Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl made an emotional return to Sweden, revisiting the very stage where he famously broke his leg 11 years ago. The band performed at the Strawberry Arena in Solna, and the moment was captured in a fan’s video of the performance.
Addressing the crowd, Grohl reflected on the remarkable coincidence of returning to the same venue on the exact same date as the incident, and paid tribute to the show that followed his injury all those years ago.
“I fell off the stage and I bust my f*cking leg. That was 11 years ago today. Same day! How f*cking weird is that. Coincidence? I don’t think so!” Grohl said.
He went on to express just how much that original show meant to him and the band, crediting the fans for inspiring them to push through and finish the performance despite the injury.
“So, tonight, I’m gonna sing this song real f*cking hard, because honestly, I think it was my favourite Foo Fighters show we’ve ever had in our f*cking lives,” he continued. “Because we kept playing, we finished that f*cking show for you. So we’ll sing this song for you.”
The Strawberry Arena show on June 12, 2026 marked a full-circle moment for Grohl and the Foo Fighters, with the band performing “Walk” as part of the night’s setlist.
To understand why that 2015 show holds such a special place in Grohl’s heart, it helps to look back at what actually unfolded that night in Gothenburg — a performance that has since become one of rock’s most legendary displays of dedication.
The incident occurred just two songs into the set, during “Monkey Wrench,” when Grohl fell off the front of the stage. He was taken offstage for medical attention, but the show was far from over. As Open Culture reported, Grohl returned to play the entire 26-song set with his doctor kneeling next to him on stage, holding his leg together throughout the performance. He sat in a chair with his right leg extended and wrapped in gauze, refusing to let the injury end the night for the 52,000 fans in attendance.
His return to the stage was accompanied by a fittingly dramatic soundtrack. The band launched into their cover of Queen’s “Under Pressure” as Grohl was carried back out, and he addressed the crowd with characteristic defiance: “I may not be able to walk or run, but I can still play guitar and scream.” This was detailed by American Songwriter. Later in the show, during “My Hero,” Grohl stood up on one leg using crutches. The moment stunned both the audience and his own bandmates.
The full extent of the injury became clear only after the show. What was initially assessed as a dislocated ankle — reset on the spot by the doctor while Grohl bit down on a roll of gauze — was later confirmed to be a snapped fibula, as American Songwriter noted. Grohl described the moment to Entertainment Weekly: “They pulled me to the side of the stage, and the doctor said, your ankle’s dislocated, and I have to put it back into place right now.”
While the remaining European dates were cancelled following the injury, Grohl was determined not to let his American fans down. He returned for the US tour dates seated on a specially designed stage throne, which allowed him to perform with his broken leg extended. Open Culture noted that the setup became iconic in its own right — a testament to the frontman’s relentless commitment to his audience.
