Foo Fighters to rock Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 race-day concert

The show is part of the group’s comeback tour after the death of long-term drummer Taylor Hawkins

Singer Dave Grohl performs with the Foo Fighters during the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. AP

The Foo Fighters will play the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 race-day concert on November 26 at Etihad Park.

The performance by the American rock group will be the last of four after-race concerts starting on November 23.

Kicking off the series will be Dutch DJ Tiesto and US pop star Ava Max, with the other two concerts on November 24 and 25 to be revealed closer to the date.

Access to all four concerts is exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders.

The Foo Fighters’ Abu Dhabi show is the only international show by the band announced this year and forms part of their comeback tour as they hit the road again without drummer Taylor Hawkins.

The long-term member died in 2022 from a reported heart attack at the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota in Colombia on March 25. He was 50.

The band cancelled all future dates since the tragedy, with other members returning to the studio later that year to record their new album But Here We Are, which will be released on June 2.

But Rescued, an emotional track from the coming record, was released in April. The song opens with frontman Dave Grohl recalling some of the shock and despair felt after Hawkins’s passing.

“It came in a flash. It came out of nowhere. It happened so fast. And then it was over,” he sings.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Is this happening now? Are you feeling what I’m feeling? This is happening now.”

The Abu Dhabi show should also be particularly poignant for the Foo Fighters after they cancelled their 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race day concert following what event organisers described as “unforeseen medical circumstances".

The National went on to reveal a band member was taken to hospital from an airport in Chicago, while the group was travelling to Abu Dhabi.

A later controversial report by Rolling Stone investigating Hawkins's final months featured an interview with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, who referred to a December 2021 incident in which Hawkins "was exhausted and collapsed, and they had to pump him full of IVs".

While unconfirmed, it is assumed that the incident Smith referred to occurred before the band’s scheduled appearance in Abu Dhabi.

Foo Fighters will play their first public show in eight months on May 24 in the US city of Gilford, with the show kicking off a five-month North American tour ending on October 15.

In addition to songs from But Here we Are, expect an expansive and hit-laden list with songs spanning 11 albums, including anthems My Hero, Monkey Wrench and Best of You.

The identity of the band's new drummer has yet to be revealed.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 after-race concerts series will be organised by Ethara, a new events and entertainment company created through the merging of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management and Flash Entertainment.

Officially launched on Tuesday and meaning “thrill” in Arabic, Ethara will have offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh, and aims to provide and create entertainment events across the Middle East.

Tickets are available online at www.abudhabigp.com and through the Yas Marina Circuit Call Centre on 800 927 or 02 659 9800.

From Beyonce to Stormzy: 45 artists who played at the Abu Dhabi F1 After-Race Concerts — in pictures

Prince kept it fun and funky during his Abu Dhabi Grand Prix performance in 2010. Reuters

Beyonce performs at Ferrari World on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix on October 29, 2009. Philip Cheung / The National

Jamiroquai performs at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on October 30, 2009. Philip Cheung / The National

Kings of Leon performed in the UAE for the first time at the 2009 Abu Dhabi Formula Grand Prix. Reuters

Aerosmith performs on the final race day on November 1, 2009. Philip Cheung / The National

Kanye West performs at Yas Island on November 12, 2010. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

Linkin Park at the Formula One after-race concert on November 13, 2010. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

Britney Spears's 2011 show was high on choreography but low on energy. Lee Hoagland / The National

US rock band Incubus performs in 2011 in what was an odd double bill also featuring The Cult. Silvia Razgova / The National

Paul McCartney played a hit-filled set in 2011. Antonie Robertson / The National

Aussie pop star Kylie Minogue kept it fun and breezy in her 2012 Abu Dhabi F1 concert. Antonie Robertson / The National

Nickelback played all their anthems in a 2012 concert. Antonie Robertson / The National

Eminem made his concert debut in the Middle East with a race day performance at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Antonie Robertson / The National

Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi was one of the first Arab artists to perform as part of the Abu Dhabi F1 after-race concerts

Hip-hop superstar Jay-Z wowed crowds with his 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix show. Delores Johnson / The National

British rockers Muse brought their progressive rock sounds to Etihad Park in 2013. Delores Johnson / The National

Dave Gahan, from Depeche Mode, owned the stage during the group's 2013 race-day concert. Antonie Robertson / The National

Egyptian pop star Tamer Hosny at the 2014 Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix after-race concert. Getty Images

Dutch DJ Armin Van Buuren was the first EDM act to perform as part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concert series in 2014. Delores Johnson / The National

Pharrell William lost his voice during his 2014 Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix concert. Delores Johnson / The National

The Who rocked loud and proud during their 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race day concert. Ravindranath K / The National

Emirati singer Aryam made her stage return during the 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Antonie Robertson / The National

Enrique Iglesias was all charm during his 2015 performance at Etihad Park. Antonie Robertson / The National

Brit-pop group Blur gave a rare live performance of 'Country House' for their 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concert. Antonie Robertson / The National

Florence + the Machine at the 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Antonie Robertson / The National

Cuban-American singer and rapper Pitbull was underwhelming in 2016. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

UK dance duo The Chemical Brothers were relentless at their 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concert. Pawan Singh / The National

Lionel Richie didn't disappoint at his 2016 after-race concert. Waleed Shah for The National

Rihanna rocked out at Etihad Park in 2016. Christopher Pike / The National

UK DJ Calvin Harris was a shadowy presence at his Etihad Park concert in 2017. Reem Mohammed / The National

US rapper J Cole performed at the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar pulled out. Pawan Singh / The National

The 2017 concert by Mumford & Sons was largely a fans-only affair. Pawan Singh / The National

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race day concert in 2017 by Pink had its fair share of acrobatics. Photo: Flash Entertainment

US rapper Post Malone brought new meaning to the term 'solo performance' with his 2018 Abu Dhabi F1 show. Victor Besa / The National

The Weeknd gave a typically brooding show in 2018. Victor Besa / The National

Sam Smith changed a few misconceptions at their 2018 Abu Dhabi F1 concert. Victor Besa / The National

The Guns 'N' Roses concert at the 2018 Abu Dhabi F1 was cut short due to singer Axl Rose feeling unwell. Lee Hoagland / The National

Marshmello was a hit with the younger crowd during his 2019 Abu Dhabi F1 concert. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Rapper Future performing at the 2019 after-race concert at Etihad Park. Pawan Singh / The National

Lana Del Rey was suitably dramatic during her 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concert. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The Killers were the big act in 2019. Photo: Flash Entertainment

Khalid performed a sweet low-key set to kick of the 2021 Abu Dhabi F1 after-race concerts Pawan Singh / The National

British rapper Stormzy was happy to be back on stage at the 2021 Abu Dhabi F1. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Lewis Capaldi performs in 2021. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

DJ Martin Garrix performing the Abu Dhabi F1 race-day concert in 2021. Pawan Singh / The National