From Tenacious D to Van Halen: Foo Fighters delivered a unique night in Denver in 2024

On August 3, 2024, Foo Fighters gave their fans in Denver a unique treat by playing a segment of a Tenacious D cover, marking a first in their live performances. Later that evening, they invited Wolfgang Van Halen onstage to perform Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” right after Foo Fighters’ song "Monkeywrench" (which, for many, is a key song from the Foo Fighters discography).

The connection between Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl and the comedic rock duo Tenacious D, featuring actor-musicians Jack Black and Kyle Gass, runs deep. Grohl not only voiced Beelzeboss in Tenacious D’s 2006 film The Pick of Destiny, but he’s also been the drummer on all four of the group’s studio albums. Despite this strong relationship, Foo Fighters have rarely covered Tenacious D in their live shows, even in brief little "experimental" moments between songs.

According to setlist.fm, the band previously played "City Hall" and "Double Team" in 2000, marking the only other instances they performed Tenacious D covers. During the August 3 concert, Grohl teased the audience by playing the intro to Tenacious D’s "Tribute" on acoustic guitar, accompanied by Rami Jaffee on accordion. Grohl jokingly told the crowd, "You thought I was going to play a Tenacious D song, didn't you?" before playfully singing a few lines and admitting that he didn’t know the song well enough to continue. This moment of spontaneity captivated the audience, adding a special twist to the setlist (though some booed when they did not finish the song).

Grohl has become almost an ambassador for rock over the years, recently generating headlines for a humorous spat with Taylor Swift (he noted that "We like to call our tour the 'Errors Tour," because their band is more freewheling and less intensely choreographed than the pop star's).

Controversy surrounding Tenacious D

The Foo Fighters' unexpected cover came during a tumultuous period for Tenacious D. Just days before, Tenacious D faced backlash for an incident at a show in Australia, which occurred shortly after an attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump. During the concert, Jack Black presented Kyle Gass with a birthday cake and asked him to make a wish, prompting Gass to joke about the attempt on Trump’s life, saying, "Don’t miss Trump next time."

This offhand comment ignited a storm of controversy, with many interpreting it as either highly insensitive or a potential call for further violence — perhaps making his birthday reminiscent of a line from Macbeth: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen." While Jack Black, who had endorsed Joe Biden in the 2024 U.S. presidential race, later distanced himself from Gass’ remarks, stating that he did not support political violence, the damage had already been done. Gass also issued a statement apologizing for his comment, but later deleted it from his social media accounts.

In the wake of the incident, Gass was reportedly dropped by his talent agency, and Tenacious D announced the suspension of their upcoming tour dates, putting all future plans on hold. Still, the Foo Fighters' willingness to shrug off the controversy suggests Tenacious D will still have a place, and Jack Black himself has said his band will return when it feels right.

Wolfgang Van Halen’s guest appearance

The Denver concert also included a standout performance featuring Wolfgang Van Halen, the son of the legendary Eddie Van Halen and frontman of MammothWVH. After Foo Fighters wrapped up "Monkeywrench," drummer Josh Freese seamlessly transitioned into the iconic drum intro of Van Halen’ "Hot for Teacher." Wolfgang took the stage with his guitar, delivering a blistering rendition of the song’s opening, which thrilled the crowd.

This wasn’t the first time Wolfgang Van Halen joined Foo Fighters for a Van Halen classic. He had also performed "Hot for Teacher" during the 2022 tribute concert for the late Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters’ drummer, who passed away earlier that year. Also, earlier in 2024, Freese did a "Little impromptu ‘Hot For Teacher’ nod" during a live show.

Foo Fighters' place in rock history

Since forming in 1994, Foo Fighters have earned their status as one of modern rock's most successful acts. Led by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the band has released ten studio albums and earned 15 Grammy Awards, including four for Best Rock Album. They even won the first "Global Icon" award at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards (surprisingly, yes, MTV is still a thing and, to a small degree, still is involved in music).

Known for their high-energy live performances, the Foo Fighters frequently incorporates covers into their sets, paying homage to the rock icons that have influenced them. While their August 3 show marked only the third time they’ve covered a Tenacious D song, the performance showcased Foo Fighters' versatility and their ability to create unforgettable moments onstage.

Still, it's probably not the most iconic Foo Fighters gig for Grohl. He has said that was a 2015 show at the home stadium of the Boston Red Sox, where he got to sit on a throne with a cupholder full of Jägermeister while getting to play guitar all night. It sounds like he's a had quite a journey since his "Smells Like Teen Spirit" days.