Foo Fighters epic show marks return of rock n’ roll
The Foo Fighters stadium-sized, high octane serving of rock n’roll in Geelong was an epic return to live music post lockdown.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victoria flicked the switch on a plan to be a world-class music capital in the most epic way: a stadium-sized, high-octane rock and Grohl show
In a massive coup for the state, US superstars Foo Fighters, fronted by Dave Grohl, fired up Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium on Friday night , in front of 30,000 people, to launch a new music initiative.
The initiative, Always Live, is a state government program devised by the late music industry boss Michael Gudinski, that aims to stage exclusive music events.
Always Live will move to Melbourne, surrounding suburbs and regional Victoria later in the year. Foo Fighters will tour in November as part of the program.
The Foos opened with Times Like These, with Grohl solo in the spotlight.
The song’s chorus -”it’s times like these, you learn to live again” - resonated strongly with the home crowd, especially after two years of lockdowns.
Later, before an explosive reading of The Pretender, Grohl asked the cheering crowd: “Do you miss rock and roll? Do you love rock and roll?’
The answer was unanimous, definite and loud.
Learn To Fly followed, with a brief rain shower to wet the cheering crowd. “I’m looking for the sky to save me,” Grohl sang, as dark clouds hung overhead.
But nothing could dampen the spirit and energy of the night.
Breakout and Rope also came early in the set, and there were also fun diversions, including a Bee Gees cover (You Should Be Dancing), and drummer Taylor Hawkins’ triumphant version of Queen’s Somebody To Love.
The set list also packed in anthems like My Hero, Big Me, Best Of You and Monkey Wrench.
Melbourne bands The Meanies and Amyl and the Sniffers warmed up the stage for the Foos.
“What a way to launch Always Live. It’s great to be back on stage performing again,” bassist Wally Meanie said.
He then joked: “It’s great they’ve given a bunch of old blokes a leg up, and us, too.”
Geelong deputy mayor, Trent Sullivan said the town was braced for “one of the biggest weekends in our city’s history.”
He added: “Hosting one of the world’s biggest bands is a sign that Geelong is going through a real renaissance.”
Gudinski’s can-do and make-it-happen spirit was evident, from his picture on drummer Taylor Hawkins’ kit, to words of admiration from musicians on stage, and the simple fact rock and roll was back, and turned up to 11, in his home state.
“He always took care of us, brought us over here, made us happy. A sweet man,” Grohl told the crowd before the finale, Everlong.
“He made everything fun Down Under. We would not be the band we are today, here in Australia, if it wasn’t for the great, late Michael Gudinski.”
He added, laughing: “I never understood one word that (expletive) said. I swear to God. I couldn’t tell what he was saying. But I do know that he was full of love, so let’s give it back to him.”
What a legacy.
GUITARIST HANGS TEN
Foo Fighters star Chris Shiflett continued his sideline surf tour ahead of the US band’s headline show in Geelong on Friday.
Shiflett, who hit the waves at UrbnSurf hours after the Foos slipped quietly into Melbourne on Wednesday, resurfaced at Bells Beach on Friday morning.
“Fun waves this morning down at Winki Pop,” Shiflett said on Instagram, and described his “post-surf pie” with a flexed bicep emoji.
Shiflett also snapped a picture in AC/DC Lane, with the caption: “Highway to hell?”
Meanwhile, his bandmates Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Pat Smear and Nate Mendel, kept a low profile ahead of their show at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.
The one-off show, and Victorian coup, will launch a new music initiative, Always Live, a state government program devised by the late music industry boss Michael Gudinski.
Always Live will move to Melbourne and regional Victoria later in the year. Foo Fighters are strongly tipped to return for more stadium shows.
Always Live chairman Matt Gudinski said the program’s aim was to create exclusive music moments in Victoria.
He told music site Beat Magazine: “To have Foo Fighters, one of the biggest rock bands in the world … and play a show in Geelong, the only show in Australia, it’s pretty amazing.
“This will be the most significant concert ever held in regional Victoria. We really wanted to flex our muscles and show how we can make those ‘only in Victoria’ moments.”
Melbourne bands The Meanies and Amyl and the Sniffers warmed up the stage for the Foos on Friday.
“What a way to launch Always Live. It’s great to be back on stage performing again,” bassist Wally Meanie said, then joked: “It’s great they’ve given a bunch of old blokes a leg up, and us, too.”
The Foo Fighters recent set lists have included hits Times Like These, Learn To Fly, My Hero, These Days, Best Of You, Monkey Wrench and Everlong.
Geelong is braced for “one of the biggest weekends in the city’s history” as the Foo Fighters and Midnight Oil get set to take over the town.
“We’re ready to welcome thousands of visitors and the city is going to be absolutely buzzing,” Geelong’s deputy mayor, Trent Sullivan, said.
He added: “Hosting one of the world’s biggest bands is a sign that Geelong is going through a real renaissance. It’s going to be one of the biggest weekends in our city’s history.”
Most hotels are booked out ahead of US supergroup Foo Fighters’ one-off show.
Geelong Chamber Of Commerce chef executive Ben Flynn said the Foos show on Friday and Midnight Oil, playing A Day On The Green, at Mt Duneed, on Saturday, were a much-needed boost for the city.
“People are keen and excited to get out and about and support local businesses,” My Flynn said. “The CBD is coming back to life … and it goes a long way to rebuilding Geelong’s confidence”.
Geelong Cats legend Billy Brownless said this weekend was a landmark moment for Victoria’s second largest city. “All My Life, Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters have been My Hero,” Brownless said, referencing the band’s hits.
“Times Like These are significant for Big Me and the city of G Town.”
The Foo Fighters show in Geelong follows a handful of gigs in the US, and precedes a South American run that kicks off in 11 days.
Their set, packed with hits and fan favourites, includes Times Like These, Learn to Fly, My Hero, These Days, Best Of You, Monkey Wrench and Everlong.
The Oils shows, which also includes a stop at Rod Laver Arena on March 9, is the band’s final tour.
“There was a time when ‘x sportsperson’ or ‘x musician’ should not have been on the stage, and us, being the control freaks that we are, we’d like to decide that time,” Oils frontman Peter Garrett told the Herald Sun recently.
“Am I going to be some big, lanky bald guy leaping around Madison Square Garden when I’m 74 or 75 with the lights flashing? No, I’m not.”
However, the reviews so far, and scorching set lists, confirm the Oils are still at the peak of their powers.
So far, the shows have included Put Down That Weapon, US Forces, Kosciusko, Redneck Wonderland, The Dead Heart, Blue Sky Mine, Power and the Passion, Beds Are Burning and Read About It.
More Coverage
Originally published as Foo Fighters epic show marks return of rock n’ roll
Vic builders forced to fix shoddy work in industry overhaul
Home builders would be ordered to fix poor work after families have their keys and move in, under new powers for the industry watchdog and the establishment of “a one-stop shop for consumers”.
Read more
Abortion access in Victoria depends on where you live
A lack of public hospitals offering surgical abortions and practitioners failing to refer patients because of personal beliefs are among the issues limiting “basic healthcare rights” for Victorian women, experts warn.
Read more