Oh, how times have changed for Dave Grohl since first emerging from the wreckage of Nirvana in 1995. Back then, the ambitions and hopes for the Foo Fighters were small – no one was sure if a breakaway act from the single most loved and lauded act in grunge was even possible (it hasn’t been, to date, for Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic) or if it’d last beyond a novel initial interest. The band started very much like other first-timers have done; the venues were petite and the music (which was really good) reflected that exterior stimulus; Grohl’s voice sounded tentative as he got used to the idea of being in front of the mic and occupying the lion’s share of the spotlight and, particularly on the first Foos effort, great big rock riffs were uncommon. That was over a decade ago though and, since then, the project has blossomed into its own monster; multi-platinum sales that have nothing to do with the singer’s resume, and Grohl has come into his own from a vocal standpoint. Whereas once he whispered, now he howls in a tenor that mirrors the gods of rock and plays high-profile shows like this one at Wembley Stadium in front of eighty-six thousand screaming fans – some of which aren’t old enough to remember when Grohl’s regular position was behind another band.
Without a doubt, Live At Wembley Stadium is designed to be a crowning achievement for the Foo Fighters. In addition to the current line-up of players (Taylor Hawkins on drums, Nate Mendel on bass and most recent addition Chris Shiflett on guitar), departed guitarist Pat Smear appears here along with a few other guests that show up to lend a hand and thus giving an already special show (the largest of the band’s career) a huge, bombastic all-star feel. The set list reflects that too; ignoring the material from the first album wholesale, the Foo Fighters dig into the stadium-ready rock that Grohl has been writing ever since and rises to the challenge of reaching every set of ears in attendance. It works too – from the eruption of “Times Like These,” Grohl has eighty-six thousand people eating out of his hand as they all lose themselves in songs including “Stacked Actors,” “Monkey Wrench,” the Nirvana throwback ecstasy of “Marigold” and “My Hero.” As accustomed to fans singing along as he be, the singer is unable to hide the touched expression on his face as every soul in the stadium sings along to “Long Road To Ruin” too; not that Grohl has ever phoned in a show, but that’s the moment that he obviously feels compelled to give the throng everything he has with no holding back.
While the show is at no point left lacking (the versions of “Stacked Actors,” “All My Life” and “Best Of You” could be considered definitive live performances of those songs) in its own right and, outside of maybe an encore of “X-Static,” even the most militant of supporters would be hard-pressed to ask for a better concert, Grohl has the biggest of big surprises in mind for the attendees at Wembley. Even if you’re watching the multi-cam-shot DVD from the comfy seat at home, your heart will skip a beat when, as the band exit’s the stage and the energy ebbs a little, suddenly Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones appear with Grohl and Taylor Hawkins and pick up instruments. For two drummers, sharing the stage with half of Led Zeppelin and getting the chance to sit in for John Bonham is the sort of thing that dreams are made of and one look at the faces of Hawkins and Grohl as they take turns sitting at the kit and standing at the mic for renditions of “Rcok & Roll” (with Grohl on drums) and “Ramble On” (with Grohl on vocals) tells viewers that, no matter what they’ve seen or experienced before, this is something to savour and the pair are in fits of ecstasy at a childhood fantasy come true. As if to remove all doubt of that fact, as the set closes, the singer does go so far as to welcome the crowd to the best night of his life and one look at the expression on Dave Grohl’s face removes any question of his sincerity.
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