Cesena Takes Flight
November 11, 2015 6:23 PM   Subscribe

Remember back in July, when 1000 musicians all gathered in the Italian city of Cesena in a bid to get the Foo Fighters to come play a concert there? Remember when Dave Grohl responded by saying the Foo Fighters would? He meant it - last week, on November 2nd, the Foo Fighters played for an audience of 3000 in Cesena, and the videos are starting to show up online now.

The band cut right to the chase and opened with Learn To Fly, before Dave thanked everyone with a lengthy speech, and encouraged them to do the same to bring other bands to town - "And if they say no, you know what you say? 'Vaffanculo!'” (Or: "Fuck you!")

Later they dedicated "My Hero" to Rockin 1000 organizer Fabio Zaffagnini, who crowd-surfed his way to the stage where he made his own speech from the Dave Grohl chair. When they saw another Rockin 1000 member in the crowd - the drummer with a distinctive mohawk - they invited him up too, to play drums on "Under Pressure". The band wrapped things up with fan favorite Everlong.

Staff for Rockin 1000 also organized a party after the concert for the Rockin 1000 band members and donors, and Dave Grohl made an appearance here as well, before joining a jam session with some of the band members.

So what's next? For the Foo Fighters, they continue on to further shows in Europe. But for Fabio and the Rockin 100 organizers, according to interviews he's already talking about going Global, recruiting other musicians worldwide for similar stunts.

Previously.
posted by EmpressCallipygos (22 comments total) 23 users marked this as a favorite
 
Oh, how cool. Dave Grohl may not be the rock star we expected, but he is certainly turning out to be the rock star we need.
posted by yhbc at 6:30 PM on November 11, 2015 [16 favorites]


It feels like this has already happened twice.
posted by unknowncommand at 6:39 PM on November 11, 2015


Oh, did someone already make a post and it get cut? Sorry, mods....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:41 PM on November 11, 2015


I'm not the biggest fan of the Foo Fighters, but Dave Grohl seems to be an all-around good dude from everything I hear. And this is just more proof.

(I do like his work with Josh Homme's various projects, but his own stuff just doesn't work for me for whatever reason).
posted by downtohisturtles at 6:43 PM on November 11, 2015 [1 favorite]


No no, I assume it's some weird instance of deja deja vu. I seriously could have sworn this already happened twice.
posted by unknowncommand at 6:52 PM on November 11, 2015


cleanup teams are standing by to collect all the asses that were rocked off
posted by indubitable at 7:09 PM on November 11, 2015 [3 favorites]


I assume it's some weird instance of deja deja vu. I seriously could have sworn this already happened twice.

Well, this HAS been an unusually eventful tour for the band; they've dealt with broken legs, and Queen, and audience members coming onstage and Dave getting attacked by a curtain and the Westboro Baptists all in one tour.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:20 PM on November 11, 2015 [2 favorites]


Didn't he break his foot back before July 4? Surprised that he is still in a boot.
posted by COD at 7:47 PM on November 11, 2015


Dave Grohl for president!
posted by photoslob at 8:12 PM on November 11, 2015


Grohl is like some over the top superfan. I probably don't like most FF songs, but their covers are so great and his attitude toward stardom and fans so awesome I'll defend them forever.

The time he spent with Queens of the Stone Age was pretty awesome.
posted by clvrmnky at 9:02 PM on November 11, 2015


A successful businessman responds to evidence of demand by supplying his product, and uses it as a marketing opportunity. Rock on!
posted by robcorr at 10:23 PM on November 11, 2015


A successful businessman responds to evidence of demand by supplying his product, and uses it as a marketing opportunity. Rock on!

Yeah what an asshole. Doesn't he know he's supposed to treat his fans like shit or, at best, just ignore them.
posted by dogwalker at 10:33 PM on November 11, 2015 [9 favorites]


EmpressCallipygos: “When they saw another Rockin 1000 member in the crowd - the drummer with a distinctive mohawk - they invited him up too , to play drums on "Under Pressure". ”
Gabriele "Mohawk-guy" Andreucci was outstanding on drums for having come up from the crowd to play on a big number like that. It takes real guts to not be afraid of the crowd or star-struck by the big rock stars you're playing with. Especially when two of them are well known as world-class drummers.
posted by ob1quixote at 10:47 PM on November 11, 2015 [2 favorites]


Mohawk guy star-struck? Doesn't look possible. If success=opportunity meets preparation, well, lets just say he was prepared for his opportunity.

Someone should count the number of drumstick twirls he pulled off during this performance.
posted by C.A.S. at 2:21 AM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]


You know the thing I love about Dave Grohl is that every time I see of video of him playing live, he looks like he's having the time of his life. No matter where he is playing, no matter what he is playing, he is having an absolute blast. He loves music, he loves playing music, he loves playing with anyone who also loves playing it and I think he kept touring after the leg break as much because he loves rocking out as he loves his fans.

If ever there was somebody who was living his dream job, it's Dave Grohl. Its really awesome to see somebody who has achieved that in their life because its a rare and beautiful thing.
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:06 AM on November 12, 2015 [12 favorites]


The thing that tipped me over into "yes, I will post this FPP" was the look on Fabio's face during that clip of "My Hero". SO damn happy.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:28 AM on November 12, 2015 [2 favorites]


here he made his own speech from the Dave Grohl chair.

Umm, I think you mean the Dave Grohl Resplendent Throne of Rock.
posted by dry white toast at 4:24 AM on November 12, 2015 [1 favorite]


I'm not the biggest fan of the Foo Fighters, but Dave Grohl seems to be an all-around good dude from everything I hear. And this is just more proof.

This is my take. Their music doesn't do anything for me, but he seems like he is having fun and rocking out.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:33 AM on November 12, 2015


A successful businessman responds to evidence of demand by supplying his product, and uses it as a marketing opportunity.

There's a lot to be cynical about on the Internet and the world in general but this story, from start to finish, and really the band itself, is not one of them. I admire your effort, sir.
posted by bondcliff at 6:37 AM on November 12, 2015 [4 favorites]


I quite like Dave Grohl and the Foos. I consider them to be one of the saviors of guitar rock following the implosions of grunge and 90's pop.
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 6:50 AM on November 12, 2015


I am big fan of Foo Fighters' own music, but the sheer enthusiasm with which they play covers shows that Dave and the boys are fans of rock and roll music as much as those of us untalented fools who will never pick up an instrument. Watching Dave makes me feel 10 years old and listening to Led Zeppelin's debut LP for the first time. Chills down the spine. Then as now.
posted by three blind mice at 11:53 AM on November 12, 2015


Have a better link to Gabriele "Mohawk Guy"'s performance.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:03 PM on November 12, 2015 [2 favorites]


« Older Meet the most decorated detective in NYPD history   |   Before the day is over, perhaps we could take just... Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments