From Tenacious D to Van Halen: Foo Fighters delivered a unique night in Denver in 2024

by

As a seasoned gamer of life and music, I can say that the Foo Fighters‘ concert on August 3, 2024, in Denver was nothing short of extraordinary. The unexpected Tenacious D cover, followed by Wolfgang Van Halen’s electrifying performance, made for an unforgettable night.

On August 3, 2024, the Foo Fighters surprise their Denver audience by incorporating a portion of a Tenacious D cover into their set – a novelty in their live shows. Later that night, they invited Wolfgang Van Halen onstage to duet with them on “Hot for Teacher,” following their popular song “Monkeywrench.” This was a significant moment for Foo Fighters fans, as “Monkeywrench” is often considered a key track in the band’s discography.

There’s a significant bond between Dave Grohl, lead singer of Foo Fighters, and the comedic rock duo Tenacious D, composed of actor-musicians Jack Black and Kyle Gass. Not only did Grohl lend his voice to Beelzeboss in Tenacious D’s 2006 film “The Pick of Destiny,” but he’s also drummed on all four of their studio albums. Despite this close connection, the Foo Fighters seldom perform Tenacious D covers during their live shows, even as occasional experimental breaks between songs.

Based on data from setlist.fm, it’s known that the band had previously performed “City Hall” and “Double Team”, which were the only times they covered Tenacious D songs, back in 2000. During their August 3rd performance, Grohl hinted at playing Tenacious D’s “Tribute” by strumming its introduction on an acoustic guitar alongside Rami Jaffee on accordion. Grohl humorously commented, “You all thought I was going to play a Tenacious D song, right?” before singing a few lines and admitting he wasn’t well-versed enough to continue. This unexpected moment electrified the crowd, giving an exclusive flavor to the setlist (some fans even booed when they didn’t complete the song).

Over time, Grohl has taken on a near-diplomatic role for rock music. Lately, he’s made news due to a playful feud with Taylor Swift (he jokingly pointed out that “We refer to our tour as the ‘Mistakes Tour,'” as their band is less structured and freer than Swift’s more meticulously choreographed pop performances).

Controversy surrounding Tenacious D

Amidst a challenging time for Tenacious D, an unanticipated cover by Foo Fighters took place. Merely days prior, Tenacious D had been met with criticism following an incident at an Australian concert, which came on the heels of an attempted assassination of ex-US President Donald Trump. At the show, Jack Black surprised Kyle Gass with a birthday cake and requested he make a wish, leading to Gass humorously commenting about the Trump assassination attempt, saying “Don’t miss Trump next time.

This offhand comment ignited a storm of controversy, with many interpreting it as either highly insensitive or a potential call for further violence — perhaps making his birthday reminiscent of a line from Macbeth: “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” While Jack Black, who had endorsed Joe Biden in the 2024 U.S. presidential race, later distanced himself from Gass’ remarks, stating that he did not support political violence, the damage had already been done. Gass also issued a statement apologizing for his comment, but later deleted it from his social media accounts.

Following the event, it seems Gass was dismissed by his management team, while Tenacious D postponed their scheduled tour dates, temporarily halting all future projects. However, the Foo Fighters’ casual response to the controversy implies that Tenacious D may still have a spot in the industry. Additionally, Jack Black himself has stated that his band will resume activities when they feel it’s appropriate.

Wolfgang Van Halen’s guest appearance

At the Denver concert, there was an exceptional performance by Wolfgang Van Halen, the offspring of the legendary Eddie Van Halen and leader of MammothWVH. Following Foo Fighters’ performance of “Monkeywrench,” drummer Josh Freese flawlessly switched to the famous drum intro for Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher.” Upon taking the stage with his guitar, Wolfgang showcased an electrifying interpretation of the song’s opening that left the audience in awe.

On different occasions, Wolfgang Van Halen has teamed up with Foo Fighters to play Van Halen’s hits, one such instance being the performance of “Hot for Teacher” at Taylor Hawkins’ tribute concert in 2022. Tragically, Hawkins, the Foo Fighters’ drummer, had passed away earlier that year. Furthermore, back in 2024, during a live show, the band’s drummer, Freese, made a spontaneous reference to “Hot For Teacher”.

Foo Fighters’ place in rock history

Ever since their inception in 1994, Foo Fighters have solidified themselves as one of the most thriving acts in contemporary rock music. Fronted by ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, this band has churned out ten studio albums and garnered an impressive 15 Grammy Awards, with four of those being for Best Rock Album. Interestingly, they also bagged the first “Global Icon” award at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards (believe it or not, MTV is still around, albeit playing a smaller role in music).

The Foo Fighters are celebrated for their electrifying live concerts, often including covers in their performances as a tribute to the rock legends who have inspired them. At their August 3 show, they performed a Tenacious D song for only the third time, demonstrating the band’s adaptability and knack for creating memorable moments during their performances.

Nevertheless, that Foo Fighters performance by Grohl might not be the most memorable one for him. In fact, he mentioned that a 2015 concert at the Boston Red Sox’s home field stands out, where he had the unique experience of sitting on a throne with a Jägermeister-filled cupholder and playing guitar throughout the night. It seems his career has taken quite an extraordinary path since the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” era.

Read More

2024-09-20 15:01