The Foo Fighters are currently touring in Australia, which is in the middle of a record-breaking heatwave. Over the weekend, temperatures hit 43.5C (110F) in Sydney, making it almost 15 degrees above the city’s average December high. So what’s a world famous rockstar to do with his day off in the sweltering heat? Why, cook those Aussies some good old fashion Southern-style barbecue, of course!
Grohl teamed up with the Big Umbrella Foundation, a charity that helps feed unhoused and food-insecure individuals, to prepare and serve pork products and beef brisket. He and his friends reportedly spent 18 hours prepping (as you do with good barbecue food) and served 430 plates over the course of two hours.
There goes our hero: Dave Grohl spent his day off from the Foo Fighters’ Australian tour to give back to those in need amid a local heatwave. The Big Umbrella Foundation, a charity that helps feed unhoused and food-insecure individuals, announced on Instagram that Grohl was among the volunteers who prepared and served an array of BBQ staples at Melbourne’s Federation Square on Friday.
“Wow! What a day. Our friends on the street were treated to an epic American style BBQ with all the trimmings prepared by rock legend Dave Grohl of the @foofighters,” its caption read. “The vibe was at an all-time high at Fed Square for this very special one-off lunch feast. It will be a day ‘our friends on the streets’ will never forget as they brushed up against a rock legend and one of the nicest guys on the planet, who genuinely cares for people in need. No words can fully capture the impact of this positive experience.”
The charity noted that Grohl, accompanied by his friends, spent 18 hours “preparing and lovingly smoking 120 kgs of pork ribs, pork butt, and beef brisket before delivering it to #mgskitchen the next morning.”
It added that Frontier touring company, which coordinated the band’s stadium shows, also participated in the event. “They arrived at 9 a.m. to MG’s kitchen bounding with energy and enthusiasm to prep soft potato rolls piled high with pulled pork, coleslaw, and pickles, smoked pork ribs, and succulent beef brisket,” the charity wrote. “TBU’s chefs and volunteers with @frontiertouring team prepped coleslaw, potato salad, corn bread, pancakes, and apple crumble to accompany the BBQ.”
The Big Umbrella said a “record line of friends” showed up and eagerly awaited the feast, even without knowing Grohl was involved. “Word had spread far in the community, who had no idea what special superstar guests would be there on the day to serve them,” it added. “The invitation to enjoy an American BBQ was enough of a draw card for them.”
Grohl served guests for more than two hours and handed out 430 meals before posing for photos and signing cardboard plates and T-shirts.
“What a guy! What a day!” TBU’s message read. Alongside the post, the foundation shared a series of snapshots of Grohl and fellow volunteers cooking and plating meals for the local community.
This sounds so awesome! I bet everyone was really appreciative of it too. I didn’t really experience good, proper barbecue food until I moved to the South. This isn’t the first time that Grohl has volunteered his time to help feed those in need, either. Last February, Los Angeles had a series of storms and colder-than-usual weather. Without publicizing it, Dave brought his own smoker and meat and cooked for more than 24 hours for unhoused people at the Hope the Mission shelters. He ended up serving 450 meals. I truly love that he does this and doesn’t feel the need to announce it for the glory. He seems like a genuinely good person who cares about giving back. With the amount of time and preparation he puts into his meals, I bet it’s some really good tasting barbecue, too.
Photos via Instagram and credit Justin Ng / Avalon and Getty
Yep Dave is a very good person. He does lots of things that don’t always get publicized. He also has a great sense of humor. I like when he gets on the back of a truck and trolls the West Baptist Church.
It’s hilarious when he trolls that group!
What a lovely way to serve. I hope no horrible story comes out about him because I love Dave.
I’m with you! He seems like a genuinely nice guy, and I love that he did this on his day off.
He really is a mensch. That’s the way to do it — authentic community support.
Dave! Big love for Dave, he is a talented, interesting man.
He seems driven to continue to tour and create music, love his support of new talent.
Any and all support to help get food and help to those in need is terrific.
I hope he wrote a fat check also.
I know Springsteen and Bon Jovi both do their part.
Dave Grohl is a truly good human
He seems driven to continue to tour and create music, love his support of new talent.
I did know he is a big BBQ and smoker guy, he’s done a few events like this and he is hands on with it. 👍
Btw, the first pic with Dave, he has his hair tied back while working the food.
Gave me a fright, I thought “Oh, no! Dave has cut his hair!” Dave can seriously still hit the stage, head banging like a younger rock star, dark hair flying and that full smile. Go Dave.
(Every now and then, “Nirvanas drummer is my first thought)
Dave, more than once, has stopped a show and called out security to stop men in the crowd from manhandling female fans. Full stop from the stage “Hey A**hole, YOU! Security get this F’er outta here. Right there, that guy!” I love Dave Grohl!
I mean every article about Dave Grohl should start with there goes our hero if only to get the song banging in your head for the rest of the day.
Great effort. However Dave did this in Melbourne which is nearly 800km from Sydney, and it was raining and miserable here, and not 43 degrees. We are a big country.
Ah, good to know. Poor Sydney then, 110! I was worried about the unhoused in that kind of heat.
Haha, yes. A balmy 33 here in Melbourne yesterday.
But still … Honk for Dave. What a guy! I always feel thankful he made it through such public tough times and turned out so seemingly normal.
Ahh, so sorry about that!! I swear when I was searching around about this story yesterday I read it was in Sydney. That is totally my bad. Thank you for the clarification! 🙂
Just when you think he can’t get any hotter, bam! There he is!
Dave is Peak Awesome. Highly recommend listening to him read his book!
David and his pure love for humans. He is such a sweetheart and rarity. Loved him when I first got into Nirvana. Thirty two years later love him even more.