Foo Fighters' 'nuclear' rock energy ignites Mad Cool 2026 opening night in Madrid
Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters delivered a high-energy, 2-hour-20-minute set of rock anthems on the first night of Madrid's Mad Cool festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary. The performance, described as a 'nuclear explosion', drew tens of thousands of fans despite sound bleed issues affecting the second stage.
Opening night energy
Foo Fighters took the stage at 21:58 on July 8, opening with "All My Life" as Dave Grohl sprinted across the stage, dousing himself with water and unleashing a primal scream. The band's 2-hour-20-minute set was described by La Razón as a "nuclear explosion" of energy, one of the best nights in the festival's decade-long history. Tens of thousands of fans packed the main stage area, responding to Grohl's call of "Are you ready?" with deafening roars.
A setlist of anthems and tributes
The set spanned the band's career, from early hits like "This Is a Call" to later anthems "Best of You" and "Everlong". Grohl introduced "Marigold", a ballad he wrote during his Nirvana days, explaining he used to play it softly because Kurt Cobain was sleeping on the sofa next to him. The band paid tribute to late drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died in March 2022, with a performance of "Aurora". Grohl also led the crowd through "My Hero", "Learn to Fly", and "The Pretender", at one point asking the audience, "Do you know rock & roll?" before launching into another chorus.
I composed it in the Nirvana days, I played it very softly because I had Kurt sleeping next to me on the sofa.
- Band opens with 'All My Life'
- Grohl asks crowd 'Do you know rock & roll?'
- Extended guitar and drum solos
- Tribute to late drummer Taylor Hawkins
- Grohl performs Nirvana-era ballad
- Set closes with iconic anthem
Festival logistics and sound issues
The first day of Mad Cool 2026, which expects over 55,000 daily attendees through Saturday, saw some organizational hiccups. Fans were frustrated by confusion over the 18:00 opening time, with many waiting over an hour. Sound from the main stage bled into the second stage, particularly during Foo Fighters' set, disrupting Moby's performance. Despite this, the festival's decision to reduce the number of stages was praised for improving crowd comfort.
Grohl's personal resilience
The concert came during a turbulent period for Grohl. In March 2022, his close friend and bandmate Taylor Hawkins died suddenly; an autopsy found 10 different stimulants in his system. Grohl's mother died later that year. In September 2024, he publicly acknowledged fathering a child outside his marriage. Yet on stage, Grohl channeled frustration into vitality, delivering what EL MUNDO called "vigorous anthems for the masses" without a trace of anger or hatred.
