Foo Fighters are set to perform in Liverpool this week, but it isn't the first time frontman Dave Grohl has performed at Anfield Stadium. Dave joined Sir Paul McCartney on stage in 2008 at the home of Liverpool FC for the legendary Beatle's show in celebration of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture. Dave also joined Sir Paul and Bruce Springsteen on stage at the Glastonbury Festival back in 2022 during Sir Paul's Pyramid Stage headline slot.
Friendship and Favour
The two have a close friendship which has led to speculation that Sir Paul could appear at Anfield once again, as he did during Bruce Springsteen's second Anfield show last summer. Speaking on Absolute Radio's Dave Berry Breakfast on Monday, February 23, frontman Dave Grohl discussed his friendship with the Beatle, as well as the band's upcoming UK shows.
Presenter Dave Berry asked whether Dave was looking forward to going back to Anfield and if Paul McCartney would "return the favour" and join the band on stage. Dave said: "When I first found out we were doing that gig I let him know and he was like, 'Oh you're going to have a blast, it'll be amazing.'"
UK Shows and Liverpool Debut
Dave added: "Yeah, Liverpool's awesome, that place is great! I was actually surprised we're only doing two shows in the UK on that trip. I think that we should do more." Lead guitarist Chris Shiflett noted: "Do you know we have never played Liverpool in the years I've been in the band? I've never been to Liverpool in my life. I'm going to do all the tourist stuff for sure."
Heartwarming Bond
Dave Grohl has previously spoken about his relationship with Sir Paul in various interviews. Speaking to Graham Norton in 2022, he shared how the friendship gained momentum due to the bond between their wives, Jordyn Blum and Nancy Shevell. He said: "His wife [Nancy] and my wife [Jordyn] swapped numbers. So every time he'd come to Los Angeles, his wife would text my wife and say: 'hey, we're going to dinner, would you like to come to dinner.' Of course my wife knows who Paul McCartney is but I don't know if he means the same to her as he does to me. He's a Beatle. That's how I learned to play music."
Dave explained how Sir Paul and Nancy arranged to come over to their house after the birth of youngest child Ophelia. He added: "Of course, my kids know who the Beatles are because I brainwashed them when they were young with all of the Beatles music. We have wine, pizza, and we're hanging out. And it's time for Paul to go. Paul and Nancy were leaving. There's a piano in the corner of the room and he just can't help himself, you know. So he sits down at the piano and he starts playing Lady Madonna in my f*****g house. And my mind is blown. I can't believe this is happening. This is the most full circle, crazy moment of my entire life. My daughter, Harper, who I think was five at the time, is watching Paul McCartney on the piano. She goes to the kitchen, gets a coffee cup, she puts some spare change in it and puts it on top of the piano like it's a tip jar. And I thought, 'she's a girl, I like that.'"
Dave was visibly moved as he explained the heartwarming moment. He said: "She'd never taken a lesson to play any instrument at that point. And she sat down and she watched his hands. They sat together and he was showing her what to play and they wrote a song together. As they were doing it, it was the only time I've ever taken a picture of Paul. Because to me, I don't really want to do that, I just want to be his friend. But I saw my daughter getting her first piano lesson from Paul McCartney and I took a video."
