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At the end of last year, Dave Grohl said the Foos were gonna take a long break from the playing and the writing and the appearing at things. But when Top Chef calls, you man up. And since you’re already out there, you may as well say OK when Obama and the USO invite you to play an Independence Day concert on the White House lawn. According to the hill.com, Jimmy Fallon MC’d the event, saying “Look at where we are, that’s the White House,” adding, unpredictably, “This is awesome.” Which it probably was. The President honored the military families in attendance, Michelle Branch did a thing, and it all concluded with about six songs from Foo Fighters. Their set was cut off by the fireworks display on the mall, but not before the debut of this new song titled “Wheels.” It’s the closest the Foos have come to writing a Tom Petty song yet.

UPDATE: Performance was taken down from YouTube, but you can try this studio audio rip, which has been hilariously transposed so the copyright-sniffing robots don’t find it.

I guess we should be on the look out for new Foo material. [Grohl pic via patti_heck.]

UPDATE: This just in from the PR tap…

The studio version of “Wheels” will be one of two new tracks the band has recorded with producer Butch Vig specifically for an as yet untitled collection due out this November.

A collection will probably be the long overdue greatest hits set, so there you go.

Comments (30)
  1. Seymour Butts  |   Posted on Jul 6th, 2009

    Congratulations Dave Grohl! It’s official- you’ve just won the coveted position of “Biggest Douchbag in Music”. Go someplace far away and enjoy your victory. No seriously, just put down the guitar and leave. Right now please. And don’t ever come back.

    • FreshFighter  |   Posted on Jul 7th, 2009

      Is he a douchebag for wanting to play a concert at the White House, or because he finds himself driven to do what he’s being payed millions of dollars to do and promote his music?

    • Seymour Butts…go kill yourself. please hang your self or shoot your self or burn yourself or something. you dont deserve to live. dave grohl kicks ass. you suck ass. go suck a cock.

  2. Shockadow  |   Posted on Jul 6th, 2009

    SEMORE BUTTS??? That’s somebode else, already. At least Dave Grohl is original for the most part.
    I should add that Dave Grohl has never done anything douchey whether it’s his bands(Nirvana, Foo Fighters) or his side projects (Queens of the Stone Age, Probot, & the new revelation that he is recording with Josh Homme & LED F’n ZEPPELIN!!!)
    Seymore Butts is a washed up male porn star. Way to pick a good moniker & then cast dispursions…
    Classic!
    Who’s the douche?

    • I don’t think he is recording with Led Zeppelin. Maybe John Paul Jones which would be 1/4 of the great band and there for by definition not actually Led Zeppelin. Exciting none the less.

  3. dusen  |   Posted on Jul 6th, 2009

    As much as I have loved the Foo FIghters (particularly between 97-2000), I also think they should call it a day. Dave Grohl’s a cool dude and all, but I think they’ve said everything they can possibly say over the course of 6 albums. Time for Dave to move on to the next chapter of his musical life.

  4. with the Tom Petty reference in mind, this would be the sequel to Learning To Fly, yeah? And since Foo’s have a song of the same title (basically), we’ll probably see them close in a setlist.

    Its not bad though. Not really original, but as far as pop songs go, its not bad. i’d hoe my garden to it, and then expect it on a Cameron Crowe soundtrack.

  5. I really love this guy and a shit ton of the records he’s been a part of, but good things don’t always last.

    Whatever- how many of his peers have started sucking in many more terrible, adventurous and frightening ways? Billy Corgan wrestling ad anyone?

  6. Dave Grohl is just a cool dude

  7. Greg  |   Posted on Jul 6th, 2009

    Great cover of Learning to Fly. Love how he improvises extra lyrics. Which bar is this band playing in?

  8. chonez  |   Posted on Jul 6th, 2009

    Whoa! Sounds like someone needs a Footos.

  9. In a way I kinda understand why Dave would write a pop-sounding song like this. He’s obviously pressured from RCA to release something guaranteed to sell the greatest hits disc.

    I hate to say this Dave but the Foo Fighters of today are not even half as good as the 20th century Foo Fighters.

  10. I think Dave is a pretty cool guy but the Foo Fighters music is just painfully boring. I would rather listen to the death rattle of my only child then listen to that shit.

  11. Scott  |   Posted on Jul 11th, 2009

    The foo’s are and always will be an amazing band. they play heavy song and they play soft songs, whats wrong with that stop your moaning.

  12. after playing Satan for the D, it’s a good balance to play the White House, especially with so many people treating Obama like Jesus last year (*ZING!!*). I do kinda miss the rawness of Grohl’s early days, though, but if he’s on the kit for that JPJ/Homme project, that should redeem a bit.

  13. Too bad this song isn’t Damn You Damn Everyone or I’m Alone Again – both those songs kick this one’s ass! Hope they make the comp! (& yes 20th century Foos were MUCH MUCH MUCH better!)

  14. Yeah, cause obviosuly your all so perfect. THis is his job, deal with it. Just casue you want a fucknig cool rock band and people to actaully like it, you have to rip on everyone else. Dicks!

  15. The Melodious Nocturne  |   Posted on Jul 26th, 2009

    I think some of their songs have become deeper. I really enjoy Still and Skin And Bones, but their latest singles aren’t good. i would much rather hear But Honestly or Let It Die than The Pretender or Long Road To Ruin. i genuinly feel that way with most albums, but this is different. i almost shun these songs, because their are just so soulless and not-foo-like. But that’s just my opinion. This migh be another album like E,S,P&G, but i’ll wait and see. I have trust in Dsve (GOD!) Grohl and the crew. I think they will find their path back one day:)

  16. You suck! Dave Grohl is awesome why don’t YOU go and leave and stop going to here. You’re the one who looked-up Foo Fighters so why you complaining about them!!!

  17. Jack  |   Posted on Aug 17th, 2009

    Was Dave Grohl supposed to scream his balls off in front of the President of the U.S.A.? And Dave Grohl himself said that their 3rd record (Nothing Left To Lose) was a pretty “mellow record by their standards”. After Stacked Actors and Breakout. I think this song could fit in with that album and songs like ‘Next Year’ and definitely ‘Learn To Fly’. And if you don’t like one song why make such a big song and dance about it, ass suckers.

  18. alec  |   Posted on Sep 6th, 2009

    this isnt even tyhe foo fighters

  19. josh  |   Posted on Oct 4th, 2009

    “wheels” is very much in the same vein as many of the songs by aussie band Powderfinger..they’re huge in OZ….wonder if dave got some inspiration down here….anyone???

  20. Sorry people cant say i enjoyed it.

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