Did Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl really sledge Taylor Swift?

If we’ve learnt anything from the past few months, it’s that nothing unites the pop culture zeitgeist like a good feud.

First, we had Kendrick and Drake hijack the internet with their increasingly problematic beef, then came the comparatively wholesome Charli XCX and Lorde break-up and make-up, and now, for something unexpected: Taylor Swift v the Foo Fighters.

Baby, now we’ve got bad blood. Dave Grohl and Taylor Swift traded potshots at the weekend during their live performances.Credit: Artwork by Bethany Rae

For a little context, both Swift and the Foo Fighters performed in London at the weekend – Swift on her record-breaking Eras Tour and the Foo Fighters on their Everything or Nothing At All tour.

While Swift’s three weekend concerts were part of a headline-generating machine – Prince William! Tom Cruise! Travis Kelce on stage and in a suit! – the Foo Fighters show on Saturday night was largely uneventful, mostly older fans singing about all the confessions they have to make.

However, things took a turn when frontman Dave Grohl acknowledged on the Saturday that Swift was playing in London that very night. “I know that she’s on her Eras Tour. I’m telling you, man, you don’t want to suffer the wrath of Taylor Swift,” he said.

“So, we like to call our tour the Errors Tour because I feel like we’ve had more than a few eras and more than a few f---ing errors as well. Just a couple.”

Grohl then paused a moment before dropping the hammer: “That’s because we actually play live.”

Suggesting that a live act doesn’t actually play live ranks pretty highly in terms of professional slights, and, unsurprisingly, Swift wasn’t going to go down without a (foo) fight.

On Sunday, during her third night at Wembley Stadium, Swift seemed to indirectly address the rock legend’s comments, noting: “Every one of my band members, every single one of our crew, my band who’s going to be playing live for you for 3½ hours tonight, they deserve this so much.

“And so does every one of my fellow performers. And you just gave that to us so generously; we will never forget it.”

Taylor Swift performing live – we think – in London.Credit: Getty Images

The Eras Tour has become the highest-grossing show of all time, but throughout the show’s run, fans have speculated that if Swift were to use backing tracks – as many pop stars do – it would be understandable given the overlapping lyrics in her songs and the demand on her voice of 3½-hour shows several times a week.

Naturally, Grohl’s comments have sparked furious debate among Swift fans on whether he was the latest artist to use the pop star’s name to snatch attention.

However, it appears the seeds for this particular feud were sown long ago. Earlier this year, Grohl’s daughter Violet, who was 17 at the time, posted negative comments on social media about Swift’s use of private jets. Swift’s fans reacted, and Violet eventually deleted the comments.

While it remains to be seen if Swift v Grohl will become the next big artist stoush, it’s an interesting example of what to do when you feel like someone has gotten the best, the best, the best, the best of you.

Watch this space to see if the pair end up working it out on the remix.

Find more of the author’s work here. Email him at [e-mail] or follow him on Instagram at @thomasalexandermitchell and on Twitter @_thmitchell.

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