Foo Fighters: Dave Grohl's brainchild to play Manchester and London shows in 2018

Although the Foo Fighters emerged from the embers of Nirvana, much of the groundwork for the band's future sound had been laid by Dave Grohl long before. A keen guitarist and songwriter from an early age, Grohl continued to write and record personal material throughout his time as the drummer with Nirvana; building up a huge catalogue. 

After finishing Nirvana's Nevermind in 1991, Grohl already appeared to be toying with the idea of a solo career; releasing a cassette of self-recorded songs titled Pocketwatch under the pseudonym "Late!" in 1992. After Kurt Cobain's death in 1994 Grohl considered drumming permanently in other bands (there was considerable interest from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Pearl Jam) but after passing round a 15-track demo – on which Grohl played all the instruments – he found himself under the interest of several major record labels.

Though he had written and sung just one Nirvana song (the B-side "Marigold"), Grohl demonstrated a flair for pop hooks and driving guitar rock. He signed with Capitol Records and quickly put a band together in time for a 1995 tour, recruiting bassist Nate Mendel and drummer William Goldsmith from the freshly-broken-up Sunny Day Real Estate. Pat Smear, the former Germs guitarist who had joined Nirvana for its final tour, also joined.

Taking their name from the term used to describe UFOs and other aerial phenomena spotted by Allied aircraft pilots during World War II, the group called themselves Foo Fighters.

Foo Fighters: Both the Etihad and London Stadium to host world's biggest rock band

22 years; eight albums (including four Grammy Award winner); and record sales of 17 million have followed, but the band show no signs of slowing down. 

The Foos followed up their epic Glastonbury 2017 headline slot and special concert at London's O2 in September, with a trio of shows in 2018 to come. The band will play Manchester's Etihad Stadium on 19 June, followed by two dates in the capital at the London Stadium on 22 & 23 June. 

The shows come hot on the heels of the release of the Foo Fighters' much-anticipated ninth album Concrete And Gold late last year – made with Adele and Liam Gallagher producer Greg Kurstin – meaning ticket holders will be among the first to see the new material performed live. So what are you waiting for? Grab Foo Fighters tickets at StubHub. 

Similar artists to Foo Fighters

Once you've sorted your Foo Fighters tickets, take a look at some of the other artists listed at StubHub UK. Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant always puts on a fantastic show, while the Queens of the Stone Age are back out on tour in 2018.