Gustavo Dudamel gave a blowout final performance at the Hollywood Bowl as he bid the LA Phil farewell, with help from Foo Fighters and Chris Martin.
At the Hollywood Bowl over the weekend, the Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrated the career of Gustavo Dudamel, who’s departing for the New York Philharmonic after serving as music director of the LA Phil since 2009. Across four nights, Dudamel was celebrated by the music community, including Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Foo Fighters, alongside whom the conductor led a full symphonic set.
To help send him off on the final night, Foo Fighters, joined by a full orchestra and choir (under Dudamel’s direction, naturally), delivered a 15-song set spanning their career of hits like “Learn to Fly,” “Best of You,” and “My Hero.”
“Tonight, we’re going to play as many things as we can before we have to stop,” frontman Dave Grohl told the crowd. “We usually play for three hours a night, but tonight, we picked the best songs that we can perform with our friends in the LA Phil and Mr. Gustavo Dudamel. Some of these you may [have] never heard before, so sit back and enjoy.”
The deep cuts included “All My Life,” “Times Like These,” “The Pretender,” and “Razor,” which Foo Fighters had not played live since 2006. They also played “Home,” which they last played live in 2007.
Grohl also joked that he was prepared to take Dudamel and the orchestra and choir on tour with the band, quipping, “So I figure we just get 14 more buses and take them on tour for the rest of our lives. Good plan?”
The former Nirvana drummer also dedicated the performance of “Aurora” to late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died in 2022. The band has dedicated the song to Hawkins at most of their recent performances. “He would have loved this,” Grohl noted fondly.
“I wish we could do this every fucking night for the rest of our lives with all of these amazing people,” Grohl told the crowd ahead of the night’s final song. “What an honor to be invited to this hallowed ground, this special place, to be able to give Gustavo one more big rock show before he has to leave this wonderful city. And then to share this experience with all of you guys, it’s so amazing.”
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl previously joined Dudamel with the LA Phil for a guest performance at Coachella 2025, where they played “Everlong” and “The Sky is a Neighborhood.” The band is currently taking some time off from their Take Cover Tour, which resumes next month. Besides playing at the Hollywood Bowl, Foo Fighters also recently played at Brazil’s Rock in Rio festival, as well as a one-night-only spot opening for AC/DC.
After a storied 17-year tenure as Music & Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel takes the reins of the New York Philharmonic starting with the 2026-2027 season.
