Watch: Dave Grohl invites 11 year-old drummer Nandi Bushell to perform on stage with Foo Fighters

News
By published

The 11 year-old drumming sensation closed the show by smashing her way through Everlong

Foo Fighters with 11 year-old drummer, Nandi Bushell
(Image credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for FF)

When Nandi Bushell challenged Dave Grohl to a drum-off online in 2020 - ultimately winning, with Grohl recording a theme tune for the young drummer -  she could only have dreamed that it would lead to performing with her heroes, Foo Fighters live on stage. But that’s exactly what happened this past weekend, when the 11 year-old from Ipswich finally got her chance to sit-in with the band.

As the Foos show at The Forum, Inglewood came to its close, Dave Grohl invited Nandi on stage to rapturous applause and chants of her name from the audience, before she sat behind a specially-set-up kit and launched into the band’s 1997 hit, Everlong. 

Released 13 years before Nandi was born, it features some tricky, constant 16th-notes and energetic fills throughout which Bushell blitzed through with seeming ease.

Live Performance Dave Grohl and Nandi Bushell at The Forum LA jamming Everlong with Foo Fighters - YouTube Live Performance Dave Grohl and Nandi Bushell at The Forum LA jamming Everlong with Foo Fighters - YouTube
Watch On

Taking to social media after the performance, Nandi shared a clip of the gig, saying, “It happened!!! It was #EPIC!!! Thank you so much @foofighters!!! I had the best night ever jamming with you at @TheForum! Thank you so much Mr. Grohl and Taylor! #foofighters - Full Video [here:] (My Daddy was screaming a lot in the video it took)”

Foo Fighters - Everlong (Official HD Video) - YouTube Foo Fighters - Everlong (Official HD Video) - YouTube
Watch On

After the song finished, Grohl ushered Nandi to the front of the stage where she took a bow alongside Grohl, Nate Mendell, Chris Shifflett, Pat Smear, Taylor Hawkins and Rami Jaffee. Watch the full performance, complete with Bushell’s father’s approving cheers, above.

Stuart Williams
Stuart Williams
Drums

I'm a freelance member of the MusicRadar team, specialising in drum news, interviews and reviews. I formerly edited Rhythm and Total Guitar here in the UK and have been playing drums for more than 25 years (my arms are very tired). When I'm not working on the site, I can be found on my electronic kit at home, or gigging and depping in function bands and the odd original project. 

More about guitars
Justin Hawkins [left] of the Darkness plays an open G on his offset electric and closes his eyes as he performs onstage; soul-reggae icon Johnny Nash [right] frets a chord on his acoustic and wears a patched denim jacket.

“It was probably the first time I’d ever sort of listened to one and gone, ‘What is that? I want to learn how to do that!’”: How a soul and reggae legend introduced the Darkness' Justin Hawkins to diminished chords

Seymour Duncan Jazzmaster Silencer Pickups: these aftermarket pickups feature a patent-pending triple-coil design and are drop-in replacements for any standard Jazzmaster pickup.

“Under the cover is a new hum-cancelling technology that preserves that single-coil Jazzmaster tone with no noise”: Seymour Duncan unveils the Jazzmaster Silencer, drop-in pickups to soup up your offset
The Who at Live Aid

"When we did Live Aid, we could barely play. Queen were in the middle of a tour, walked out there, took the whole thing, and turned it into an advert for themselves": Pete Townshend says that The Who invented stadium rock and then gave it away
See more latest
Most Popular
The Who at Live Aid
"When we did Live Aid, we could barely play. Queen were in the middle of a tour, walked out there, took the whole thing, and turned it into an advert for themselves": Pete Townshend says that The Who invented stadium rock and then gave it away
The Cars in 1978
“When I came up with the main hook I realised that it was reminiscent of a Beatles song”: How The Cars created an American rock classic
Napster
Napster is back - again - in a new deal worth $207 million: “Napster revolutionized digital music - we’re ready to do it again”
Gene Simmons
“You ride with me to the gig. You can set up amplifiers and drums to your heart’s content”: Kiss star Gene Simmons defends his $12K ‘personal roadie’ deal
Róisín Murphy and Charli XCX
“It’s too pop, y’know? When things are very processed, it’s like… processed cheese”: Róisín Murphy on why she couldn’t get onboard with Charli XCX’s Brat summer
dear reality
Dear Reality is giving away 11 immersive audio plugins for free
Nancy Wilson and Chappell Roan
Heart’s Nancy Wilson told Chappell Roan that she’ll be her "rock and roll auntie if you ever need any advice,” and she also co-wrote and recorded her favourite song
Justin Hawkins [left] of the Darkness plays an open G on his offset electric and closes his eyes as he performs onstage; soul-reggae icon Johnny Nash [right] frets a chord on his acoustic and wears a patched denim jacket.
“It was probably the first time I’d ever sort of listened to one and gone, ‘What is that? I want to learn how to do that!’”: How a soul and reggae legend introduced the Darkness' Justin Hawkins to diminished chords
Liam and Noel Gallagher
"This risked giving consumers the misleading impression that platinum tickets were better”: Ticketmaster criticised over Oasis reunion tickets debacle, but this time it's got nothing to do with dynamic pricing
The Monkees
“He was not an actor, he was a singer-songwriter, and they told him he was going to write and record his own music. And basically, he was not allowed to do that": Micky Dolenz explains Mike Nesmith's "frustration" at being in The Monkees