The Foo Fighters delivered a fiery, electrifying rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” at the Kennedy Center Honors, with Dave Grohl slamming the drums and the late Taylor Hawkins taking center stage as the powerful frontman. Hawkins, a phenomenal singer and rock wailer, proved his incredible versatility, stepping out from behind the drums and leading the band with raw energy.
The hard-hitting, fast-paced performance left the surviving Zeppelin legends, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, grinning ear to ear. The Foos brought a rambunctious, no-holds-barred version of the 1971 classic, paying a fitting tribute to one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
After their heartfelt speeches, the Foo Fighters returned to the stage for an unforgettable moment as Paul McCartney joined them to close the show with a lively cover of The Beatles’ “Get Back.” The Foos’ take on the 1969 classic stayed true to the original, but with an added bounce, as they jammed with McCartney, whose excitement was palpable. With a twinkle in his eye, McCartney playfully traded falsetto lines with Grohl, sharing a mic and goofing around.
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame during their first year of eligibility—just like Grohl’s previous band, Nirvana—the Foo Fighters had a memorable night in Cleveland. Grohl reflected on the contrast between the two inductions, noting that Nirvana’s induction in 2014 was bittersweet due to Kurt Cobain’s absence, while this moment felt more celebratory, honoring his band’s own legacy.
Dave Grohl has had his fair share of unforgettable moments at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions. In 2013, alongside Taylor Hawkins, he inducted Rush with a colorful speech before donning kimonos to perform an epic rendition of “2112” with the legendary Canadian band. Then, in 2015, Grohl joined Joan Jett and Miley Cyrus for a memorable performance during Jett’s induction, where, after the show, he found himself in a dressing room sharing a joint with Joan and Miley.
Reflecting on the moment, Grohl admitted, “I remember looking over, staring at Jerry Lee Lewis and just being… I don’t even have the words to describe it. I was tripping f***ing balls.”
