Foo Fighters mark Dave Grohl’s birthday — and support a good cause — at the Forum

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Dave Grohl had a plan for anyone unfamiliar with the lyrics to the song he and the Foo Fighters were about to perform Wednesday night at the Kia Forum in Inglewood.

He gestured to someone in the audience and urged everyone to sing along, sweat and hair plastered to his forehead. “Chances are,” he said, “he’s been a KROQ listener since the early eighties.”

Wednesday’s concert marked Dave Grohl’s 57th birthday, complete with a giant cake presented on stage. It also served as a benefit concert to support groups working to combat homelessness in Los Angeles, where the band is from.

Almost four years after the tragic loss of drummer Taylor Hawkins, the concert demonstrated Foo Fighters’ remarkable resilience – their unwavering and positive commitment to continuing on, even through immense hardship.

Last year, the band unexpectedly let go of Josh Freese, who had replaced Hawkins, and then brought in Ilan Rubin from Nine Inch Nails. Interestingly, Freese later joined Nine Inch Nails, taking Rubin’s previous position – a surprising turn of events!

The issues with the drummers came after Grohl admitted in late 2024 to having a child with someone other than his wife. This news was particularly damaging to his public image, as he’s always been seen as a friendly and approachable figure in the rock world.

Just last week, the Foo Fighters announced that guitarist Pat Smear injured his left foot badly enough to miss their upcoming shows. Jason Falkner, a former member of the 90s band Jellyfish and a long-time collaborator with Beck, stepped in to play guitar at the Forum. A unique touch? Producer Rick Rubin had a picture of Smear’s face on his bass drum.

Despite all that, Foo Fighters came on like they always have: heavy, crunching, speedy, tuneful.

After playing for almost two hours, Dave Grohl mentioned he hadn’t taken a bathroom break during the entire performance.

Music

The family of the well-known jam band’s rhythm guitarist said Saturday that he passed away at 78 years old.

Dave Grohl started his musical journey in the D.C. punk scene and rose to fame as Nirvana’s drummer. After Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994, he formed Foo Fighters as a way to cope with the loss. Over the years, the band’s sound has evolved toward classic rock – bands like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and Boston – and Grohl has become a charismatic and energetic frontman, reminiscent of David Lee Roth.

During their performance, the Foos used a rotating stage. The singer joked that it felt like being displayed in a car showroom, specifically the Mercedes dealership in Van Nuys. He also playfully added that the setup guaranteed everyone in the audience would eventually get a good view from all angles.

The band’s lasting success is largely due to their impressive collection of hit songs, many of which are now considered classic rock essentials. Tracks like “Learn to Fly” and “Times Like These” were catchy and well-crafted, while “My Hero,” dedicated to Smear’s injury, was surprisingly powerful and energetic. “Monkey Wrench” felt like a high-octane take on Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” and “Best of You” had an emotional depth, famously echoed by Prince’s memorable performance of the song during a rainstorm at the 2007 Super Bowl.

About halfway through the show, Dave Grohl honored the late Lemmy Kilmister by blending a snippet of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” into the Foo Fighters’ song “No Son of Mine.” He then paused the band and performed a heartfelt solo version of “Under You,” a song reflecting his grief over Taylor Hawkins’ death.

Foo Fighters last performed at the Forum in 2022 for a special concert honoring their drummer. Following the song “Under You,” the band played an extended and emotional version of “Aurora,” which Grohl has explained was the very first song he and Hawkins created together.

He apologized for the emotional moment, but most of the diverse audience didn’t seem bothered. The band’s extended, unstructured improvisation during “Run,” however, wasn’t as well-received.

Foo Fighters ended their show, as is their custom, with “Everlong.” This classic alternative rock song from the mid-90s remains incredibly popular, even with younger generations who weren’t around when it was first released.

“Hello,” Grohl sang coolly over a bed of thrumming electric guitars, “I’ve waited here for you.”

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2026-01-15 23:01