Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington formed in 1994 consisting of former Nirvana drummer and band founder and lead vocalist David "Dave" Grohl (born January 14, 1969), bassist Nathan "Nate" Mendel (born December 2, 1968), guitarist Pat Smear (born August 5, 1959), drummer Oliver Taylor Hawkins (born February 17, 1972-died March 25, 2022), later Josh Freese (born December 25, 1972) and lead guitarist Christopher "Chris" Shiflett (born May 6, 1971) with former members William Goldsmith (born July 4, 1972) who was a member of the band from 1995 to 1997 and Franz Stahl (born October 30, 1962) who was a member of the band from 1997 to 1999.
Prior to the release of the Foo Fighters' 1995 eponymous debut album, Grohl recruited Mendel and Goldsmith, both formerly of Sunny Day Real Estate, and Smear, who had played with Nirvana on tour. The band began with performances in Portland, Oregon. Goldsmith quit during the recording of their second album, The Colour and the Shape (1997); most of the drum parts were re-recorded by Grohl. Smear departed soon afterward but appeared as a guest with the band frequently from 2005; he rejoined in 2010.
Smear and Goldsmith were replaced by Franz Stahl and Taylor Hawkins; Stahl was fired before the recording of the group's third album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999). The band briefly continued as a trio until Chris Shiflett joined on guitar after the completion of There Is Nothing Left to Lose. Foo Fighters released their fourth album, One by One, in 2002. It was followed with the two-disc In Your Honor (2005), which was split between acoustic songs and heavier material. Foo Fighters released their sixth album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, in 2007.
For Foo Fighters' seventh studio album, Wasting Light (2011), produced by Butch Vig, Smear returned as a full member. Sonic Highways (2014) was released as the soundtrack to the television miniseries directed by Grohl. Concrete and Gold (2017) was the second Foo Fighters album to reach number one in the United States and their first studio album to feature longtime session and touring keyboardist Rami Jaffee as a full member. The band's tenth album, Medicine at Midnight (2021), was the last before Hawkins' death in March 2022; Josh Freese was announced as Hawkins' replacement the following year. Their eleventh album, But Here We Are, was released in June 2023.
Over the course of their career, Foo Fighters have won 15 Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album five times, making them among the most successful rock acts in Grammy history. In 2021, the band was announced as recipients of the first-ever "Global Icon" award at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, their first year of eligibility.
They appeared on Saturday Night Live as the musical guests nine times on the following dates:
- December 2, 1995, the seventh episode of Season 21, hosted by ER star Anthony Edwards. It also considered to be both their SNL (and musical guest debut). They performed "I'll Stick Around" and "For All the Cows".
- November 6, 1999, the fourth episode of Season 25, hosted by actor Dylan McDermott. They made their 2nd musical guest appearance and performed "Learn to Fly" and "Stacked Actors".
- February 22, 2003, the thirteenth episode of Season 28, hosted by actor Christopher Walken. They made their 3rd musical guest appearance and performed "All My Life" and "Times Like These".
- November 12, 2005, the fifth episode of Season 31, hosted by My Name is Earl star Jason Lee. They made their 4th musical guest appearance and performed "DOA" and "Best of You".
- October 13, 2007, the third episode of Season 33, hosted by Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi. They performed "The Pretender". Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins also appeared in the SNL Digital Short. This is also their 5th musical guest appearance making them part of the Five-Timers Club.
- April 9, 2011, the nineteenth episode of Season 36, hosted by English actress Dame Helen Mirren. They made their 6th musical guest appearance and performed "Rope" and "Walk". Dave Grohl also appeared in the SNL Digital Short: Helen Mirren's Magical Bosom and as Tony in the "Bongo's Clown Room" sketch.
- They also appeared as a special guest on May 19, 2012, which is the Season 37 finale, where they performed a medley of "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" with Mick Jagger (who is also the host and musical guest).
- December 16, 2017, the ninth episode and the Christmas show of Season 43, hosted by comedian and actor Kevin Hart. They made their 7th musical guest appearance and Grohl's 12th musical guest appearance. They performed "The Sky Is a Neighborhood" and a Christmas medley of "Everlong", "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and "Linus and Lucy".
- November 7, 2020, the sixth episode and the second-post election episode of Season 46, hosted by stand-up comedian and actor Dave Chappelle, the show following the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Earlier that day, Joe Biden was named as the 46th president of the United States. They made their 8th musical guest appearance, as well as Dave Grohl's record 14th musical guest stint. They performed "Shame Shame" and "Times Like These".
- They were supposed to perform on the show on May 20, 2023, which would've been the season finale of Season 48, had it not been for the 2023 Writers Guild of America Strike. It would've been their first performance on the show since Hawkins' death in 2022.
- October 28, 2023, the third episode and Halloween show of Season 49, hosted by legendary stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze. They made their 9th musical guest appearance, as well as Grohl's record 15th time as the musical guest. They performed "Rescued" and "The Glass" with H.E.R.. Additionally, Dave Grohl appeared in the pre-recorded "Lake House" sketch and the "Airplane" sketch.
Notes[]
Grohl has appeared on the show a total of 15 times, nine with Foo Fighters, twice with Nirvana, on January 11, 1992 and September 25, 1993, once with Them Crooked Vultures, and once as the drummer with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.