Foo Fighters returned to play their first gig after frontman Dave Grohl broke his leg, performing an epic show in Washington with Grohl atop a throne last night (Saturday 4 July). See photos, footage and the setlist below.
Tens of thousands were left disappointed after Grohl fell off stage and broke his leg in Sweden, forcing the band to cancel their UK tour - including Wembley Stadium and Glastonbury. Many were left in doubt until the band shortly after announced that they'd be resuming their US tour with a gig at the RFK Stadium in Washington to celebrate at Independence Day.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said Grohl introducing classic Foos track 'Big Me'. "Let me tell you something, let me tell you a little story. A funny thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago, we were on tour and we were in Europe playing a gig in Sweden. It was a beautiful night just like tonight - big ass stadium full of people. We started playing our set, it was all good."
Dave Grohl performs in a cast at #RFKStadium after breaking his right leg in Sweden June 12. #Foo4thRFK @foofighters pic.twitter.com/1Bby2MkXl9
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) July 5, 2015
He continued: "Then guess what? I fell off the fucking stage. For any of you old motherfuckers that ain't got Youtube, it looked a little something like this", before replaying the footage of the incident.
Grohl went on: "What can I say? I ain't shitting you, I hit the ground so hard I dislocated my ankle and broke my leg. But I met a nice doctor and he said 'look, you dislocated your ankle', I said 'OK', he said 'I gotta put it back in place', and he he put it back in place and I said 'can I go finish the fucking show now?' He said 'no way, you gotta put a brace on it', I said 'cool, you got a brace?' He said 'no, we gotta get one', I said 'how about this - you go get the brace, and I'll go play? When you get the brace, you come back and tell me and we'll put it on'. He said 'I've got to hold your ankle in place' and I said 'well your ass is coming on stage with me right now'. So that's my Swedish friend, and then we had a great show."
He then showed the crowd images of his X-ray and told of his experience at the hospital, his joy at being on morphine, his experience of surgery and misery of cancelling the shows and how high he was when he sketched out the epic throne that he was setting on for the gig - made up of the iconic Foos logo and guitar necks, paying tribute to the Iron Throne from Game Of Thrones.
Watch Grohl tell his story and play 'Big Me' below
Foo Fighters played:
Everlong
Monkey Wrench
Learn to Fly
Something From Nothing
The Pretender
Big Me
Congregation
Walk
I'm the One (Van Halen cover)
Another One Bites the Dust (Queen cover)
Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes cover)
Cold Day in the Sun
My Hero (Acoustic)
Times Like These (Acoustic)
Under Pressure (Queen & David Bowie cover)
All My Life
These Days
Outside Breakout
For All the Cows
Alone + Easy Target
This Is a Call
Generator
Best of You
It is hoped that it won't be too long until the Foos return to UK shores. They have already reportedly been booked in to headline Glastonbury next year, as well as being named as bookies' favourites to headline alongside Muse and Oasis.
