Dave Grohl on Foo Fighters headlining Download Festival: 'Maybe it's time'
Foo Fighters have never played Donington
Dave Grohl has admitted to Kerrang! Radio that “maybe it’s time” for Foo Fighters to finally headline Download Festival.
Astonishingly, Foo Fighters have never played Download Festival since the Donington rock extravaganza’s inception 23 years ago.
Speaking to Planet Rock back in 2023, the event’s founder and former booker Andy Copping named Foo Fighters as among the acts he still wants to headline Download Festival. However, it’s still yet to happen.
In a new interview with Kerrang! Radio’s Sophie K to celebrate the announcement of Foo Fighters’ new album ‘Your Favourite Toy’, Sophie told Foo Fighters: “You haven’t played Download Festival yet. This is my plea on behalf of everyone who’s ever been to Download Festival. We need you there. We would love to have you there.”
When Dave responded, “Really? There’s so many great bands”, Sophie quipped: “Not as in ‘it’s bad, we need you there’… sorry I just got taken off the (guest) list!”
Continuing her pitch, Sophie added: “So many great bands have played but whenever you see the forums, everyone’s like ‘Foo Fighters (should play)’. When the announcement’s about to happen, ‘do you think it’s going to be Foo Fighters this year?’ Everyone is wanting you to play and I feel like with this new album, just putting it out there.”
Dave replied: “It’s like Download type of album? Maybe we should do it. Maybe it’s time.”
After all members of the Foo Fighters confirmed they’ve never been or played Download before, Sophie stated: “We’re making this happen. If Download are watching right now, we’re gonna send this straight to them and make sure they get you booked.”
Promisingly, bassist Nate Mendel chipped in: “Overdue.”
Earlier today, Download Festival added 14 more bands to the line-up, revealed the day splits, and announced that day tickets are going on sale.
The 20 greatest Donington headliners:
20 – ZZ Top
ZZ Top headlined Monsters of Rock in 1985
19 – System of a Down
System of a Down headlined Download Festival in 2005, 2011 and 2017
18 – Def Leppard
Def Leppard headlined Download Festival in 2009, 2011 and 2019
17 – Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne headlined Monsters of Rock in 1986 and co-headlined with KISS in 1996
He also topped the bill at Download Festival in 2018
16 – The Prodigy
The Prodigy headlined Download Festival in 2012
15 – Muse
Muse headlined Download Festival in 2015
14 – Status Quo
Status Quo headlined Monsters of Rock in 1982
13 – Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi headlined Monsters of Rock in 1987
12 – Guns N’ Roses
Guns N' Roses headlined Download Festival in 2006 and 2018
11 – Linkin Park
Linkin Park headlined Download Festival in 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2014
10 – KISS
KISS co-headlined Monsters of Rock with Ozzy Osbourne in 1996
They went on to headline Download Festival in 2008, 2015 and 2022
9 – Rainbow
Rainbow headlined Monsters of Rock in 1980
8 – Aerosmith
Aerosmith headlined Monsters of Rock in 1994
7 – Whitesnake
Whitesnake headlined Monsters of Rock in 1983 and 1990
6 – Slipknot
Slipknot headlined Download Festival in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2023
5 – Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath headlined Download Festival in 2005, 2012 and 2016
4 – Rammstein
Rammstein headlined Download Festival in 2013 and 2016
3 – Metallica
Metallica headlined Monsters of Rock in 1995
They also headlined Download Festival in 2004, 2006, 2012 and 2023 (twice)
2 – AC/DC
AC/DC headlined Monsters of Rock in 1981, 1984, 1991
They headlined Download Festival in 2010
1 – Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden headlined Monsters of Rock in 1988, 1992
They also headlined Download Festival in 2003, 2007, 2013, 2016, 2022