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Dave Grohl Says AC/DC Set Left Him in Tears

The Foo Fighters frontman described breaking down after joining AC/DC onstage for Highway to Hell at MetLife Stadium last month.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Rock

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Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl said playing AC/DC's Highway to Hell with the band at MetLife Stadium last month left him sobbing backstage. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Dave Grohl said performing onstage with AC/DC left him sobbing after the Foo Fighters played Highway to Hell during a second show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, last month. He shared the account in an interview with New Zealand radio station The Rock.

Why it matters

The Foo Fighters were brought in to support AC/DC after The Pretty Reckless were forced to drop out of the lineup. Grohl's recollection of the moment highlights the personal weight the appearance carried for a musician who first watched AC/DC's 1980 documentary Let There Be Rock at age 11.

Foo Fighters played two dates supporting AC/DC last month, with the second at MetLife Stadium following the withdrawal of The Pretty Reckless. Grohl's account of the performance was given in an interview and has not been independently corroborated in the source material.

The players

Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl is the frontman of the Foo Fighters and a former drummer for Nirvana, widely known for his influence across rock music.

AC/DC

AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band formed in 1973, known for albums such as Highway to Hell and Back in Black.

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed by Dave Grohl in 1994 after the breakup of Nirvana.

The details

Grohl joined AC/DC onstage during the second show, and his wife watched from the side of the stage. He said he walked off and broke down in tears after playing Highway to Hell, a song tied to his childhood fascination with the band.

Timeline

  1. Last month (October 2026): Foo Fighters played two dates with AC/DC, including the MetLife Stadium show.

  2. 1980: AC/DC's documentary Let There Be Rock was released, which Grohl watched at age 11.

  3. January 2027: Foo Fighters play two dates in New Zealand.

Industry Dynamics

The appearance reflects how legacy rock acts such as AC/DC continue to draw major stadium lineups, with newer bands like the Foo Fighters often serving as support. Grohl's decades-long connection to the band, which began with Let There Be Rock, underscores how influence passes between generations of rock musicians.

Fans in New Zealand can see the Foo Fighters at two January shows, and the band's Australia stadium dates are underway this week. Tour details and ticket information for the upcoming India and South America dates are not included in the source material.

The takeaway

Grohl's reaction shows that performing alongside a band that shaped your youth can carry emotional weight beyond the stage moment. For readers following rock tours, stadium dates often bring together artists across generations.

What happens next

Foo Fighters begin their Australia stadium tour of Take Cover 2026/27 this week and return to New Zealand for two dates in January 2027.

Further reading

For more on rock tours and stadium shows, explore the Rock section.

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