Perform 'Fortunate Son' on Veteran's Day in Washington
Andy Morris

09:45 12th November 2014

Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Zac Brown performed a controversial cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's anti-war anthem 'Fortunate Son' to an audience on Veterans Day. Watch fan footage below.


As part of 'The Concert Of Valor' last night (11 November) in Washington DC, the trio performed a cover of the classic from the 1969 album Willy And The Poor Boys. As Consequence Of Sound reports, the performance split opinion, with one prominent conservative website asking why an anti-war, anti draft protest song was suitable “largely organized to honor those who volunteered to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq.” 

Watch: Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Zac Brown cover 'Fortunate Son' below.


Other acts on the bill included  Eminem, The Black Keys, Metallica and Rihanna as well as guest appearances by John Oliver, Steven Spielberg, Will Smith and Tom Hanks.

Jennifer Hudson opened the night's performance with 'The Star Spangled Banner' before teaming up with Jessie J to record a cover of David Guetta's 'Titanium'. Dave Grohl performed accoustic versions of "Everlong' and 'My Hero' before Zac Brown took the stage for a rendition of 'America The Beautiful'.

The Black Keys contributed 'Fever' and 'Howling for you' before Carrie Underwood played three tracks: 'See You Again', 'Something In The Water' and 'Before He Cheats'. Metallica, joined by Jack Black, were clearly in their element, performing a thunderous medley of 'For Whom The Bell Tolls', 'Master of Puppets' and 'Enter Sandman.' 

As well as his Creedence cover, Bruce Springsteen also performed 'Dancing In The Dark', 'The Promised Land' and a rare live outing for 'Born In The USA'. Rihanna performed two tracks - “Diamonds” and “Stay” - before being joined by Eminem for their performance 'Monster'. The rapper then concluded the show with 'Not Afraid' and 'Lose Yourself'.

  • 15. 'Walking After You': The eternally underrated penultimate track from The Colour And The Shape, 'Walking After You' demonstrates the more lucid dreaming, tender and romantic side of Grohl that is too often overshadowed by his harder rocking moments.

  • 14. 'Breakout': A fittingly schizophrenic wonder between a radio-ready superhit and a fierce, howling little rocker. That screamy bit at the end? Massive.

  • 13. 'All My Life': A bona fide solid gold, modern rock classic, and perfect set opener.

  • 12. 'White Limo': WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITE LIMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  • 11. 'Something From Nothing': With a fitting nod and tribute to Dio's 'Holy Diver', the first offering from the Foos new album Sonic Highways was recorded in Chicago and produced by none other than In Utero's Steve Albini, painting a vivid picture of 'a city on fire' that leans on grunge and even funk before the crescendo of Grohl's trademark howl. Starting as a slow-building, brooding number before quickly blossoming into a dose of searing, stadium-filling, classic Foos, 'Something From Nothing' makes for a pretty perfect album opener and appetizer for all that follows.

  • 10. 'The Pretender': All of the Foos working as one to form an unstoppable tsunami of sound, proving that they're far more than the sum of their parts - like some angry Megazord.

  • 9. 'Big Me': There's something almost Beatles-esque about the sheer charming simplicity about early Foos, and here it is summed up in one sweet bubble of innocent melody.

  • 8. 'Times Like These': Partly for that hella-cool sinking bassline bit at the beginning, but mainly for the universal, life-affirming celebration that erupts when they air it live.

  • 7. 'Learn To Fly': Not only did it give us the band at their cross-dressing, fancy dress best, but one of the ultimate feel-good guitar anthems.

  • 6. 'Monkey Wrench': The moment when the world stopped seeing the Foos as 'that scrawny lad from Nirvana's other band' as the hard-shredding, globe conquering, force of nature they always threatened to be.

  • 5. 'This Is A Call': Crashing in to the top 10 as the Foos' first major single, and world's scorching but weird introduction and template for all of the greatness that would follow - still sounding as huge and fresh today as it did 1995. Proof alone that there's life after death, and a testament to Grohl's perseverance.

  • 4. 'Best Of You': You know when Prince covers your track that you've done something right, and in this case it's larger than life sense of sheer abandon.

  • 3. 'My Hero': One of many almighty peaks on The Colour And The Shape and a towering tribute to all of the selfless heroes who make the ordinary extraordinary in every day life.

  • 2. 'Stacked Actors': Shhhh, we know it was only released as a single in Australia, but tenuous as it seems, it deserves its place so highly in this list. A QOTSA-esque intro, a sultry stoned groove and a scathing attack on the shallow transparency of Hollywood culture, this is the sound of a band rocking on their own terms, a million miles away from the hollow rock star realm that dominates the airwaves.

  • 1. 'Everlong': The highlight of any Foos gig, and arguably their entire career. 'Everlong' works whether stripped back to a solo performance or as an all guns blazing onslaught. Why? Due to its sheer timeless class. A true anthem for living in the now that will last forever.

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Photo: HBO