For Dave Grohl, it’s clear: anyone who says that rock doesn’t matter anymore is either not paying attention or doesn’t want to see what the future holds. He’s happy to see that a new generation of rock fans is also growing up. As old hands in the business, the Foo Fighters don’t preach down on them – how could they, after the traumatic experience that overcame them last year.
The Foo Fighters shows at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park are the only ways to see the band live in Europe in 2023. A big thank you to the fans, after all the band is just trying to find a common rhythm again. Taylor Hawkins is sorely absent, hovering above it all, as evidenced in many moments and details of the show. The light-hearted anecdotes, gestures and laughs that were once part of the Foo Fighters’ perfectly meshed show are absent — of course. Nevertheless, the greatest showman Grohl does his best to entertain the audience as usual.
After the opener “All My Life” and “No Son of Mine”, the new track “Rescued” from the album “But Here We Are” released on Friday and “The Pretender”, Grohl then addresses what’s in the air: “We’re just learning how to do it again. Let’s do this together.” It sounds almost apologetic that they had to take some time after the death of their drummer. “All of this has taken a lot out of us, as a band, as a crew, as a family.” Josh Freese is once again a blond Southern Californian in shorts on the drums. “Josh’s been in so many bands, we could just play his songs for two hours” – to support this argument they sing covers of “Whip It” (Devo) and “March of the Pigs” (Nine Inch Nails).
Hawkins’ song “Cold Day in the Sun,” tearfully sung by Dave Grohl at the US shows, is not on the setlist today, but it is his late friend’s favorite Foo Fighters song. However, it also glitters in Grohl’s eyes during the poignant track “Aurora”. The shows on this tour are a bittersweet new beginning.
Limp Bizkit: Knowing where thirst has the curls
To the huge crowd in front of the Main Stage, it seems like this is the moment they’ve been waiting for – and has been since the mid-90’s. Because that Limp Bizkit would remind us of their own Sturm und Drang times live in 2023 with songs like “Nookie”, “Rollin'” and “My Generation” was almost impossible. Fred Durst still sings about sex, tantrums (“Break Stuff” – hello Woodstock 99!) and the “chocolate starfish”, but no longer with a cap, but with a strange, gray curly wig – greetings from homeopathic Ingrid from the drum circle. With a few clownesque gestures, the technical glitch at the beginning can also be covered up. Only much later does one know why Fred Durst so often uses the name “Dave Grohl”: From the edge of the stage, the Foo Fighters musician and his daughter Violet experience what nineties nu metal will sound like in 2023 – just as energetically as when I was a teenager.
In the best weather – not too cold, not too warm and fortunately not raining at all – you can stroll around the Nürburgring. The cashless principle has obviously proven its worth and so this year everything from beer to band pullovers will again be paid for with a chip. A relief that is noticeable in many places through shorter waiting times. Stage hopping between Yungblud, who wears the ring-sleeved shirt, Juju, who is drinking tequila, and Touché Amoré, who sounds brutal, and back to Badmómsjay, is no problem at all.
Apache 207: Late night stop at the gas station
The conclusion of the first day: rock and metal-heavy, but still a successful balance of “blast from the past”, all-time favorites and the sound that will continue to dominate the festival scene in the future. Before the approximately 70,000 spectators head to the tent to rest after a long day on the asphalt, there will be a stopover at the gas station, just like back then, after the village disco. Instead of bockwurst and beer, Apache 207 awaits you on the Mandora Stage with an impressive structure: the artist had the “Apache Oil” gas station built – pyrotechnics are expressly permitted here. For many younger festivalgoers in particular, the act, which throws in hits like “Komet” and “Roller”, but also dance tracks like “Rhythm Is a Dancer”, is undoubtedly THE highlight of the first day at Rock am Ring.