Fans frenzy for fantastic Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters rock South Africa for the very first time.

December 15, 2014

Kristian Meijer 2 minutes read

After an electrifying show in Cape Town, American rockers Foo Fighters made a final stop in Johannesburg as part of the kick-off to their world tour for their new album, Sonic Highways.

Fans from across Gauteng flocked to the FNB Stadium in Soweto to witness a band that many consider to be the greatest modern-day rock band play in Johannesburg for the first time since their inception in 1994.

British indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs and local band Blk Jks were the opening acts of the evening. Fans rocked out to Kaiser Chiefs hits like Ruby and I Predict A Riot, setting the tone for what was to come.

A palpable excitement filled the air before the show, before the chords to the legendary Foo Fighters song All My Life were heard, with frontman Dave Grohl bursting on stage in frenzied excitement. The crowd went ballistic.

After All My Life ended, Grohl took a minute to survey the 60 000 strong crowd at the FNB Stadium, before moving on to play hits like The Pretender, Walk and Monkey Wrench.

“It has taken us 20 years to get here, and I don’t know why. Actually I do. Every time we tour, we start off in America, before moving on to Europe, Australia and Japan, and by the end, when people say “It’s time to go play in all those places you’ve never been before,” we’re like “no way, we’re too tired”. So for this tour, we decided that we are starting in South Africa,” ” said Grohl to the delight of the crowd.

The band’s three-hour show encompassed a large part of their discography, from hits like Big Me from their debut self-titled album, to Congregation, and Outside from their brand-new release Sonic Highways. “We recorded our new album in eight different cities across America, including New Orleans. If you haven’t ever been there, you need to go. It’s the biggest party on earth!” said Grohl.

At one point in the concert, while playing their hit My Hero, an excited fan managed to rush on stage, and high-fived Grohl in the middle of the song. True to his reputation as ‘the nicest guy in rock’, Grohl didn’t flinch as the fan rushed up to him, but played along, and continued to sing My Hero, “there goes my hero, watch him as he goes.” The fan continued running before he jumped off the stage and was tackled by a burly security guard.

The surprise highlight of the evening came about two hours into the incredible three-hour performance when the band played a cover of the Queen and David Bowie classic Under Pressure, to rapturous applause and cheers from the crowd. “When you just start out in a band, you just play covers of rock songs in your garage. You don’t really know how to play. Eventually your band breaks up, or not… Sometimes you continue, write your own songs and become famous. You then go on and play in stadiums, and end up performing those songs you played in your garage,” said Grohl to the ecstatic crowd, just before the playing Under Pressure.

The night ended with two of the Foos’ greatest songs, Best Of You and Everlong. “This is not goodbye,” said Grohl, “so I’ll simply say ‘See you next time’.”.