Dave Grohl breaks down in tears after playing with AC/DC

AC/DC made Dave Grohl’s childhood dream a reality

The Foo Fighters singer opened up about the experience in an interview with New Zealand radio station The Rock, explaining that joining his childhood heroes for ‘Highway To Hell’ brought back everything he had admired about them growing up.

His connection to AC/DC dates back to watching their concert film Let There Be Rock as a child. 

At the time, he had a very different idea of what a rock performance looked like, with the band completely changing his understanding of the genre.

“I didn’t know that that’s how you play rock and roll,” Grohl said. “I thought rock and roll was like The Beatles and Kiss. 

“I’d never seen someone so drenched in sweat that they needed an oxygen tank. I was, like, ‘That’s what I wanna be when I grow up.’”

He later got to experience that intensity from the stage himself, describing AC/DC as “the loudest band in the world” when he first saw them perform. 

'I broke down in tears, sobbing like a baby'

The first opportunity to share a bill with the group came on 8 September, when Foo Fighters replaced The Pretty Reckless as the opening act for AC/DC's concert in St Louis. 

Speaking about the performance, he revealed that his wife had been watching from the side of the stage as they played. The moment proved so emotional that he struggled to contain himself once he had finished.

“It was unbelievable playing for them,” Grohl told The Rock. “It was so crazy because my wife was on the side of the stage as we played Highway To Hell. I walked off stage and I broke down in tears, sobbing like a baby.”

He went on to describe himself as wailing backstage, saying the experience felt like one of the most significant moments of his life.

“I was sobbing, like wailing, and I couldn’t believe it,” he added. “I was, like, ‘That is one of the most full-circle moments of my entire life,’ and I will never forget it.”