“What better way to spend my 57th birthday than making a bunch of noise with a bunch of friends for a good cause,” said Dave Grohl
Foo Fighters have announced a benefit concert to support unhoused and food-insecure people in Los Angeles. They will headline Kia Forum on Wednesday, January 14—that’s Dave Grohl’s birthday—with proceeds going to Hope the Mission and Los Angeles Mission. Those charities have provided a list of items sought for donation, which you can deliver at a donation drive at the Forum on January 7 from midday Pacific Time. Contributors will be able to buy pre-sale tickets in person. Find the requested items below.
Grohl said in a press release, “What better way to spend my 57th birthday than making a bunch of noise with a bunch of friends for a good cause. This ain’t just a big ass rock show, it’s a big ass party with a heart. Turn up the volume, turn up the hope, but most of all….TURN UP. The best gift is TO GIVE. Can’t friggin wait x.”
Hope the Mission and Los Angeles Mission—two charities with which Grohl and his wife, Jordyn, have long been aligned—are seeking the following items:
- Socks and underwear (male, female, adults, children, all sizes—new/packaged only)
- Dried pinto beans (bagged)
- Pasta—spaghetti, macaroni (bagged or boxed)
- Dried rice (bagged)
They are not seeking canned goods or perishable items.
The Best Foo Fighters Songs of All Time
In a rock landscape full of feedback, feelings and the occasional flying drumstick, Foo Fighters stand tall as the band that somehow makes both heartbreak and head-banging feel like a warm hug. For nearly three decades, Dave Grohl and company have delivered choruses that beg to be shouted in the shower, the car or—let’s be honest—directly at your ex.
Below is a lovingly curated tour through seven of the band’s most iconic songs. It’s Audio Ink Radio’s official tally of the best Foo Fighters songs of all time.
Best Foo Fighters Songs Ever
“Everlong”
Released in 1997 on “The Colour and the Shape,” “Everlong” is the crown jewel of the Foo Fighters universe—the shimmering, achingly earnest anthem that has launched a thousand first kisses, last dances and emotionally reckless text messages.
With its layered guitars and Grohl’s urgent, almost pleading vocals, “Everlong” hits like a late-night confession whispered on a porch swing. It’s the rare rock song that’s both thunderously loud and devastatingly intimate. The track’s legendary performance on “The Late Show with David Letterman”—acoustic, raw and delivered during the host’s recovery from heart surgery—cemented “Everlong” as the spiritual comfort blanket of the alternative era.
It’s not just a song. It’s a full-body swoon.
“Times Like These”
Written during a tumultuous period when the band nearly fell apart, “Times Like These” arrived in 2002 on “One by One” like a sunrise after too many cloudy days. It’s part pep talk, part therapy session and part reminder that even when life feels like a spilled latte on your best shirt, we somehow keep going.
The signature riff has that classic Foo Fighters optimism—propulsive, hopeful, unbothered by the fact that you cried in the grocery store yesterday. Grohl’s lyric “It’s times like these you learn to live again” lands as both a mantra and a melodic hug. The song’s sincerity is so powerful it’s been used for everything from charity broadcasts to graduation ceremonies—because who else but the Foos can make existential crisis feel uplifting?
“My Hero”
If “My Hero” had shoulders, it would be wearing a vintage varsity jacket and carrying you out of a burning building. Dropping in 1997 on “The Colour and the Shape,” the song has long been misunderstood as an ode to a specific musician, but Grohl has clarified repeatedly: it’s about everyday heroes. The regular folks. The people who show up.
The iconic drum intro—yes, the one you’ve tried to air-drum and failed spectacularly at—sets the stage for a soaring, stadium-ready chorus. It’s earnest without being cheesy, bold without being brash. “My Hero” is the soundtrack to believing in people again, even when they sometimes forget your birthday.
“Best of You”
From the 2005 album “In Your Honor,” “Best of You” is the song that grabs you by the collar and demands emotional accountability. Grohl’s vocals are famously intense—he recorded so many takes he reportedly shredded his voice—and it shows. Every word sounds like it’s been pulled straight from a diary written at 2 a.m. under the glow of a laptop screen.
Lyrically, the song is a battle cry against manipulation and emotional fatigue; musically, it’s a controlled explosion. That rising “ohhhhhh” section in the bridge? It’s practically engineered to make strangers in a bar become best friends for exactly four minutes and 16 seconds.
If empowerment were electricity, “Best of You” could power an entire city.
“Monkey Wrench”
Let’s be honest: “Monkey Wrench,” released in 1997, is the song that makes you consider smashing a guitar against a wall—even if the only instrument you own is a half-broken ukulele from a beach vacation. It’s fast, frantic and delightfully unhinged, a sonic burst of pure catharsis.
Written during a turbulent moment in Grohl’s personal life, the song rips through frustration like a chainsaw through butter. The final scream-along section remains one of the most exhilarating moments in ’90s rock—a vocal sprint that dares you to try it at karaoke, even though you absolutely shouldn’t unless you’ve warmed up or don’t mind losing your voice until Thursday.
It’s messy, it’s angsty and it’s everything we love about frantic rock energy.
“Learn to Fly”
“Learn to Fly,” the standout single from 1999’s “There Is Nothing Left to Lose,” is the Foo Fighters at their most charming. With its bright melody and soaring chorus, the track is equal parts rock anthem and feel-good soundtrack for opening your windows on the first warm day of spring.
The accompanying comedy-packed music video—featuring the band in multiple costumes aboard a chaotic airplane—became an instant fan favorite. Years later, the song found new life when a thousand Italian musicians performed it together in Cesena, Italy, as an invitation for the band to visit. (Spoiler: It worked.)
“Learn to Fly” is irresistible proof that rock can be both earnest and adorable.
“All My Life”
If “All My Life” were a person, it would kick down your door, drink your last soda, and still have you thanking it for the experience. Released in 2002, the song won a Grammy and kicks off “One by One” with a razor-sharp riff that practically levitates off the fretboard.
The track is built on tension—tight, taut verses that explode into a chorus so ferocious it should come with a warning label. The band has often said it’s one of the most fun songs to perform live, and it’s easy to hear why: it’s a sprint, a jolt, an electric surge that defines the Foos’ live-wire energy.
When this song starts, you don’t just listen—you buckle up.
These Foo Fighters Songs Endure
Across decades, lineups and global tours, Foo Fighters have built a catalog that balances raw honesty with arena-sized swagger. These seven songs endure because they each capture a different facet of what makes the band so beloved: vulnerability, joy, righteous anger, humor and the unmistakable sense that rock can still be a place where everyone belongs.
And maybe that’s the secret. Foo Fighters don’t just play songs—they build emotional lifeboats. Whether you’re falling in love, falling apart or falling asleep on a train after a too-long week, there’s a Foo Fighters track ready to hold your hand the whole way.
