Foo Fighters New Single Unleashed ‘Asking for a Friend

October 24, 2025 rocknews

The Foo Fighters are charging back with ferocious intent, dropping their blistering new single ‘Asking for a Friend’—a hypnotic, rage-building rager that erupts from brooding verses into throat-shredding refrains of “What is real? I’m asking for a friend… Or is this the end?” Out now via Roswell Records/RCA, it’s the band’s first standalone track since July’s ‘Today’s Song,’ trading upbeat catharsis for darker, mid-tempo fury that Dave Grohl calls a “song for those who have waited patiently in the cold, relying on hope and faith for their horizon to appear.” Alongside the single, the Foos have unveiled their 2026 North American Stadium Tour—12 massive dates kicking off August 4 at Toronto’s Rogers Stadium and wrapping September 26 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, their first stadium run since the 2023-2024 Everything or Nothing at All juggernaut (2M+ tickets grossing $173M+). Queens of the Stone Age join as direct support on all but one date, with Mannequin Pussy and Gouge Away on select stops. Pre-sale starts October 28 for newsletter subscribers (sign up at foofighters.com); general on-sale October 31 at 10 a.m. local via Ticketmaster. With Grohl teasing “one of many songs to come” and a “lifelong bond” with QOTSA’s Josh Homme, this is Foo Fighters reborn—raw, relentless, and ready to rumble. Stream ‘Asking for a Friend’, grab tickets, and gear up for the marathon: the sun is rising.

From Grohl’s Substack manifesto (“Take cover”) to a tour poised to crush 500K+ attendance, here’s the full breakdown on the single’s sonic storm, tour blueprint, and why 2026 is Foo Fighters’ unbreakable chapter.

Stream ‘Asking for a Friend’ | Tour Tickets | Read Dave Grohl’s Full Statement | Pre-Sale Signup

‘Asking for a Friend’: Foo Fighters’ Dark, Anthemic Rage – Track Breakdown and Grohl’s Vision

‘Asking for a Friend’ is Foo Fighters at their most visceral: A slow-burn opener with hypnotic guitar ripples (Chris Shiflett’s signature snarl) builds to a breakneck rave-up, Nate Mendel’s bass locking with Ilan Rubin’s thunderous drums (his first single since joining post-Drummergeddon 2025), Rami Jaffee’s keys adding shadowy depth, and Pat Smear’s wild-card rhythm fueling Grohl’s “throat-shredding” plea. Clocking at 4:12 of “joyfully bludgeoned” fury (press release), it’s a thematic gut-punch: “What is real?”—a query for the post-Hawkins era, echoing But Here We Are’s grief but with ‘Today’s Song’’s hope twisted into doubt. Pitchfork calls it “a melodic slab of heavy rock… hypnotic verses exploding into impassioned refrains,” while Louder hails the “riffy new single” as “unrelenting intensity.”

Grohl’s Substack dispatch (October 23, 2025) frames it as catharsis: “A song for those who have waited patiently… hanging by a wish until the sun shines again. One of many songs to come.” Recorded amid 2025’s surprise club gigs (San Luis Obispo opener with Rubin) and Asia run, it’s the band’s first post-But Here We Are (2023, #1 Rock Album) original—hinting at album six. With 1M+ streams in hours.

Foo Fighters 2026 North American Stadium Tour: Dates, Support, and Ticket Breakdown

The Take Cover Tour—named for Grohl’s “Take cover” QOTSA nod—is Foo Fighters’ first stadium assault since 2024’s Everything or Nothing (173M+ gross, 1.5M+ tickets). Kicking August 4 in Toronto, it spans 12 cities with QOTSA (Josh Homme’s “lifelong bond” crew) on all but Fargo (September 12), plus Mannequin Pussy/Gouge Away on select dates. Expect 2.5-hour marathons: But Here We Are cuts, “Everlong” eternals, and Rubin’s kit-smashing debut on “Monkey Wrench.” Pre-sale October 28 (10 a.m. local, newsletter signup); general October 31 (10 a.m. local) via Ticketmaster. Prices: $100-$300+ (GA/reserved); VIPs ($500+) include soundcheck access.

Full dates:

Date	City	Venue	Support
Aug 4, 2026	Toronto, ON	Rogers Stadium	QOTSA, Mannequin Pussy
Aug 6, 2026	Detroit, MI	Ford Field	QOTSA
Aug 8, 2026	Chicago, IL	Soldier Field	QOTSA
Aug 10, 2026	Cleveland, OH	Huntington Bank Field	QOTSA
Aug 13, 2026	Philadelphia, PA	Lincoln Financial Field	QOTSA
Aug 15, 2026	Nashville, TN	Nissan Stadium	QOTSA
Aug 17, 2026	Washington, DC	Nationals Park	QOTSA
Sep 12, 2026	Fargo, ND	Fargodome	Mannequin Pussy, Gouge Away
Sep 15, 2026	Regina, SK	Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field	QOTSA
Sep 17, 2026	Edmonton, AB	Commonwealth Stadium	QOTSA
Sep 20, 2026	Vancouver, BC	BC Place	QOTSA
Sep 26, 2026	Las Vegas, NV	Allegiant Stadium	QOTSA, Gouge Away

Grohl: “A celebration… with close friends” (QOTSA since 1992’s Kyuss meet). Rolling Stone predicts “500K+ attendance… post-Drummersgeddon fury.” X: “Foos + QOTSA at Soldier Field? History!” (100K+ mentions).

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Foo Fighters’ Unbreakable Spirit: From Drummergeddon to Stadium Storm

Since 1994’s self-titled debut, Foo Fighters—Dave Grohl (vocals/guitar), Nate Mendel (bass), Pat Smear (guitar), Chris Shiflett (guitar), Rami Jaffee (keys)—have grossed $1B+ in tours, sold 30M+ albums, and weathered Hawkins’ 2022 death. 2025’s “Drummergeddon” saw Josh Freese exit (May) for Ilan Rubin (NIN alum), but Grohl’s “solid core” shines: Surprise clubs (Sept 2025, “ripping” per SPIN), Asia arenas, and now stadiums. But Here We Are (2023, #1 Rock) and live EP Are Playing Where ??? Vol. 1 (Oct 2025) rebuilt momentum; ‘Asking for a Friend’ teases album seven.

Billboard: “Grohl’s roar… joyfully bludgeoned.” With 50M+ monthly streams, they’re rock’s phoenix—Rubin’s “incredible blessing” (Grohl) fueling the “maximum volume euphoria.”

Why ‘Asking for a Friend’ and 2026 Tour Are Foo Fighters’ Rage Against the Machine

This single isn’t filler—it’s proof of Grohl’s “sun rising”: Darker than ‘Today’s Song,’ it’s for the “waiting patiently” faithful post-Hawkins, pre-Rubin era. The tour? A “rock and roll marathon” (Grohl) with QOTSA’s “lifelong bond” (1992 Kyuss meet), Mannequin Pussy’s punk edge, and Gouge Away’s hardcore. Consequence: “Unrelenting… first post-Drummersgeddon stadium run.” Expect “Everlong” singalongs (100K+ voices at Ford Field) and new tracks—Grohl’s “one of many.”

Pre-sale signup now; don’t miss the “WE” (Grohl). What’s your pre-tour playlist essential? Blast below—let’s take cover.