Fans Thrilled As Foo Fighters Perform “Never Gonna Give You Up” Live With Rick Astley

Foo Fighters are known for creating unforgettable experiences at their shows, and their London O2 concert was no exception. The band delighted the audience with a surprise twist, bringing out Rick Astley for a special performance. Astley, who is famous for his hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up,” joined the band onstage, much to the fans’ surprise and delight.

The band cleverly mashed up Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” with the chords of Astley’s iconic track. Astley added his unique touch by infusing a bit of rock ‘n’ roll into his typically smooth vocals, giving the performance an unexpected and exciting edge. The combination of genres and the unexpected collaboration took the audience by storm.

The entire collaboration worked remarkably well, and the crowd in the stadium went wild. Fans were ecstatic, cheering loudly as Foo Fighters and Rick Astley clearly had a blast on stage. It wasn’t just the live audience that appreciated the performance; online fans were equally thrilled. The video clip quickly went viral, amassing 9.1 million views, as you can see here:

At the time of the performance, Rick Astley was 52 years old and had already experienced retirement from the music industry. Despite this, his voice remained as strong as ever. Foo Fighters’ frontman, Dave Grohl, couldn’t hide his joy throughout the performance. His broad smile reflected the fun and surprise element of blending rock with Astley’s classic pop hit.

Surprisingly, this wasn’t the first time Foo Fighters and Rick Astley had performed together. The two have a bit of history, with Grohl sharing the stage with Astley on multiple occasions. One of the most memorable moments was when the Foo Fighters and Astley played “Never Gonna Give You Up” live in Tokyo, a performance that was also spontaneous and left a lasting impression on the audience.

In return, Rick Astley has shown his appreciation for Foo Fighters by covering one of their songs in the studio. His rendition of “Everlong” was a hit in its own right, garnering 5.3 million views. You can watch Astley’s heartfelt cover here:

During the performance of “Everlong,” Astley accompanied himself on acoustic guitar, staying true to the original recording while adding his own vocal flair. His interpretation brought a new depth to the song, making it a beautiful and powerful cover.

In an interview with Virgin Radio UK, Rick Astley shared some behind-the-scenes details about his first performance with Foo Fighters in Japan. He revealed that the moment was entirely spontaneous and unrehearsed. Astley explained that he was on the same festival lineup as Foo Fighters in Japan and watched their set from the side of the stage. As a drummer at heart, Astley admired Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, making the moment even more special.

Astley recalled how a Foo Fighters roadie approached him during the festival, handed him a microphone, and said, “Dave wants you onstage.” Despite being jet-lagged and having had a few beers, Astley couldn’t pass up the opportunity. He then shared an interesting detail, saying that Foo Fighters had somehow learned “Never Gonna Give You Up” and had jammed it with the idea of possibly having Astley perform it live.

Astley concluded his story by recounting how he ended up singing to 50,000 people alongside Foo Fighters in a unique and unforgettable version of “Never Gonna Give You Up.” He described the experience as “proper nuts.” Astley also offered a heads-up to anyone planning to watch the video on YouTube, warning them about the language used at the beginning of the performance, as he got caught up in the moment and couldn’t help but swear.