Shazamers' Blog

Dave Grohl has always had a well developed sense of humour. One of the first singles released by Foo Fighters was called ‘For All The Cows’. Throughout the recording of many of their videos (‘Learn To Fly’ in particular) Grohl has spent a considerable amount of time in drag, or fat suits, or sometimes both (indeed, Foo Fighters have had their fair share of awesome moments). So when a Foo Fighters concert in Kansas was picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church, the Foos decided to fight back, and launch their own counter-protest against the picket.

Westboro Baptist Church have been dubbed as America’s most hated family. With their strong anti-gay beliefs, the radical right wing group frequently picket the concerts of rock artists. They obviously didn’t bank on the Foo Fighters driving out to picket the picket, and overpowering the protest by singing a very very loud ‘gay love song’.

Dressed in the same outfits as they wear in the video, the band played loud and proud. Grohl also addressed the crowd: “I don’t care if you’re black or white or purple or green, whether you’re Pennsylvanian or Transylvanian, Lady Gaga or Lady Antebellum, it takes all kinds!”

Helia News Foo Fighters

Given that the Foo Fighters last album, 2007′s  ‘Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace’ racked up an impressive five Grammy nominations and walked away with ‘Best Rock Album’ and ‘Best Hard Rock Performance’, there was probably a fair bit of pressure on them to measure up with their next offering. It took a while but they certainly seem to have hit the mark with this year’s ‘Wasting Light’. The first single proper ‘Rope’ was a terrific introduction to the new album and they have followed it up with another stormer. Melodic hard rock is what the band do best and that is exactly what you get with ‘Walk’; which features the band’s uncanny ability to match easy-on-the-ear harmonies with crunching guitars.

Dave ‘nicest man in rock’ Grohl is also on great form in the video (based on the 1993 Michael Douglas film ‘Falling Down’) as he goes ballistic in a burger joint and runs someone over in a golf-cart before ending up on the receiving end of a taser, much to the rest of the band’s delight. With a new documentary ‘Back and Forth’ just out and tour dates coming up in the UK and USA it looks like the Foo Fighters are on a roll, again

Martin Gadgil Tag Of The Day Foo Fighters

If the old adage is true and no-one cares about the drummer, Dave Grohl is definitely the exception to the rule. After the tragic early demise of Kurt Cobain, many thought the former Nirvana drummer would drift into the pages of rock history; fortunately Mr. Grohl had other ideas. Originally formed as a solo project by Grohl, Foo Fighters quickly morphed into an unstoppable Rock n Roll force.  Their latest album ‘Wasting Light’ is their seventh and is notable as it sees the return of former guitarist Pat Smear. While the former Germs member has played live with the band for the past few years, he hasn’t featured on a Foo’s record since 1997’s ‘The Colour And The Shape’ (arguably the bands finest moment).

‘Rope’ is the second single to surface from the album and hints that ‘Wasting Light’ will show a band that aren’t simply resting on their laurels. It follows on from the amazing, frenzied punk of previous single ‘White Limo’, whose video boasted a genius cameo appearance from Motorhead’s Lemmy. The album is released next month, with the band set to accompany it with a suitably mammoth tour. For full details, head to their website.

Jon Davies Tag Of The Day Foo Fighters

Finding a front-man more worthy of ‘godlike genius’ status than that of Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl has to be pretty hard and after the performance they delivered on Friday night you can see why. After walking away with said title at Shockwaves NME Awards last Wednesday the band headlined NME’s Big Gig at London’s Wembley Arena.

Before the Foo’s took to the stage though, a crowd of over 12,000 eagerly excited fans waited with anticipation through an impressive support set. No Age were up first, the Los Angeles based band rocked out to a short but tight set, following shortly after Band Of Horses graced the stage.

The band were undoubtedly impressive, playing a variety of tracks from their three their studio albums including ‘Is There A Ghost’ and ‘The Great Salt Lake’ and ‘The Funeral’ before the stage was taken over by Radio 1′s Zane Lowe with a DJ set to keep the crowd’s vibe up ahead of Cee Lo Green.

Cee Lo was backed by an all girl leather suited band and gave a solid set of his new material as well as a crowd favourite from his time with Gnarls Barkley ‘Crazy’. His big hit ‘F**k You’ was a slightly rockier version but he didn’t fail to deliver.

The moment finally arrived for Dave Grohl and co to play, for the first time in two years in London, and there wasn’t a still body in the crowd. “There are so many tracks we could play, but let’s face it, we’d be here all night” Grohl told the crowd, “so we’re only gonna play the good ones. I’m just that kinda guy you see, I’m a f**king Godlike Genius!”.

Opening with the new single ‘Rope’ and previewing other songs from their new album ‘Wasting Light’ (out on April 11th), as well as gunning through such hits as ‘All My Life’ and ‘My Hero’ the band delivered an energetic and solid set. Reflecting on their first gig in London at Kings College and being asked to go on at one of the main stages after Bjork at Reading, Grohl gave thanks to the London crowd for allowing them to now be playing such big venues across the other side of the world.

After an eighteen track strong set, and just when you thought they had given it their all, they returned to the stage for an epic encore including a cover of The Who’s ‘Young Man Blues’, the band left the crowd on a high-noted frenzy by closing with ‘Best Of You’.

Foo Fighters can be seen later this year as they prepare to tour ‘Wasting Light’ across the globe. For a full list of dates, head to their website.

Steph Cox Gigs/ Events Band Of Horses, Cee Lo Green, Foo Fighters, no age

Cheryl Cole makes it two weeks at number 1 in the UK Pre-release chart with ‘Fight For This Love’ – a record that’s guaranteed a high national chart entry when it is released on the 18th October due to its position at number 1 in the iTunes pre-order chart. New releases come this week from Chase & Status, Foo Fighters and pop rockers Cobra Starship – an act that are currently big news in the US but are yet to have their first hit in the UK.

Check out the full chart here

Stephen Titmus News Chase & Status, Cheryl Cole, Cobra Starship, Foo Fighters