. It is the sound of our band, and my most prized possession from the day I bought it in 1992.
“Thank you, Trini for all of your contributions. You will be missed by many, remembered by all.”
Born Trinidad López III, he started performing in the early ‘60s and was signed by Frank Sinatra. He famously covered “If I Had a Hammer” and “This Land Is Your Land” and earned a Best New Artist nomination at the Grammys in 1963.
López, who performed music until 1981, never married and had no children.