Foo Fighters Surprise Audience With Rick Astley During Live Rendition Of “Never Gonna Give You Up”

Foo Fighters are known for their playful spirit, and their London O2 show truly embodied that vibe. The band pulled off a fantastic surprise by inviting Rick Astley on stage, resulting in an unexpected Rickroll moment for the fans. Astley delighted the audience by performing his iconic hit “Never Gonna Give You Up” alongside the band.

The Foo Fighters made the surprise even more memorable by mashing up Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” with the chords of Astley’s classic song. In response, Astley infused his typically smooth vocals with a bit of rock ‘n’ roll flair, perfectly complementing the band’s energy.

The collaboration was a massive hit, both with the fans in the stadium and online. The audience went wild during the performance, clearly enjoying the unique crossover. As you might expect, the clip quickly became an internet sensation, racking up 9.1 million views, as shown below.

At the time of this unforgettable performance, Rick Astley was 52 years old and had already experienced a period of retirement from music. However, his voice was still as powerful as ever. Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl couldn’t hide his excitement, grinning from ear to ear throughout the entire set.

Interestingly, Foo Fighters and Rick Astley share a history of performing together. Grohl and Astley have teamed up on stage multiple times, most notably in Tokyo, where they spontaneously played “Never Gonna Give You Up” live. This musical partnership has extended beyond the stage, with Astley also covering one of the Foo Fighters’ songs in the studio.

Astley’s rendition of the Foo Fighters’ hit “Everlong” became another viral moment. He performed the song on acoustic guitar, staying true to the original while adding his own vocal dynamics. The cover was a hit online, garnering 5.3 million views.

Astley’s version of “Everlong” was a stunning tribute to the original, with his acoustic performance bringing a fresh perspective to the song. His vocals added an extra layer of emotion and intensity, making it a beautiful cover that resonated with fans.

In an interview with Virgin Radio UK, Astley shared that his first performance with Foo Fighters in Japan was completely spontaneous. He was part of the same festival lineup and decided to watch their set from the side of the stage, as Grohl and Taylor Hawkins are two of his favorite musicians.

During the performance, a Foo Fighters roadie approached Astley, handed him a microphone, and told him, “Dave wants you on stage.” Despite being jet-lagged and having a few beers, Astley jumped at the chance. He later explained that the band had somehow learned “Never Gonna Give You Up” and jammed it, hoping he would join them on stage.

Astley finished his story by recalling how he ended up singing to 50,000 people with the Foo Fighters in what he described as a “weird and wonderful” version of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” He warned viewers about the language in the video, noting that he “just lost himself in that moment,” completely immersed in the experience.