As rock icons the Foo Fighters announce their first large-scale tour of the country in four years, it’s time to look back at what makes them a must-see live act.
It goes without saying that whenever the words ‘rock music’ are mentioned, the chances are pretty good that fans will find themselves thinking of the Foo Fighters. After all, with close to three decades as a top-level group, the US group have proven that they don’t do things by half measures.
With ten albums in their arsenal, countless anthemic singles, numerous awards, and a reputation as one of the biggest rock bands around today, it’s fair to say that the Foo Fighters are a band of consummate professionals and expert performers.
Having just wrapped up a high-profile one-off gig in Geelong to help herald the return of stadium rock in Australia, the Foo Fighters have now announced details of a long-awaited national tour. Set to kick off in November, it’ll be the band’s first Aussie trek since 2018, and is already on track to be one of the year’s biggest tours, and the world’s premiere stadium attraction.
After all, considering that the group sold a massive 30,000 tickets to their Geelong show in just mere minutes, it’s already shaping up to be a high-demand series of events when tickets go on sale this week.
To celebrate this mammoth announcement which will see fans receiving an unrivalled Foo Fighters live experience, we’ve decided to take a look back on what it is that makes the group such a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the live stage.
Check out the Foo Fighters’ ‘The Pretender’:
They’re rock royalty
We all know the story of how the Foo Fighters formed by now. Following the dissolution of Nirvana in mid-1994, drummer Dave Grohl recorded his debut album as a solo artist. However, as the years passed and the band’s profile grew, it turned into something of a star-studded affair.
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These days, the group boasts iconic names such as guitarist Pat Smear (The Germs, Nirvana), guitarist Chris Shiflett (No Use For A Name, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes), bassist Nate Mendel (Sunny Day Real Estate), drummer Taylor Hawkins (Alanis Morissette), and keyboardist Rami Jaffee (The Wallflowers). Such is their collective power than when you put them together, you get a world-class act like the Foo Fighters.
They’re Rock and Roll Hall of Famers
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame might be a contentious topic amongst rock purists, but for many, it’s an indicator of recognition and legacy. Thus, it also speaks to the power of a band such as the Foo Fighters that they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers in 2021 – their first year of eligibility.
Likewise, heading along to see a Foo Fighters show also means you get to see a rare two-time inductee into the Rock Hall, with Grohl himself having been previously inducted thanks to his work with Nirvana in 2014.
Check out the Foo Fighters at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT7arxQoxoQ
They deliver marathon shows
Dave Grohl might be a world-class rocker, but first and foremost, he’s a music fan, and understands the importance of a massive show. You’re not just there to see them strut their stuff for 45 minutes and an encore, you’re there for the whole night. Thus, when it comes to a Foo Fighters gig, they’re going to be marathon affairs.
In fact, when the Foo Fighters played in Geelong on Friday night, Grohl made it clear we aren’t here for a 90-minute headline show. No, two-and-a-half hours later, the show had cemented itself as one of the longest displays of live music seen in Australia in years. We’re talking an epic example of the group’s iconic live show, featuring close to two-dozen songs, and the sort of experience that music fans dream of.
As Rolling Stone wrote in their review of Friday’s show: “Almost immediately it was clear this was the Foo Fighters’ world, and we were just living in it. Extended solos and lengthy jams fast became commonplace, while Grohl ensured we were all kept satiated as he revealed to us that the band would be back for a large-scale national tour in November.
“As the group ventured into the likes of ‘My Hero’ (itself a major highlight), their newer material was well-taken care of as well, with the title track to their most recent album – ‘Medicine at Midnight’ – turning into the longest track of the night before giving us a taste of their Dee Gees altar egos with a cover of ‘You Should Be Dancing’.”
Put simply; you’re not going to get that sort of show from any other artist.
They not just talented, but hilarious too
Though he might be remembered for his status as a rock god, it’s important not to forget that Dave Grohl and his bandmates are actually hilarious guys apart from their instruments. While anyone who has seen their new film, Studio 666, could attest to this, onstage banter sets them apart from countless other bands on the scene.
Whether it be Grohl cracking jokes during band intros, his self-effacing sense of humour, or the almost slapstick-like way that the band interacts with each other at times, you’re not just getting good tunes at a Foo Fighters gig, but a few laughs as well.
Check out the Studio 666 trailer:
They deliver nothing but the hits
When you’ve been a band for 27 years and released ten critically-acclaimed albums, you tend to rack up quite a list of classic tracks. In fact, some could likely argue that the band’s entire discography is littered with nothing but hits. However, it makes for an exciting time when it comes to the setlist.
Yes, as we saw in Geelong on Friday night, even with a few newer classics thrown into the setlist alongside a couple of covers, it’s impossible for a Foo Fighters show to feature anything but the best. Sure, everyone remembers the likes of ‘Learn To Fly’ or ‘Best Of You’, but when you look at tracks like ‘This Is A Call’, ‘All My Life’, and ‘My Hero’ and you remember they still can’t fit all their hits into the setlist, well, you’re clearly being well-looked after.
It’s a show you’ll never forget
Ask anyone who has been to a Foo Fighters gig and they’ll likely tell you it’s one of the best shows they’ve ever seen. Not just because of the quality of the music, the song selection, the atmosphere in the crowd, or even Dave Grohl’s status as a rock legend, but because it’s a cathartic experience, and one you can never forget. Put simply, the Foo Fighters are pretty much the best live stadium act in the world
Chuck in numerous extended jams, lengthy solos, classic covers (with Grohl taking pride of place behind the drum kit), and then pair it with a bunch of musicians who want to deliver nothing but the best live experience ever, and it’s clear that the Foo Fighters are one band you need to see at least once in your life.
Check out the Foo Fighters’ ‘Everlong’:
Foo Fighters Australia and New Zealand Tour 2022
Wednesday, November 30th
With special guests The Chats + Teenage Joans
HBF Park, Perth, WA
On sale: Thursday, March 10th (2pm local time)
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Sunday, December 4th
With special guests Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers + Hot Milk
AAMI Park, Melbourne, VIC
On sale: Thursday, March 10th (2pm local time)
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, December 1oth
With special guests The Chats + Hot Milk
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QLD
On sale: Thursday, March 10th (5pm local time)
Tickets: Ticketek
Monday, December 12th
With special guests The Chats + Hot Milk
Accor Stadium, Sydney, NSW
On sale: Thursday, March 10th (4pm local time)
Tickets: Ticketek
Thursday, December 15th
With special guests Amyl and The Sniffers + Dick Move
Sky Stadium, Wellington, NZ
On sale: Thursday, March 10th (1pm local time)
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, December 17th
With special guests Amyl and The Sniffers + Dick Move
Western Springs Stadium, Auckland, NZ
On sale: Thursday, March 10th (12pm local time)
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Frontier Members pre-sale runs 24 hours from Tuesday, March 8th, with full details available online.
General public on sale from Thursday, March 10th, with city-specific times available above.
