Fact #150347
When:
Short story:
The Foo Fighters play a secret invitations-only gig at The Cheese And Grain Hall, Frome, Somerset, England, UK, Europe. The gig is a promotional device to announce that the band will be headlining Glastonbury Festival later in the year.Full article:
Danny Biggane (reviewer, Bath Chronicle) : From around 4pm, on a sunny but crisp February afternoon, a crowd had started to steadily form around a cornered off side of the C&G, hoping to catch a glimpse of Dave, Pat, Taylor, Nate or Chris. As the excitement started to build, it was Pat Smear who stepped out to chat with fans, pose for selfies and sign precious record sleeves. A true gentleman and absolute legend.
Over on the other side of the C&G, behind specially erected barriers, a queue of lucky golden ticket holders was growing in size. As dusk set in a queue of guest listers had also started to form ... Jo Whiley turned up with some BBC radio chums, while various newshounds sought out the best position for their live broadcast - it was all rather exciting, until a pang of regret set in and I realised I wasn't actually going to get in and see the Foos play ... but, hey, I got to shake Pat Smear's hand!
While "Frequent Flyer" wristbands were handed to the VIPs and golden ticket holders excitedly shuffled through the gates, I took to chatting to a cheery bunch who had no tickets but were passionate fans. One lovely lady had travelled down from Manchester, another across from Essex. You might ask: 'why, when there are no tickets available?' ... Well the answer is simple, dedication and utter devotion for the music they love.
We were politely told by security to move to the other side of a barrier, if we weren't guest list or golden ticket holders. Forlornly, we unwittingly formed an unofficial queue. While spirits were high, nobody predicted that the barrier would be removed; that we'd be told to have our £10 Cheese & Grain donation ready; and to move steadily on through to collect our wristbands!
Unbeknown to even the Cheese and Grain staff, 100 or so "Stand By Passenger" wristbands had been put aside by the band for the unlucky fans who had missed out on golden tickets.
I'll level with you, once inside I bumbled around for a bit utterly gobsmacked. Slayer was pumping out from the PA and I bought a cider. Suddenly a familiar west country accent took over the mic: "One of the biggest and best bands in the world today came to Worthy Farm this afternoon to tell me they are gonna headline the Pyramid Stage - Saturday Night! A Big Deal! 24th of June! Be there or be square! Thank you very much ... The Foo Fighters!!" Nice one Mr Eavis...
With a roar, Grohl and co took to the Cheese and Grain stage and launched straight into fan favourite Learn To Fly ... but let's be honest here, a Foo Fighters' setlist is always going to be rammed full with fan favourites - they have so many.
It was the first Foos gig in over a year and the band seemed keen to make up for lost time, blasting through festival-sized anthems such as: White Limo, The Pretender, Walk, My Hero, Cold Day In The Sun (with extended Lee Scratch Perry ska jam in honour of the reggae legend who visits the C&G on March 3), These Days, Wheels, Times Like These, All My Life, Best Of You ... you get the message.
The last time I saw Foo Fighters live, Reading Festival 2012 aside, was from the top tier of row ZZ at Wembley Stadium in 2008, and here they were, up close and personal, in the town I call home.
To my delight, we had a plethora of oldies from 1995's self-titled and The Colour and the Shape (1997): This Is A Call, Hey Johnny Park!, Monkey Wrench, the fan requested Wattershed, Big Me, For All The Cows, Enough Space, and throughout it was visible that the Foos were having fun and enjoying their time in Frome.
But all good things must sadly come to an end and, following the ever emotive Everlong, they were gone. Fans drifted off into the cold February night, beaming smiles on every face, safe in the knowledge they had just witnessed something very special in Somerset.
(With special thanks to Danny Biggane for permission to re-publish this review plus his photograph of the event. There are more pics at http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/foo-fighters-live-in-frome-review/story-30163092-detail/story.html)
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Over on the other side of the C&G, behind specially erected barriers, a queue of lucky golden ticket holders was growing in size. As dusk set in a queue of guest listers had also started to form ... Jo Whiley turned up with some BBC radio chums, while various newshounds sought out the best position for their live broadcast - it was all rather exciting, until a pang of regret set in and I realised I wasn't actually going to get in and see the Foos play ... but, hey, I got to shake Pat Smear's hand!
While "Frequent Flyer" wristbands were handed to the VIPs and golden ticket holders excitedly shuffled through the gates, I took to chatting to a cheery bunch who had no tickets but were passionate fans. One lovely lady had travelled down from Manchester, another across from Essex. You might ask: 'why, when there are no tickets available?' ... Well the answer is simple, dedication and utter devotion for the music they love.
We were politely told by security to move to the other side of a barrier, if we weren't guest list or golden ticket holders. Forlornly, we unwittingly formed an unofficial queue. While spirits were high, nobody predicted that the barrier would be removed; that we'd be told to have our £10 Cheese & Grain donation ready; and to move steadily on through to collect our wristbands!
Unbeknown to even the Cheese and Grain staff, 100 or so "Stand By Passenger" wristbands had been put aside by the band for the unlucky fans who had missed out on golden tickets.
I'll level with you, once inside I bumbled around for a bit utterly gobsmacked. Slayer was pumping out from the PA and I bought a cider. Suddenly a familiar west country accent took over the mic: "One of the biggest and best bands in the world today came to Worthy Farm this afternoon to tell me they are gonna headline the Pyramid Stage - Saturday Night! A Big Deal! 24th of June! Be there or be square! Thank you very much ... The Foo Fighters!!" Nice one Mr Eavis...
With a roar, Grohl and co took to the Cheese and Grain stage and launched straight into fan favourite Learn To Fly ... but let's be honest here, a Foo Fighters' setlist is always going to be rammed full with fan favourites - they have so many.
It was the first Foos gig in over a year and the band seemed keen to make up for lost time, blasting through festival-sized anthems such as: White Limo, The Pretender, Walk, My Hero, Cold Day In The Sun (with extended Lee Scratch Perry ska jam in honour of the reggae legend who visits the C&G on March 3), These Days, Wheels, Times Like These, All My Life, Best Of You ... you get the message.
The last time I saw Foo Fighters live, Reading Festival 2012 aside, was from the top tier of row ZZ at Wembley Stadium in 2008, and here they were, up close and personal, in the town I call home.
To my delight, we had a plethora of oldies from 1995's self-titled and The Colour and the Shape (1997): This Is A Call, Hey Johnny Park!, Monkey Wrench, the fan requested Wattershed, Big Me, For All The Cows, Enough Space, and throughout it was visible that the Foos were having fun and enjoying their time in Frome.
But all good things must sadly come to an end and, following the ever emotive Everlong, they were gone. Fans drifted off into the cold February night, beaming smiles on every face, safe in the knowledge they had just witnessed something very special in Somerset.
(With special thanks to Danny Biggane for permission to re-publish this review plus his photograph of the event. There are more pics at http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/foo-fighters-live-in-frome-review/story-30163092-detail/story.html)