Queen has left a lasting mark not just on music history but also on future generations of musicians. Take the Foo Fighters, for example. They’ve consistently expressed their deep admiration for the legendary rock group.
In the past, they’ve joined forces with Queen for tribute concerts and covered their famous songs. They’ve even slipped a Freddie Mercury quote into one of their own tracks.
Back in 1978, Queen unleashed ‘Fat Bottomed Girls,’ a cheeky hard rock anthem penned by Brian May. The song playfully celebrates the allure of curvy women, especially in the rear department. Interestingly, although May is credited as the song’s writer, Freddie Mercury provided the primary inspiration and creative drive.
In the song, Mercury famously declares, “Get on your bikes and ride!”
This particular phrase actually originated from their track Bicycle Race. In Foo Fighters’ high-energy rock track ‘FFL,’ Dave Grohl uses those same spirited words, paying homage to the late Freddie Mercury. This song’s musical style departs from the typical Foo Fighters sound and leans more toward Grohl’s metal roots. He belts out lyrics with passionate vocals set against energetic guitar riffs. The lyrics go, “Let yourself go, let me test your fate /Make your head roll, make your legs shake /Dance to the sound of heartache.”
Dave Grohl isn’t the sole band member to express his adoration for Queen. Taylor Hawkins was also an avid fan who considered Queen, the greatest band in history. Their music significantly influenced his decision to take up drumming.
Hawkins also formed a close bond with Brian May and Roger Taylor. They were deeply saddened by his passing in 2022. After his untimely departure, May and Taylor participated in a tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London to honor the drummer. During this heartfelt event, they performed a mini-set of Queen’s iconic songs, featuring special guests like Rufus Taylor and Justin Hawkins, the lead singer of The Darkness.
Before the performance, the audience watched archival footage of Hawkins explaining how Queen profoundly impacted his life. In the clip, he said, “When I was ten years old, my older sister took me to see Queen in concert – the first concert I ever attended. I watched the drummer and thought, ‘I want to be him, I want to do that.'”
Brian May treated the audience to an acoustic rendition of the 1975 classic Love Of My Life to conclude the set. Before performing the track, May addressed the crowd with a statement. “Exactly 30 years ago, we bid farewell to Freddie in a similar fashion. So, I know that Freddie would be very pleased to use this song to honor Taylor Hawkins. But here’s the deal: I won’t sing this song alone; we’ll all sing it together.”
The admiration between these two bands is truly amazing. Despite occupying different realms within the rock arena, their genuine and passionate display of affection is a rarity among two of the music industry’s giants. It stands as a testament to the profound impact of honesty and sincerity in rock and roll, all underscored by the undeniable talent of these respected visionaries.
