Foo Fighters have stormed Leeds Festival with one of the most fun filled, hits packed performances of the summer. Appearing at the opening night of the annual event, which was held at Branham park from Fri 23rd - Sat 25th August 2019, Dave Grohl and co were joined by a Freddy Mercury lookalike, Grohl's daughter Violet, and a paraglider on what was one of the hottest nights of the year.
Photo: Eamon O'Neill.
By Eamon O'Neill.
Foo Fighters have stormed Leeds Festival with one of the most fun filled, hits packed performances of the summer. Appearing at the opening night of the annual event, which was held at Bramham Park from Fri 23rd - Sat 25th August 2019, Dave Grohl and co were joined by a Freddy Mercury lookalike, Grohl's daughter Violet, and a paraglider, on what was one of the hottest nights of the year.
The Foos set saw the band celebrate 25 years together, touching on all aspects of their career during a two hour show.
Opening with a turbo charged version of 'The Pretender', Dave greeted the crowd saying; "You know why the Foo Fighters came here tonight? We came here to play rock and roll music."
Following with rousing 'Learn to Fly', a perfectly timed rogue paraglider circled the festival site, to the delight of the crowd, and band, with the elated front man exclaiming; "Oh, here we go! Look at him, right there!", adding; "sing it for that man, right there! Let's hear it for that man in the fuckin' parachute thing. That mother fucker needs to come on tour with the Foo Fighters"
Going on to play a series of euphoria inducing anthems including a singalong 'Times Like These' and a driving 'All My Life', the band took the foot off the gas for a truly touching 'My Hero', which saw Violet Grohl join her father at the front of the stage to sing harmony on the 1997 track. Introducing the 13 year old, Dave said; "We have a new Foo Fighter in the band, and let me tell you something; she is the best fuckin' singer I know"
Proving however that the nicest man in rock can still be an uncool dad, Dave's "We're not worthy!" moment saw the red faced teen giggling as she left the stage.
It was a night of surprises, and none more so than for the lad dressed in full Freddy Mercury regalia, who joined the Foo Fighters onstage to show off his moves during a note-perfect cover of Queen's 'Under Pressure', sang by drummer Taylor Hawkins. Inviting up the Bulsar-alike, who lost his face fuzz in the melee on his way from the crowd, Grohl quipped; "If anyone finds the mustache, can you pass it up to the stage".
It wasn't the last cover of the evening however, and following an electrifying 'This is a Call', the former Nirvana man insisted; "I still want to rock". What followed was a faithful and ferocious take on AC/DC's biblical epic 'Let There Be Rock'.
Closing out the night with an epic take on 'Everlong', the icons signed off on one of the most uplifting shows of the year.
Leeds Festival featured a number of other outstanding performances across its three days, with The 1975's Saturday night headline slot, and Royal Blood's same day penultimate set proving particularly popular. Elsewhere, pop phenomenon Billie Eilish pulled one of the largest crowds for a non headliner ever seen at Leeds on Sunday, while Friday's set by Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes proved one of the most exciting performances of the weekend.
Foo Fighters have stormed Leeds Festival with one of the most fun filled, hits packed performances of the summer. Appearing at the opening night of the annual event, which was held at Bramham Park from Fri 23rd - Sat 25th August 2019, Dave Grohl and co were joined by a Freddy Mercury lookalike, Grohl's daughter Violet, and a paraglider, on what was one of the hottest nights of the year.
The Foos set saw the band celebrate 25 years together, touching on all aspects of their career during a two hour show.
Opening with a turbo charged version of 'The Pretender', Dave greeted the crowd saying; "You know why the Foo Fighters came here tonight? We came here to play rock and roll music."
Following with rousing 'Learn to Fly', a perfectly timed rogue paraglider circled the festival site, to the delight of the crowd, and band, with the elated front man exclaiming; "Oh, here we go! Look at him, right there!", adding; "sing it for that man, right there! Let's hear it for that man in the fuckin' parachute thing. That mother fucker needs to come on tour with the Foo Fighters"
Going on to play a series of euphoria inducing anthems including a singalong 'Times Like These' and a driving 'All My Life', the band took the foot off the gas for a truly touching 'My Hero', which saw Violet Grohl join her father at the front of the stage to sing harmony on the 1997 track. Introducing the 13 year old, Dave said; "We have a new Foo Fighter in the band, and let me tell you something; she is the best fuckin' singer I know"
Proving however that the nicest man in rock can still be an uncool dad, Dave's "We're not worthy!" moment saw the red faced teen giggling as she left the stage.
It was a night of surprises, and none more so than for the lad dressed in full Freddy Mercury regalia, who joined the Foo Fighters onstage to show off his moves during a note-perfect cover of Queen's 'Under Pressure', sang by drummer Taylor Hawkins. Inviting up the Bulsar-alike, who lost his face fuzz in the melee on his way from the crowd, Grohl quipped; "If anyone finds the mustache, can you pass it up to the stage".
It wasn't the last cover of the evening however, and following an electrifying 'This is a Call', the former Nirvana man insisted; "I still want to rock". What followed was a faithful and ferocious take on AC/DC's biblical epic 'Let There Be Rock'.
Closing out the night with an epic take on 'Everlong', the icons signed off on one of the most uplifting shows of the year.
Leeds Festival featured a number of other outstanding performances across its three days, with The 1975's Saturday night headline slot, and Royal Blood's same day penultimate set proving particularly popular. Elsewhere, pop phenomenon Billie Eilish pulled one of the largest crowds for a non headliner ever seen at Leeds on Sunday, while Friday's set by Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes proved one of the most exciting performances of the weekend.
